MACROPHYTE COMPOSITION OF MARSHY ECOSYSTEMS

OF CACHAR DISTRICT, ASSAM, NORTH-EAST INDIA

Keisham Bijyalakshmi Devi

PHYCOLOGY AND LICHENOLOGY LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
ASSAM UNIVERSITY, SILCHAR
ASSAM 788011

CHARTING AND MANAGING BIODIVERSITY: PERCEPTIONS AND PRIORITIES [CMBPP-2016]

Wetlands are lands transitional between terrestrial and

aquatic ecosystem where the water table usually at or
near the surface or the land is covered by shallow
waters
According to the Ramsar Convention (1971) wetlands
are defined as areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water,
whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary,
with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or
salt, including areas of marine water the depth of
which at low tide does not exceed six meters.
Wetlands hold a vast and varied repository of
biodiversity, rich in plants, fish, mammals, birds and
other animals. They include lakes, ponds, mangroves,
swamps, marshes and coral reefs.

 Wetlands are abode to a variety of aquatic plants called macrophytes or

hydrophytes. They act as a nutrient source and sink and substratum for various
aquatic life forms and a major source of carbon storage.
Many works have been carried out on the macrophytic diversity and composition in
the wetlands of North-East India. However, literature survey reveals that work on
macrophytic composition and diversity of marshy areas of Cachar district is lacking.
The current study was conducted to evaluate the macrophytic composition of three
marshy wetlands of Cachar district and selected physico-chemical characteristics of
water.
Moreover the economic importance of these macrophytes were also conducted.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

STUDY AREA
Cachar district is located in the southernmost part of Assam, North-East India. It
lies between 9224E and 9315E longitude and 2422N and 258N latitude and is
surrounded by the states of Manipur in the east, Mizoram in the south, south-west
by the state of Tripura and Meghalaya in the west.
For the present study, three study sites were selected from three different marshy
ecosystems which were located around Assam University, Silchar, namely
Barjalenga, Irongmara and Dargakona.

Dargakona

Irongmara

Barjalenga

Fig1. Map showing the study sites

SITES

Latitude

Longitude

BARJALENGA

N 244025.1

E 924328.0

DARGAKONA

N 244200.5

E 924522.9

IRONGMARA

N 244147.8

E 924356.5

DARGAKONA

BARJALENGA

IRONGMARA

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Analysis of physico- chemical parameters of water
Water samples were collected on a monthly basis from May 2012 to October 2012 and their
analysis was/were performed in triplicate following standard procedures (APHA, 2005; Wetzel
and Likens, 1979).
Water temperature (WT) of the study sites were measured on spot using a thermometer in unit C.
pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured by using Systronics pH system 362 and by
Systronics Conductivity TDS Meter 308 respectively,
Dissolved oxygen (DO) was determined by Winklers method (1888),
Free CO2 was obtained by titrimetric method and
Alkalinity was determined by titration with colour indicator solution in the laboratory.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Macrophyte Collection and Identification

The macrophytes were collected on a monthly basis from May 2012 to October
2012 in the morning around 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. from the study sites.
The macrophytes with flowers and other vegetative parts were collected to make
the identification more accurate and easy. Further morphological analysis and
identification was done using standard keys.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Statistical Analysis
One way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the statistical
significance of difference in physico-chemical parameters of water of the
three study sites Using SPSS 20

RESULTS

Table 1. Selected physico- chemical parameters of water at the three study sites
Sites

BARJALENGA

DARGAKONA

IRONGMARA

WT(C)

28.67

28.61

30.1

pH

6.98

7.23

7.3

EC(S cm-1)

32.1

28.19

41.7

DO(mgL-1)

2.37

3.47

4.62

FCO2(mgL-1)

2.49

2.39

1.81

TA(mgL-1)

14.67

18.3

14.56

Parameters

BARJALENGA

DURGAKONA

IRONGMARA

35
30
25
WT(C)

20
15
10
5
0

41030

41061

41091

41122

41153

41183

Fig.2. Monthly variations in Water temperature at the three study sites

Mean WT (C) at the three study sites were Irongmara (30.1 C) Barjalenga (28.67 C) and Dargakona
(28.61C)
Highest water temperature was recorded at Irongmara during Aug 2012 (33C) and lowest at Dargakona
(26.67 C ) during May 2012
WT of the three sites was found to be statistically significant different as determined by One way ANOVA.
F =6.074, p<0.05

