Floristic composition of Machiara National Park, District Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

A total of 409 species were recorded with 103 families and 225 genera. The dominant families of plants in the study area were Asclepiadaceae, Balsaminaceae, Boraginaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Compositeae, Cyperaceae, Dryopteridaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Gentianaceae, Labiatae, Moraceae, Papilionaceae, Poaceae, Polygonaceae, Primulaceae, Pteridaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, Scrophulariaceae and Umbelliferea. This research study was aimed to provide a detailed account for Botanical inventory of study area which will help Taxonomists and Park management to better manage Plant resources of the National Park such as medicinal plants, Timber wood species, Fuel wood and fodder plants. Grazing and illegal extraction of plant resources within study area is common practice, which leads to the destruction of floral wealth of this area, which is part of Himalayan Biodiversity hotspot.