Inventorization and Exploration of Floral Diversity in Metropolitan Cities of India for Their Suitability in Floriculture of Kashmir

Floriculture is the branch of horticulture that deals with the cultivation and management of flowers and ornamental plants and has blossomed into commercial activity with considerable growth and a useful crop diversification option, particularly for small farmers over the past three decades. It is a global industry with significant economic, social, and aesthetic values. Globally 171 countries practice floriculture. India occupies 51st position in terms of exports and contributes Rs. 455 crores which is 0.06% of global trade.

The present study was carried out during the College on Wheels project organized by the Higher Education Council, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, and was aimed to explore the floral and ornamental plant diversity of major metropolitan cities like Delhi, Goa, Bengaluru, Mumbai, etc. of India for evaluating their suitability for introduction in floriculture of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.

The floral and ornamental plant species were explored, photographed, evaluated, identified, and inventorised. A total of 51 species belonging to 23 different families of floral and ornamental plants were explored and evaluated in terms of parameters like climate, soil type, photoperiod requirements, watering needs, and maintenance requirements for their cultivation. It was found that some of the explored species of ornamental plants were already introduced into the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir because the parameters for the successful growth and thriving of these species match with the existing climatic and other conditions in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, the climatic and other requirements of some of the explored species were found in conformity with the climatic and other parameters available in the Union Territory of J&K for the successful establishment and growth of plants. Thus, there is an urgent need to introduce these explored species into the region to enhance the floral diversity of ornamental plants, beautify the landscape, and promote tourism and the generation of better livelihood. The Department of Floriculture should take a lead role in this direction to import these floral and ornamental plant specimens from pan India.

The term "floriculture" is derived from the Latin words "floris" meaning flower and "cultura" meaning cultivation, emphasizing its core objective of cultivating flowers. Floriculture is the study of the efficient production of plants that produce showy, colorful flowers and foliage for human enjoyment and the human environment. It is a commercially successful branch of horticulture and agriculture throughout the world [1].

Floriculture is an international, multi-billion dollar industry. Aptly named as the ‘Sunshine Industry of India’, as it offers self-employment and good remuneration for the small and marginal farmers [2].

It includes a wide array of plant species ranging from annuals, biennials, and perennials to trees, shrubs, climbers, and herbaceous perennials [3].

The scope of floriculture is broad and diverse, covering a wide range of flowering crops, including cut flowers, loose flowers, potted plants, bedding plants, shrubs, and avenue trees used for landscaping and gardens. It also involves the production of various ornamental plants such as cacti, succulents, bromeliads, climbers, foliage plants, orchids, and palms. Additionally, floriculture encompasses the cultivation and management of grasses, ferns, and other flora used in the creation and maintenance of gardens [4].

Floriculture plays a crucial role in enhancing the aesthetic appeal of spaces, whether it be private gardens, public parks, commercial landscapes, or interior spaces. The beauty and fragrance of flowers have a profound impact on the human senses, creating a positive and visually pleasing environment. Flowers also hold cultural and symbolic significance, being used in ceremonies, celebrations, and rituals across different cultures (Dar & Bhat [5].

The significance of floriculture extends beyond the mere cultivation of flowers and plants. It also involves the processing and value addition of floral products, such as essential oils, pigments, and dried flowers, which find applications in perfumery, cosmetics, the food industry, and handicrafts. Floriculture is a highly dynamic and market-oriented industry that caters to the demands of various sectors, including the floral trade, event management, hospitality, and gifting [6].

The practice of floriculture takes place in a variety of settings, ranging from open fields to controlled environments such as greenhouses. With advancements in technology, high-tech floriculture has emerged as a significant aspect of the industry, allowing for year-round cultivation under controlled conditions to meet the demands of both domestic and international markets [7].

Commercially, floriculture is an age-old farming activity in India and has great self-employment opportunities for the poor and marginal Indian farmers. Owing to the diverse climatic conditions in India, there is scope for growing a variety of commercial flowers [8].

J&K is the most colourful state in India and is located between 32°17’ and 37°06’ North latitude and 73°26’ and 80°36’ East longitude, falling in the Western Himalayan region of the country.

The state is endowed with ample natural resources including soil, water, diversity in topography, climatic conditions, and rich natural flora facilitating the cultivation of a wide range of flowers [9].

The floriculture is encouraging to generate more employment avenues and many earn foreign exchange. As per official figures, J&K imports around 90% of its flowers from outside states which indicates that till now we are producing only 10% of flowers which clearly determines the need for the domestic production of flowers [10,11].

Keeping in view the importance of Floriculture in employment generation, the present project aimed to explore, inventory, identify, and evaluate the different floral & ornamental plants growing in different metropolitan cities of India for their incorporation in Floriculture of Jammu & Kashmir.

The floral and ornamental plants of major cities of India were explored, identified, inventoried, and evaluated for their suitability of incorporation in floriculture of Union Territory of J&K. The study was based on the following methodological steps:

Area of study

The present study was undertaken under a special initiative entitled “College on Wheels Programme” organized by the Higher Education Department of Union Territory of J&K in collaboration with the University of Jammu. During the Programme, the college and university students of different universities and their affiliated colleges were taken on board to visit major Indian cities like Delhi, Ahmadabad, Mumbai, Goa, Bengaluru, and Wardha (Figure 1).

