Plant Diversity Studies in the Rural Homegardens of Honnavar Taluk of Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Abstract
Homegardens in the villages of Honnavar taluk is an integrated production system and a stable ecosystem that maintains the diversity of life as well as biological wealth. Honnavar is one of the Coastal Taluks of Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state. The present study was carried out in 10 villages of Honnavar taluk namely Karki, Haladipur, Mannige, Allanki, Kavalakki, Idagunji, Navilgon, Kelaginoor, Manki and Kadatoka. Of the total 58 homegardens surveyed, 193 plant species were recorded and are distributed among 66 families. The most represented families are Fabaceae (12spp.), Apocyanaceae (11spp.), Cucurbitaceae (10spp.), Euphorbiaceae (10spp.), Acanthaceae (08spp.), Rubiaceae (08spp.), Solanaceae (08spp.), Verbenaceae (07spp.), Asteraceae (06spp.) and Rutaceae (06spp.) in order of decreasing number of species. The survey clearly reveals that the occurrence of medicinal (19.69%), ornamental (35.75%), vegetables (19.69%), fruit (15.03%) yielding plants and miscellaneous (9.84%) uses. Some plants considered as food are also used in culinary. Shrubs are the major life forms (66spp.) followed by trees (62spp.), herbs (33spp.) and climbers (32spp.). The minimum number of plant species recorded in a garden is 49 and the maximum number is 139. Species diversity depends on the size of the garden.
Keywords: Rural Homegarden, Plant Diversity, Honnavar