Investigation of aquatic vascular flora at Sadullapur Upazila of Gaibandha District, Bangladesh

The present article focused on aquatic vascular plants diversity and their conservation status in natural and manmade wetlands habitats of Sadullapur Gaibandha. The study was conducted in between May 2019 to June 2020. A total of 52 aquatic plant species was recorded from Sadullapur Gaibandha in the present study. These are assigned to 35 genera under 30 families. For each species scientific name, local name, family, division, habit, habitat, use and status are provided. Ecological habitats analysis of aquatics shows variations. Among them, 37% species prefers to grow near the edge of water, 13% submerged, 11% as emergent, 11% as free floating and 28% as rooted floating in the aquatic habitat. In case of submerged species, they produce flowers on surface of the water. After pollination fruits remain under water up to maturation. Among them, 49% species used as fodder, 22% as medicinal, 4% as aquarium purpose, 9% as vegetable, 6% as edible, 10% as fish food in the study area. The population number of different aquatic plant species in habitats is not uniform. Overall analysis showed that 46% aquatic plant species in the study area found to be rare, 44% species found common and 10% species found as abundant. This status of aquatic plant species is very preliminary. Based on field observations and discussion with local people we are able to identify a good number of rare aquatic plants and also pointed some conservation measures for them in future. The investigation recorded a number of rare aquatic plant species from the study area. These are Trapa bispinosa (Singara), Nelumbo nucifera (Paddo), Nymphaea pubescens (Sada shapla), Oenanthe javanica (Panidhone), Nymphaea rubra (Lal shapla), Ottelia alismoides (Panikola), Enhydra fluctuans (Titidata) and Centrostachys aquatica (Thuash). Populations of such species in the wild are very rare because of local demand for the use. These species need to be cared for conservation. enthusiastic plant on

The study of aquatic plant diversity is critical because it offers a baseline for comparison following habitat alteration and for tracking changes in biodiversity over time. The results of the survey can be used to identify uncommon, imperiled, foreign, native, pest, and therapeutic plant species. The survey results are now being utilized to assess the possible impact of proposed projects and to inform management programs in order to make biodiversity protection decisions. Students, researchers, biodiversity management planners, social foresters, NGOs, District gazetteers, and other enthusiastic plant enthusiasts want data on water plant variety.

Study area
Sadullapur is an upazila of Gaibandha District in the Division of Rangpur, Bangladesh. Sadullapur is located at 25

Methodology
The work is based on fresh materials collected during twenty six visits to Sadullapur upazila of Gaibandha district, Bangladesh from May 2019 to June 2020 to cover the seasonal variations. The visits covered aquatic habitats in the study area. Plant parts with either flowers or fruits were collected using traditional herbarium techniques to make voucher specimens for documentation [73].

Identification
Collected aquatic species were authentically identified with the help of various books [1], [7] and [18]. For the current name and up-to-date nomenclature [8] and [17] were also consulted.

