Taxonomic Status of Halophytes in Coastal Kachchh District, Gujarat

Halophyte; Kachchh; Coastal District Kachchh, despite having arid climate and long coastline, can be considered as biologically rich region. For the present study the floristic surveys of both inland and coastal plants were carried out during July 2011 to October 2012, which resulted in record of total of 203 angiosperm taxa. They fall under 145 genera and 57 families. Out of that 102 halophytic species were recorded during rapid survey that belongs to 53 genera and 37 families. The dominant families were Poaceae (16 taxa), Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, and Chenopodiaceae present with seven taxa. Kachchh represents mainly one worst invasive exotic species namely Prosopis jullflora, which may pose survival threat to the indigenous flora. Out of these, 74 species distributed predominantly among xerohalophytic communities naturally and 28 hydrohalophytic have been listed by present survey with special reference to their life form and main localities of their distribution.