RELATIVE ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF ROSACEAE FROM PROTECTED PARKS IN NORTHERN AREAS OF PAKISTAN

The Rosaceae family is also considered as the rose family. There are 27 genera and nearly 160 species from this family in Pakistan. This study was carried out to determine the diversity and population size of species belonging to the Rosaceae family in selected national parks from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Unbiased stage-sampling was carried out. Four species belonging to the Rosaceae family were observed in Banjosa Game Reserve. Rosa brunonii and Duchesnea indica present, were not enough to calculate relative abundance. Only two species from this family were recorded from Dhirkot National Park, Rubus fruticosus and Fragaria nubicola. Pir Chanasi National Park and Tolipir National Park had the most diversity out of all the National Parks surveyed.


INRODUCTION
describe the Rosaceae family as the rose family with a global distribution. This family consists of more than 3000 species. Strawberries, quince, blackberry and raspberry are famous components of this family. Singh (2014) describe the health benefits of gulkand, an ayurvedic preparation of rose petals that helps in various ailments that include digestive issues and may also be used as an antidepressant. The species from this family are usually used for their ornamental value and wood from the Quince tree is considered good for walking sticks. Landrein et al. (n.d.) cite the presence of 27 genera and nearly 160 species from this family in Pakistan. This study was carried out to determine the diversity and population size of species belonging to the Rosaceae family in selected national parks from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Unbiased stage-sampling was carried out. Zones having similar habitat conditions called the stands were identified. Each vegetative layer (herbs, shrubs and trees) was subjected to transect sampling.
The plants were identified in the field. The classification was confirmed using literary sources of Flora of Pakistan (Landrein et al., 2009). The specimens of all representative species plants were collected, pressed in newspapers, and were brought back to the laboratory. The preserved specimens of plants were identified following Flora of Pakistan (Nasir andAli, 1970-2008;Stewart, 1972;Malik, 1992, 1993).
The transect data was used to develop the vegetative cover occupied in different plant species and transect covers were pooled to develop estimates on the cover occupied by the different plant species in the area ( Table 9). The stand data was subject to computer-based ordination to develop communities based upon the stand similarities in the vegetative composition. The distribution of different phytosociological communities was placed on the map of BGR. The relative distribution of plant communities and major species of plants were mapped. The possible use of the plant species was determined through the information from the local population and through the literature searched.
Plant cover occupied by each species was calculated by dividing the total length shared by each plant species by the length of the transect line (50 m) and converted into the percentage.
The constancy appearance of each species was calculated by the number of transects having the species divided by the total number of transects studied in each stand and expressed in percentage. Each species was assigned one of the five constancy classes (class I = < 21 %, II = 21 -40, III = 41-60, IV = 61-80, V = > 80) following Muller-Dombois and Ellenberg (1974).
The data on the absolute cover occupied by different species in a total of 51 transect samples were analyzed through Cluster Analysis (CA), using PC -ORD version 4.16, 1999 software. The groups of transects, having reasonable similarity in the species composition and cover, were identified using ordination achieved through Cluster Analysis. Each of the groups was recognized as a plant community and was named after the plant species contributing the significant cover.    Common shrub in 1000-1700 m. Very common hedges. Herbs 1.
Edible fruit

Spiraea canescens
Up to 3 m, in the summer it assumes a white coloring, not evergreen.
Walking sticks. Used in medicine, treat diarrhea, can be grown as ornamental pants.

Potentilla nepalensis
Strawberry-like leaves, bearing branches of cup-shaped flowers, beginning in early summer.

Potentilla reptans
Bears solitary flowers, long, in axils, and half-erect, large flowers, sepals being alternately smaller.
Eaten as a fresh fruit, salads, jam, jelly, and chutney, and are often served poached in light syrup.

Pyrus pashia Ham.ex.D.Don (Butangi)
Medium sized, with white flowers that appear along with the young leaves.
Fruits edible and wood used as fuel; medicinal (eye complaints).

3.
Prunus persica (Linn.) Batch (Aru, Peach) Medium sized, up to 8 m, stem erect, branched, woody with grey to red bark; flowers pink with five sepals and five petals; fruit drupe, fleshy and downy, enclosing a hard furrowed one-seeded stone.
Leaves remove maggots from wounds in cattle and dogs, as fodder, firewood, fruit edible, unripe used in chutneys.

Rosa brunonii
Tall, white flowers, climb on tall trees in coniferous Forest, attractive fragrance.
Flowers in skin and eye diseases, as heart tonic, fodder.
(Lucha, Alu bukhara) Small deciduous tree reaching 9-12 m in height Useful for irregular menstruation, debility, miscarriage, fruit can be eaten fresh, canned, or dried, used for alcoholic beverage, liqueurs, hard wood furniture manufacture.

4.
Prunus persica (Linn.) Batch (Aru, Peach) Medium sized, up to 8 m tall, stem erect, branched, woody with grey to red bark, flowers pink with five sepals and five petals, fruit drupe, fleshy and downy, enclosing a hard furrowed one seeded stone.
Leaves used to kill intestinal worms, remove maggots from wounds in cattle and dogs, as fodder for cattle, goats, sheep, as firewood, fruit edible, unripe fruit used in chutneys.
Easily grown plant, succeeds in most fertile soils, preferring a moisture retentive well-drained loamy soil.
Low antigen content diet, useful in the management of immune-mediated diseases such as mixed cryoglobulinemia. Flowers used in skin and eye diseases, recommended by indigenous people in biliousness, flowers as heart tonic.
across in terminal panicles. Flowering: May -September.
Fruit delicious and edible, fresh extract of leaves in urticaria, old leaves in case of Diarrhea, fever and as diuretic, decoction of root in dysentery, colic pains and whooping coughs.
Fruit edible but tasteless, fodder for cattle.
Fruit edible and gathered by locals for sale. The present sampling was undertaken during specific seasons, and hence may not include monsoon ephemerals from some areas for example. The present list mainly presents the diversity of the perennials or deciduous plant species, which can maintain them even during harsh winter, though it may include some of the spring ephemerals. The result suggests that some species appeared in the transect sampling, while the rest of the species (minimum of 47) did not appear in the present sampling, having very rare distribution in certain very specific microhabitat conditions. Hussain et al. (2016) report the presence of twenty-two species from the Rosaceae family in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The species observed were more. The time period for survey was longer, from 2009 to 2012. Akhtar and Begum (2009) conducted a study in Jalala Mardan and observed the presence of Prunus persica from the family Rosaceae. A variety of fruits and other vegetation belonging to this family was reported from Nandiar Khuwarr (Haq et al., 2011). In their survey from 2008 to 2010, Haq et al. (2011)

CONCLUSION
Four species belonging to the Rosaceae family were observed in Banjosa Game Reserve. Rosa brunonii and Duchesnea indica present, were not enough to calculate relative abundance. Only two species from this family were recorded from Dhirkot National Park, Rubus fruticosus and Fragaria nubicola. Pir Chanasi National Park and Tolipir National Park had the most diversity out of all the National Parks surveyed.