Floristic Diversity, Spatial Distribution and Conservation Status of Sacred Forest Fragment in West Coast of Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu, India

Sacred forest fragments are virgin or natural landscape with a diverse range of species that have been protected by the villages from various anthropogenic activities due to its cultural, religious beliefs and taboos. These groves serve as important reservoirs for preserving indigenous plant species and as a refuge for Rare and Threatened (RET) species. The present study was aimed to carry out in Muppuram coastal Sacred grove of Kanyakumari district to know about the plant diversity, structure and regeneration pattern of trees and their botanical significance. About 102 plant species were recorded from the total area (ca. 0.2 ha.) of the grove studied, Malvaceae was the dominant family. The vegetation of the grove clearly indicates tropical dry evergreen forest, seedling taxa were dominating the older one (>160 cm). The data will be useful in determining the current status of tree species by the ecologist, environmentalist and conservationist to establish management plans immediately for conservation of plant taxa in the grove.