BARJALENGA
10
9
8
7
6
5
pH
4
3
2
1
0

41030

41061

DURGAKONA

41091

IRONGMARA

41122

41153

41183

Fig.3. Monthly variations in pH at the three study sites

pH value falls in the range of slight acidic to alkaline nature
Mean pH: Barjalenga-6.99, Dargakona- 7.23, Irongmara-7.34
Highest pH was recorded at Dargakona during October 2012 (7.62) and lowest at Barjalenga during October
2012 (6.55)
No statistically significant difference in pH among the sites (F=5.721, p>0.05)

BARJALENGA

DURGAKONA

IRONGMARA

60
50
40
EC(S/ cm )

30
20
10
0

41030

41061

41091

41122

41153

41183

Fig.4. Monthly variations in Electrical Conductivity (S cm -1 ) at the three study sites

Mean EC (S cm-1): Barjalenga- 32.05 (S cm-1), Dargakona- 28.19 (S cm-1) , Irongmara- 41.72 (S
cm-1)
Highest EC was recorded at Irongmara during September 2012 (51.20 S cm-1), Lowest at Dargakona
during June 2012 (19.07 S cm-1)
Statistically significant difference in EC among the sites (F=28.133, p<0.05)

BARJALENGA
9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
DO(mg/L 4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0

41030

DURGAKONA

41061

41091

IRONGMARA

41122

41153

41183

Fig.5. Monthly variations in DO (mgL-1) at the three study sites

Mean DO: Barjalenga- 2.37 (mgL-1) , Dargakona- 3.47 (mgL-1) , Irongmara-4.63 (mgL-1)
Highest DO was recorded at Dargakona during July 2012 (8.30 mgL-1) and lowest at Barjalenga during
July 2012 (1.52 mgL-1)
Statistically significant difference in DO among the sites (F=9.248, p<0.05)

BARJALENGA

DURGAKONA

IRONGMARA

5.0
4.0
FCO2(mgL-1)

3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0

41030

41061

41091

41122

41153

41183

fco2

Fig.6. Monthly variations in FCO2 (mgL-1) at the three study sites

Mean FCO2 : Barjalenga- 2.49 (mgL-1), Dargakona- 2.40 (mgL-1), Irongmara- 1.81 (mgL-1)
Highest FCO2 recorded at Barjalenga during August 2012 (4.69 mgL-1), Lowest at Irongmara during June
2012 (0.88 mgL-1)
Statistically significant difference in FCO2 among the sites (F=3.311, p<0.05)

BARJALENGA

DURGAKONA

IRONGMARA

25.0
20.0
TA(mgL-1)

15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0

41030

41061

41091

41122

41153

41183

Fig.7. Monthly variations in TA (mgL-1) at the three study sites

Mean TA : Barjalenga-14.67 (mgL-1) , Dargakona-18.33 (mgL-1) , Irongmara- 14.56 (mgL-1)
Highest and lowest TA was recorded at Irongmara during May 2012 (20.67 mgL-1)) and September 2012 (9.33 mgL1
) respectively.
Statistically significant difference in TA among the sites (F=7.697, p<0.05)

Table 2. List of Macrophyte species found in the three study sites

SL. NO. FAMILY
1
Alismataceae
2
3
4
5

Azollaceae
Ceratophyllaceae
Convolvulaceae

Cyperaceae

7
8
9

Hydrocharitaceae
Lentibulariaceae
Marseliaceae

10
11

Menyanthaceae
Nymphaeaceae

12

MACROPHYTE
Sagittaria gauyanensis Kunth.

BARJALENGA

DARGAKONA

IRONGMARA

Sagittaria latifolia Willd.

Azolla pinnata R. Brown
Ceratophyllum demersum Linnaeus
Ipomea fistulosa ex Choisy
Eleocharis acutangula (Roxburgh)
Schultes
Hydrilla verticillata (Linnaeus fil.)
Royle
Utricularia aurea Loureiro
Marselia minuta Linnaeus
Nymphoides macrosperma R.
Vasudevan (Nair)
Euryale ferox Salisbury

Nymphaea nouchali N. L. Burman

Ludwigia adscendens (Linnaeus) H.
Hara
Hygroriza aristata (Retzius) Nees ex
Wright et Arnott

13

Onagraceae

14

Poaceae

15

Leersia hexandra Swartz

Polygonum barbatum Linnaeus sensu
Polygonaceae
lato
Eichhornia crassipes (Martius) SolmsPontederiaceae
Laubach
Monochoria hastata (Linnaeus) SolmsLaubach
Monochoria vaginalis (N. L. Burman)
Kunth
Salviniaceae
Salvinia natans Linnaeus
Mimulus orbicularis Wallich ex
indicates
presence,Bentham
- indicates
Scrophulariaceae

