DISTRIBUTION PATTERN AND ECO-PHENOLOGICAL STUDIES WITH MEDICINAL VALUE OF PIPER LONGUM L.

The study was conducted in three different sites i.e. site 1, site 2 and site 3. In the present research work, a total number of 67 plant species associated with Piper longumwere recorded in different sites. The total density of plant species was 144.25 plant species m-2 at site 1, 156.3 plant species m-2 at site 2 and 237.6 plant species m-2 at site 3. The density of species associated with Piper at site 3 (237.64) revealed that it had more plant species than that of site 1 and site 2. The maximum density at site 1 was contributed by Imperatacylindrica(15.67 individualsm-2) and minimum was that of Azadirachtaindica, Dalbergiasisso and Morus albahaving 0.33 individualsm-2 whereas at site 2, the maximum density was of Commelinapaludosa(12.67 individuals m-2) and minimum of Azadirachtaindica, (0.33 individualsm-2) and at site 3 maximum density was contributed byPartheniumhysterophorus (16.67 individualsm-2) and minimum was byAcacia catechu(0.32 individuals m-2). The mean height of Piper was recorded 101cm to 108 cm with well drained sandy soil of pH ranged 5.8 to 7.6. Similarly, the maximum and minimum IVI was occupied by Cynodondactylon(24.49) and Acacia catechu (3.95) species respectively at site 1, the maximum and minimum IVI was occupied by Cynodondactylon (23.11) and Chenopodiumficifolium(4.01) and Azadirachtaindica(4.01) species respectively at site 2, and the maximum and minimum IVI was occupied by Imperatacylindrica(22.87) and Acacia catechu (3.39) species, respectively at site 3. The plant has been used traditionally to cure different severe diseases and uplifts the economic status of many local people.