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Figure 1: Floral and Ornamental plant specimen exploration sites.

The cities cover almost all climate types ranging from temperate to tropical conditions. The present study involves the exploration and inventorization of different floral and ornamental plants in these major cities of India that were visited during the programme.

Exploration of plant specimens

The different floral and ornamental plants of the major cities of India were explored during the visit. Different easily observable parameters of these plants like habitat, habit, phyllotaxy, leaf shape and size, inflorescence, colour of flowers, etc. were recorded.

Photography of plant specimens

The explored plant specimens were photographed using iPhone 13 with a Global Positioning System software extension to record the actual location of the plant specimens in terms of their Altitude, latitude, and longitude.

Identification of plant specimens

The photographed plant specimens were identified on the basis of their diagnostic features. The identification of the specimens was further evaluated and unravelled by their character comparison with the information and pictorial representations available in some online databases and floras like Tropicos [12], The Plant list [13], World Flora Online [14] and recently developed eFloraofIndia [15].

Recording of phenology

The phenological parameters of the explored and photographed plant specimens were recorded to evaluate their suitability for incorporation in the floriculture of the Union Territory of J&K.

Layout of photographic plates

The photographed plant specimens were suitably designed and presented in a systematic manner using MS PowerPoint (2007) software. The layout of the photographic plate enhances the presentability as well as the readability of plant specimens.

Statistical analysis

Descriptive statistical analysis of different parameters of the plant specimens explored was carried out using MS Excel (2007). The various steps in methodology have been presented sequentially in the flow chart (Figure 2).

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Figure 2: Flow chart of steps in methodology adopted during present study.

Diversity of taxa

The present study aimed to explore the floral and ornamental plant diversity of major cities of India to evaluate their suitability for introduction in floriculture of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir during the College on Wheels project.

A total of 51 species of floral and ornamental plants were explored from different cities during the visit and GPS-enabled photographs of specimens were taken (Figures 3-6).

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Figure 3: Photographs of explored floral & ornamental plants. Chrysanthemum indicum (a) Pentas lanceolata (b) Senna surattensis (c) Bougainvillea glabra (d) Hymenocallis littoralis (e) Furcrea foetida (f) Chrysanthemum grandiflorum (g) Ixora coccinea (h) Dracaena fragrans (i) Calliandra surinamensis (j) Dracaena angustifolia (k) Spathiphyllum blandum (l) Bougainvillea glabra (m) Coleus decurrens (n) Tecoma stans (o) Combretum indicum (p) Catharanthus roseus(q-r) Adenium obesum (s) Celosia dracula(t).

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Figure 4: Photographs of explored floral & ornamental plants. Cordia sebestena (a) Baeleria cristata (b) Ixora chinensis (c) Hippeastrum striatum(d) Lantana camara (e) Nerium oleander (f) Plumeria obtuse (g) Ipomoea pes-caprae (h) Canna indica (i) Cordyline fruticosa (j) Alocasia macrorrhizos (k) Caladium bicolor (l) Agave vivipara (m) Philodendron burle-marxii (n) Dieffenbachia seguine (o) Codiaeum variegatum (p).

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Figure 5: Photographs of explored floral & ornamental plants. Jatropha integerrima (a) Hibiscus fragilis (b) Bougainvillea spectabilis (c) Draconian fragrans (d) Cuphea hyssopifolia (e) Asystasia gangetica (f) Turnera ulmifolia (g) Cosmos caudatus (h) Hibiscus schizopetalus (i) Tradescantia spathacea (j) Iresine diffusa (k) Hibiscus sabdariffa (l) Tabernaemontana divaricata (m) Euphorbia tirucalli (n) Dieffenbachia seguine (o) Araucaria heterophylla (p).

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Figure 6: Family wise distribution of explored floral and ornamental plant specimens.

The majority (50) of the specimens belonged to Angiosperms and a single specimen belonged to Gymnosperms. Further, specimens belonged to 23 different families, 22 families from Angiosperms and 1 family, Aurucariaceae from Gymnosperms (Figure 7). The maximum number of specimens (6) were from the family Asparagaceae followed by Apocynaceae and Araceae with (four) 4 specimens from each family (Figure 6). The genera Bougainvillea, Dracaena, and Hibiscus were the most abundant genera with three species each while the genus Chrysanthemum was represented by two species (Table 1).

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Figure 7: Plant group wise distribution of explored floral and ornamental plant specimens.

Similarly, the plant specimens belonged to all the habit types ranging from herbs, and shrubs to trees. The majority of specimens were herbs (45%) followed by shrubs (41%) and trees (14%) (Figure 8).

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Figure 8: Habit wise distribution of explored floral and ornamental plant specimens.

As per the life span analysis, the specimens were either annuals or perennials with perennials alone contributing 75% of the total specimens (Figure 9).

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Figure 9: Lifespan wise distribution of explored floral and ornamental plant specimens.

