Dipor Bil Bird Sanctuary, Guwahati – Flora

Dipor Bil Bird Sanctuary, Guwahati – Flora

The sanctuary comprises of a large variety of aquatic flora of tropical wetland and its adjoining areas. Aquatic vegetation like Giant Water Lily, water hyacinth, aquatic grasses, water lilies and other submerged, emergent, and floating vegetation are found during the summer season. Aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation are seen in the dry areas during winter. Emergent vegetation, water hyacinth patches, net-grass land patches are seen in deep open water area, marshy lands, and mud flats.

A total of 18 genera of phytoplankton are reported from the core area of the Bheel ecosystem out of which species of Oscillatoria and Microcystis are dominant. Some of the aquatic plants found in the sanctuary are Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Ottelia alismoides, Lemna minor, Potamogeton crispus, Vallisneria spiralis, Hydrilla verticillata, Ipomoea aquatica (syn. I. reptans), Azolla pinnata, Spirodela polyrhiza, Eleocharis plantaginea, Nymphaea alba, Nymphaea rubra and Sagittaria sagittifolia.

Euryale ferox, a giant water lily with edible seeds, are leased to earn revenue for the government. Some of the vegetation found on the lake shore are Eupatorium adoratum, Achyranthes aspera, Cyperus esculentus, Phragmites karka, Vitex trifolia, Accium basilium, Saccharum spontaneum and Imperata arundinacea. The dominant tree species in the nearby deciduous forests in the bheel basin are common teak, baheda, banyan, sal and Malabar silk cotton. Aquarium plants, medicinal plant and orchids of commercial value are reported in the surrounding forest areas.