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.