The area-wise distribution of the specimens explored showed that the major specimens were explored from Delhi and Goa with a percent value of 27% each followed by Goa & Wardha with a percent value of 14%. The least number of samples were explored from Mumbai with a percent value of 2% (Figure 10).

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Figure 10: Area-wise distribution of explored floral and ornamental plant specimens.

Phenology of explored plant taxa

The various phonological parameters like climate, soil type, photoperiod requirements, watering needs, and maintenance requirements of explored floral and ornamental plant specimens from different cities of visit were tabulated after through literature review (Table 2). From Table 2, it is clear that the majority of the explored plant species grow in the temperature and humidity range of 25 °C to 35 °C and 40 to 60% respectively. Similarly, the majority of species grow in a pH range of 5.5 to 7.0 and require moderate maintenance and watering once a week. Additionally, the majority of species require a photoperiod of 6 to 8 hours.

The status of the explored plant species was investigated through an extensive literature review (Table 3). It is clear from the tabulated data that the majority of explored plant species have not been reported or introduced in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The explored species of floral and ornamental plants that have been reported in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir have been reported from Jammu region of the Union Territory. However, some of the species like Chrysanthemum indicum, C. grandiflorum, Combretum indicum, etc have been reported from both the regions of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.

India is one of the seventeen megadiverse nations of the world harbouring 8.1% of global species including 45000 plant species [16]. The present study was an attempt to explore the floral and ornamental plants that are used in Floriculture and Landscape Gardening in major cities of India. During the study, different plant species belonging to gymnosperms as well as angiosperms were explored. The majority of the plants explored were from angiosperms possibly because angiosperms are more diverse and abundant than gymnosperms as well as due to the presence of attractive habits and variously colored showy flowers [17]. A number of ornamental flowering trees, shrubs, climbers, annuals, biennials, herbaceous perennials, bulbous plants, and others were introduced into the state from England and other European countries, mainly by the Englishmen, civil servants and individual amateurs [18].

The union territory is endowed with ample natural resources including soil, water, diversity in topography, climatic conditions, and rich natural flora facilitating the cultivation of a wide range of flowers (Gupta, 2019). This diversity in parameters like temperature and pH ranges along with the photoperiod requirements offer a scope for the introduction of the species from the explored cities to the union territory of J&K. The evaluated parameters of explored species particularly the temperature and pH ranges match with the existing parameters in Jammu and Kashmir. This is the main reason that some of the explored floral and ornamental plant species of the present study have been reported either in the Jammu or Kashmir region of Union Territory or in both regions.

Additionally, we are living in the era of global climate change during which we have witnessed the shifting of climatic regions [19]. Shifting of climatic regions offers an opportunity to test the floral plants beyond their normal tolerance ranges in terms of their establishment and growth. Therefore, there is an urgent need to harness this global climatic change for the introduction and better adaptability of the plants of different climatic regions. However, in Kashmir regions, we witness snowfall and chilling winters that may hamper the growth of the introduced plants during the winters. This can be overcome by the use of polygreen houses during the winter season. The government should provide suitable floriculture infrastructural facilities to floriculturists like high-tech poly-green houses so that diverse germplasm of floral and ornamental plants can be evaluated for their successful establishment and growth for incorporation into the floriculture of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir [6].

Besides, The Department of Floriculture should have to take a lead role in this direction to import floral and ornamental plant specimens from pan India. This shall not only help in promoting tourism but shall also help in engaging youth in this enterprise for their better livelihood.

Floriculture is an international, multi-billion dollar industry. Aptly named as the ‘Sunshine Industry of India’, as it offers self-employment and good remuneration for the small and marginal farmers. Keeping in view the importance of floriculture in employment generation, the present project aimed to explore, inventory, identify, and evaluate different floral and ornamental plants that are used in Floriculture and Landscape Gardening in major cities of India for their suitability of introduction in Floriculture of Jammu & Kashmir.

During the study, a total of 51 different species belonging to 23 different families of angiosperms and gymnosperms were explored and identified. The species were evaluated in terms of their phonological parameters so as to ascertain their suitability for introduction and establishment in floriculture of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.

The explored plant species revealed more or less uniform requirements of phenological parameters like climate, soil type, photoperiod requirements, watering needs, and maintenance requirements. These phenological parameters match with the existing conditions in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir enabling some of the explored floral and ornamental plant species of the present study to thrive in the Jammu or Kashmir region of the Union Territory or in both regions. There is an urgent need to introduce the rest of the explored species into the region so as to evaluate their establishment which shall not only enhance the landscape of the Union Territory but shall also help in promoting tourism and the generation of better livelihood among the common masses. The Department of Floriculture should take a lead role in this direction to import floral and ornamental plant specimens from pan India.

The authors are highly thankful to the Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Council (JKHEC) and the University of Jammu for organizing this unique “College on Wheels” programme for students. We are also thankful to the Director Colleges (UT of J&K) and Nodal Principal Kashmir Division for our selection.

The mentor is highly thankful to the Principal GDC, Bijbehara for support and encouragement.

The GDC, Bijbehara is also thankful to the parents of the students for allowing them to participate in the project.

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