PLANT INTRODUCTIONS AND CHANGES IN THE FLORISTIC COMPOSITION:A CASE STUDY ON NAGOBASACRED GROVE FROMNORTHERN TELANGANA, INDIA

The Nagobha sacred grove is located at keslapur village in the Indervellimondal of Adilabad district in the Northern Telangana state. The grove is the deity (a god or goddess) of the primitive tribes of mesram clan of the raj gonds. The deity represents serpent god (Shesh Nag) offers prayers by the entire gonds community. Every year in the pushyamasam in the months of January and February they celebrate the Nagoba carnival (Nagobajathara) one of the second biggest tribal carnival in the Telangana state. The sacred grove is located in the lap of natural forest area, which is adjoining to the one of the Kawal Tiger reserve corridors of Utnoor division. The sacred grove surround area (30 acres) declared as nagobavanam. The present studies mainly focused on exploration of floristic diversity in the nagobavanam. During the study a total of 88 species of flowering plants belongs to 37families reported from the study area. Out of total 39 species are representing wild species naturally growing and 49species are introduced (Native/exotics). The composition of native and exotic plants is almost equal number (Table 1). The floristic composition and the threats and pressure pertaining to nagoba sacred grove and its adjoining natural forest discussed in detail.