16
17
18
19
20
21+

Macrophyte Diversity
A total of 22 macrophytes belonging to 17 families were found in the three
study sites.
Irongmara showed the highest number of macrophytes (18) from 14 different
families, followed by Dargakona (15) and Barjalenga (14) obtained from 12
different families each.
Eight macrophytes, namely Sagittaria latifolia, Salvinia natans, Polygonum
barbatum, Ludwigia adscendens, Utricularia aurea, Monochoria hastata,
Hydrilla verticillata and Leersia hexandra were common to all the three sites.

Table 3. List of macrophyte and their growth form

1

Family

Macrophyte

Growth form

Alismataceae

Sagittaria gauyanensis Kunth.

Rooted floating leaved

Sagittaria latifolia Willd.

Rooted floating leaved

Azollaceae

Azolla pinnata R. Brown

Free floating

Ceratophyllaceae

Ceratophyllum demersum Linnaeus

Submerged

Convolvulaceae

Ipomea fistulosa Martius ex Choisy

Swampy hydrophytes

Cyperaceae

Eleocharis acutangula (Roxburgh) Schultes

Rooted emergent leaved

Hydrocharitaceae

Hydrilla verticillata (Linnaeus fil.) Royle

Submerged

Lentibulariaceae

Utricularia aurea Loureiro

Submerged

Marsileaceae

Marsilea minuta Linnaeus

Rooted floating leaved

Menyanthaceae

Nymphoides macrosperma R. Vasudevan (Nair)

Free floating

10

Nymphaeaceae

Euryale ferox Salisbury

Rooted floating leaved

Nymphaea nouchali N. L. Burman

Rooted floating leaved

11

Onagraceae

Ludwigia adscendens (Linnaeus) H. Hara

Free floating

12

Poaceae

Hygroriza aristata (Retzius) Nees ex Wright et Arnott

Free floating

Leersia hexandra Swartz

Free floating

13

Polygonaceae

Polygonum barbatum Linnaeus sensu lato

Swampy hydrophytes

14

Pontederiaceae

Eichhornia crassipes (Martius) Solms-Laubach

Free floating

Monochoria hastata (Linnaeus) Solms-Laubach

Rooted emergent leaved

Monochoria vaginalis (N. L. Burman) Kunth

Rooted emergent leaved

15

Salviniaceae

Salvinia natans Linnaeus

Free floating

16

Scrophulariaceae

Mimulus orbicularis Wallich ex Bentham

Submerged

17

Typhaceae

Trapa natans Linnaeus var. bispinosa (Roxburgh Makino)

Rooted floating leaved

 The growth forms of the macrophytes showed that free floating macrophytes comprised
the highest value of 32% followed by rooted floating leaved by 27%, 18% by submerged
macrophytes followed by rooted emergent leaved macrophytes by 14% and least by
swampy hydrophytes by 9%.
Out of this, Pontederiaceae was found to have high number of species (3), followed by
Alistamaceae, Nymphaeaceae and Poaceae with 2 species each and with 1 species each from
-Azollaceae, Ceratophyllaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cyperaceae, Hydrocharitaceae,
Lentibulariaceae, Marseliaceae, Menyanthaceae, Onagraceae, Polygonaceae, Salviniaceae,
Schophulariaceae and Typhaceae.

Table 4. List of macrophyte with local names and their usage

SL.
NO.
1
2
3
4
5

FAMILY
Alismataceae
Alismataceae
Azollaceae
Ceratophyllaceae
Convolvulaceae

6
7
8
9

Cyperaceae
Hydrocharitaceae
Lentibulariaceae
Marseliaceae

10
11
12
13

Menyanthaceae
Nymphaeaceae
Nymphaeaceae
Onagraceae

14 Poaceae
15 Poaceae
16 Polygonaceae
17 Pontederiaceae
18 Pontederiaceae
19 Pontederiaceae
20 Salviniaceae
21 Scrophulariaceae
22 Typhaceae

