Tree diversity in sacred groves of the Jaintia hills in Meghalaya, northeast India

Biodiversity of woody species was investigated in Ialong and Raliang sacred groves of the Jaintia hills in Meghalaya, northeast India. These groves represent the climax subtropical broad-leaved forest of the area. A total of 738 individuals belonging to 82 species, 59 genera and 39 families was identified in a 0.5 ha plot of the Ialong sacred grove, whereas the same area in the Raliang sacred grove had 469 individuals of 80 species, 62 genera and 41 families. About 32% species were common to both groves. Lauraceae, with 10-17 species, was the dominant family. The canopy and subcanopy strata were respectively composed of 28 and 33% of the total tree species in the forest. The number of species as well as stem density were greater for the trees of lower dbh (5-15 cm) class compared to the higher ( 66 cm) dbh class. The majority of the species showed a contagious distribution pattern and low frequency. The basal area varied from 57.4 to 71.4 m(2) ha(-1). Species richness within the forest varied from 3 to 15 per 100 m(2) in Ialong and 3 to 12 per 100 m(2) in Raliang. The dominance-distribution curves showed high equitability and low dominance in both groves.