Sidanand Kambhar

Flowering Plants with Reference to Temple Complexes in Bijapur Sidanand Kambhar

Bijapur district is located in the northern part of Karnataka state. It is situated between 15° 50?- 17° 28? north latitudes and 74° 59?- 76° 28? east longitudes and lies between two major rivers namely the Krishna and the Bhima. Around ten sacred groves/temple complexes have been identified and surveyed for its floral components. Among these, good numbers of species have been recorded from Mugulkod math, Ashrama and Laxmi temple, Torvi. The present study reveals that, in all 10 sacred groves/complexes around 139 taxa, (including cultivars) belonging to 121 genera and 52 families of angiosperms were documented. Among the total number of taxa, 81 species comes under wild category and 58 spp. cultivars. Around 18 species have been recorded as sacred species. Thus, the enumeration of the sacred grove at ten selected complexes of Bijapur area, and their assessment of the floristic wealth, medicinal importance would provide a strong basis for evolving measures for their protection.