Plant taxonomic diversity of Barunei Hill, Eastern Ghats, India

The present study on Barunei Hill documented 149 plant species. Out of 149, native species and non-native species are 125 and 24, respectively. Native species account for 4.58% of the 2,727 species recorded in the flora of Odisha. Native species belong to 112 genera and 50 families at the same time non-native species represent 23 genera and 15 families. Of the 125 native species, 43 are trees, 37 herbs, 29 shrubs, and 16 lianas/twiners/climbers. The 10 most speciose native families are Fabaceae (11), Malvaceae (11), Acanthaceae (11), Rubiaceae (7), Euphorbiaceae (6), Rutaceae (6), Apocynaceae (5), Cyperaceae (4), Lamiaceae (4), and Poaceae (3). According to the IUCN Red List status, the herb Eriocaulon sharmae R.Ansari & N.P.Balak. is ‘Critically Endangered’. This taxonomic diversity study provides baseline information for sustainable ecosystem management and conservation in tropical and subtropical forest ecosystems.