Abstract

Since historic times, human beings were basically in need of plants for satisfying their daily requirements like food, shelter, clothes and medicine. Due to close relationship with environment they established a distinctive system of knowledge concerning the utilization of plants. The human and animal life depends on the life supporting plant species surrounding the area. It has now become a concern of the modern world to preserve and gather all information and utility of these plant species. This paper highlights the study of ecologically important and life supporting plant species growing in Little Rann of Kachchh, a unique ecosystem and natural heritage site for wild ass. During this study about 108 plant species (44-herbs, 35- grasses, 12-shrubs, 10-trees and 7-climbers) have been observed in the study area. The most common species belong to dominant families like Poaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Papilionaceae, Cyperaceae and Chenopodiaceae. The fringe area is covered mainly with Prosopsis juliflora. However, islands (bets) are mostly covered with Suaeda fruticosa and Suaedanudiflora. The plants species like Salvadora persica, Salvadora oleoides, P. juliflora, Tamarix aphyll, Urochondra setulosa are ecologically important. The plant species likeCrotolaria burhia, Capparis decidua, Commiphora wightii, S. persica, S. oleoides, Cyperus bulbosus and Pentatropis spiralis etc are life supporting plants.

Key words: Little Rann of Kachchh, life supporting plant, ecology.