MACROPHYTE
LOCAL NAME
Sagittaria gauyanensis Kunth.
Chotukut
Sagittaria latifolia Willd.
Chotukut
Azolla pinnata R. Brown
Pinna pata
Ceratophyllum demersum Linnaeus
Pani chowla ghas
Ipomea fistulosa ex Choisy
Khagra
Eleocharis acutangula (Roxburgh)
Schultes
Ghas
Hydrilla verticillata (Linnaeus fil.) Royle Pani ghas
Utricularia aurea Loureiro
Jal pani ghas
Marselia minuta Linnaeus
Jhunpata
Nymphoides macrosperma R. Vasudevan
(Nair)
Satla/ bet phool
Euryale ferox Salisbury
Pado/ Gangi pata
Nymphaea nouchali N. L. Burman
Bet phool
Ludwigia adscendens (Linnaeus) H. Hara Pani met
Hygroriza aristata (Retzius) Nees ex
Wright et Arnott
Baramasi ghas
Leersia hexandra Swartz
Tatu ghas
Polygonum barbatum Linnaeus sensu
Marcha ghas/ Junglee morich
lato
ghas/ kukura/ Jhal pata
Eichhornia crassipes (Martius) SolmsLaubach
Germani
Monochoria hastata (Linnaeus) SolmsLaubach
Kajol lota
Monochoria vaginalis (N. L. Burman)
Kunth
Chotu kajol lota
Salvinia natans Linnaeus
Bhasi germani
Mimulus orbicularis Wallich ex Bentham Kunjalata
Trapa natans Linnaeus var. bispinosa
(Roxburgh Makino)
Singhara pata/ Singai kata

USES
Used as
Used as
Used as
Used as
Used as

fodder for livestock

fodder for livestock
fish feed
fodder for livestock
a fencing material

Used as fodder for livestock

Fodder for livestock and fish feed
Use as fish feed
Medicinal use
Used as a decorative
Mainly eaten by wild birds
The fruit is eaten as snacks
Used as fodder for livestock
Used as food by livestock
Used as food by livestock
Insect repellent or pesticide
Used as manure
Young buds are eaten as food
The young buds and stems are eaten as food
Used in fishery ponds for fish breeding
Used as food by livestock
Used as food

 These macrophytes were used as food and fodder for livestock, as fish feed, in fencing,
in medicinal purposes, as a decorative, as pesticides, manure etc.
Further, the study revealed distinct difference in the occurrence of some unique
macrophytes present in these ecosystems. These macrophytes were Trapa natans,
Euryale ferox and Marselia minuta in Irongmara, Eleocharis acutangula and Azolla
pinnata in Dargakona and Ceratophyllum demersum in Barjalenga.
In addition to this, Nymphoides macrosperma, Monochoria hastate, Hydrilla verticillata
and Utricularia aurea were present in the three study sites during the study period.

Plate 1.

Hydrilla verticillata

Trapa natans

Ludwigia adscendens

Nymphoides macrosperma

Hygroriza aristata

Euryale ferox

Plate 2.

Sagittaria gauyanensis

Marselia minuta

Utricularia aurea

Monochoria hastata

Azolla pinnata

Salvinia natans

Plate 3.

Nymphaea nouchali

Eichhornia crassipes

Eleocharis acutangula

Monochoria vaginalis

Polygonum barbatum

Sagittaria latifolia

CONCLUSION
Physico-chemical characteristics/parameters in the three study sites were different in each
marshy wetlands except for pH.
The pH value in the study sites ranged from slightly acidic to alkaline nature.
Ionic concentrations s determined by EC were low in the three marshy ecosystems.
Oxygen (DO) concentration was moderate in the water and FCO2 level depends on DO
inverse relation).
22 macrophytes belonging to 17 families were found
Irongmara showed the highest number of macrophytes (18) from 14 different families,
followed by Dargakona (15) and Barjalenga (14) obtained from 12 different families each.

 Some unique macrophytes present in these ecosystems were Trapa natans, Euryale ferox
and Marselia minuta in Irongmara, Eleocharis acutangula and Azolla pinnata in Dargakona
and Ceratophyllum demersum in Barjalenga.
Eight macrophytes, namely Sagittaria latifolia, Salvinia natans, Polygonum barbatum,
Ludwigia adscendens, Utricularia aurea, Monochoria hastata, Hydrilla verticillata and
Leersia hexandra were common to all the three sites.
These macrophytes were used as food and fodder for livestock, as fish feed, in fencing, in
medicinal purposes, as a decorative, as pesticides, manure etc.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to extend my thanks to the Dean, School of

Environmental Studies, Head of Department, Department of Ecology
and Environmental Science, Assam University, all the faculty members,
teaching and non teaching staff of this Department for their constant
encouragement and help. I would like to acknowledge UGC-AUS, DBT
and DST for the financial support. A huge gratitude to my family for
their support in my work.

THANK
YOU