Results
A total of 52 aquatic plant species were discovered during the current investigation of Sadullapur Gaibandha's aquatic habitats. These species are divided into 35 genera, which are divided into 30 families (Table 1) The scientific name, local name, family, division, habit, habitat, usage, and status of each species are listed ( Table 2). The findings are preliminary, and future research might lead to an increase in the number of aquatic plant species in the district. Variations in aquatic plant species' ecological environments have been discovered. In the aquatic habitat, 37 percent like to grow along the water's edge, 13 percent as submerged, 11 percent as emergent, 11 percent as free floating, and 28 percent as rooted floating ( Figure 3). Flowers are produced on the water's surface by submerged species. Fruits are kept under water until they reach maturity after pollination. Aquatic plant species have a wide range of life forms. Herbs account for 94% of all species, while shrubs account for the remaining 6% ( Figure 2).
In my research, I documented the utilization of a variety of aquatic plant species. In the research region, 49 percent of the species were utilized as fodder, 22 percent as medicinal, 4% as aquarium plants, 9% as vegetables, 6% as edible, and 10% as fish food ( Figure 4). Monocots make up 41 percent of the species, Dicots make up 55 percent, and Pteridophytes make up 4% (Figure 1). Poaceae and Cyperaceae (monocot) have the most species (3 and 4), followed by Hydrocharitaceae, Pontederiaceae (three species), Araceae (one species), and the rest (one species) ( Figure 6).
In Magnoliopsida (dicot) the largest families are Onagraceae and Nymphaeaceae contains 4 and 2 species, Lentibulariaceae, Amaranthaceae contains 3 and 2 species, Lythraceae, Polygonaceae, Menyanthaceae, Acanthaceae and Convolvulaceae contains 2 species and rest families contains 1 species ( Figure 7) and Pteridophytes contains 1 family Azollaceae contains 2 species. The population number of different aquatic plant species in habitats is not uniform. My overall analysis showed that 46% aquatic plant species in the study area found to be rare, 44% species found as common and 10% species found as abundant ( Figure 5). The present inventory of aquatic plant species is very preliminary. Further long term survey is necessary to make complete list of aquatic plant species of Sadullapur Gaibandha.    [90]. Asteraceae (7 species) in Magnoliopsida and Poaceae (7 species) in Liliopsida are the two biggest families, according to [90]. In Magnoliopsida, [94] identified the biggest Fabaceae family (23 species) and Poaceae (16 species) in Liliopsida.
Emergent (Emergent plants grow in shallow waters and situations near water bodies where water recedes), free floating (Floating plants are found on the surface of large, deep, and shallow depths of water bodies), and aquatic (Aquatic plants are found in the surface of large, deep, and shallow depths of water bodies. Some plants in this environment float freely and travel large distances, while others float on the water's surface but attach to soil beneath the water's surface), submerged (species germinate, sprout, develop, and reproduce beneath the water's surface).
Their reproductive organs and roots stay in the soil at the bottom of the water body), rooted floating (species that float on the top but are rooted on the bottom), and certain species that grow along the water's edge. During the study period, 6 species were emergent, accounting for 11% of all plant species, 6 species were free floating, accounting for 11% of all plant species, 7 species were submerged, accounting for 13% of all plant species, 15 species were rooted floating, accounting for 28% of all plant species, and 19 species were found near the edge of water bodies, accounting for 37% of all plant species, which is higher than Basak et al [67] Four species are floating, four are emergent, and two are submerged, according to the data. Some species are economically significant and have a positive impact on the local community.
Ipomoea aquatica (Kalmi shak) is one of them, and it is utilized as a vegetable. Locals grow it in a swamp and sell it near the market. It was given the name Schumannianthus dichotomus in the area. Patipata, a water-tolerant plant, can be seen growing around the edges of ponds and other bodies of water. The plant is worth a lot of money. It was first planted by the Bangladesh Forest Department on a commercial plot of wet forest lands. The peel of the plant's stem is used to make a fine mat. Mats are used as a bed cover, a wall mat, and a material for handicrafts. The plant is flourishing despite its lack of attention. It has the ability to regenerate through sprouting. It will continue to grow from generation to generation after you have planted it. The juice of the leaves is used by the locals to treat ear ache. Sheetolpati is wellknown in the broader Sylhet region, as you are all aware. Nelumbo nucifera (padma) is a plant that is used to treat hair problems and is known as takpata by the locals. The species' blossom is particularly huge and spectacular. Diabetic patients love the seeds of such plants. Helencha Alternanthera philoxeroides is a vegetable that is also used as cow feeding. Oenanthe javanika (Panidhone) is a plant that is used as a vegetable and is commercially significant.
Aquatic Centrostachys Thuash, as it is known locally, is also commercially significant and is grown as a vegetable by men in marshes. Stems are offered as a vegetable at the local market. It was utilized by the locals to boost appetizers. It contains therapeutic characteristics that can help with coughs, cold, and stomach problems. The stem paste is highly useful in cases of constipation. I also hypothesized that the stem of such a plant may help to lower blood sugar levels in humans. To prove the local claim of therapeutic capabilities, phytochemical and pharmacognosy studies are required. Ducks consume Azolla pinnata and Azolla filiculoides (Lal khudipana). Cows consume a variety of plants from the Cyperaceae and Poaceae families, including Hygroryza aristata (Jangli dhan), Actinoscirpus grossus (Kasura), and others.
In this location, uncommon species such as Trapa bispinosa (Singara), Nymphaea rubra (Lal shapla), Nelumba nucifera (paddo), Oenanthe javanica (panidhone) and Ottelia alismoides may be found. Only one location in the area has Nymphaea rubra (Lal shapla) and Nelumba mucifera (Padma). This species grows in an undisturbed environment; if any disturbances, such as fishing or farming, occur in the marsh, they will go extinct in the near future.
Only this location grows Ammannia alternifolia, Ammannia gracilis, Centrostachys aquatica (Thuash), Oenanthe javanica (Panidhone), and Ottelia alismoides (Shamakola). These species have a very limited range; throughout my field investigation, I only discovered them in one site. These factories are vital to the economy. Centrostachys aquatica, often known as Thuash, is a plant whose stems are marketed as vegetables in the local market. Oenanthe javanica, also known as Panidhane, is an aquatic herb that grows near water's edge. The plant's shoot is sold as a vegetable in the local market. The juice of the leaves is used to treat jaundice. In the research region, the species is quite uncommon. I discovered it in nature and also saw it at the market. The fruits of Ottelia alismoides, also known as Shamakola, are consumed as vegetables. Because of local demand for their use, these species' populations are extremely scarce. These animals require special attention to ensure their survival. Otherwise, the species will be extinct in the near future. Centrostachys aquatica (Thuash). Population of such species in the wild is very rare because of local demand for the use. These species need to be cared for conservation. Otherwise, the species will be eliminated from the wild very soon. Based on the preliminary survey in Sadullapur Gaibandha, it is very difficult to make sound conclusion on the status of aquatic flora. The results of present study showed that aquatic habitats of Gaibandha district is floristically rich in terms of area and the district is also the home for many rare aquatic plant species of Bangladesh. To make a complete inventory of the aquatic flora of Sadullapur Gaibandha further long term survey is necessary.