Epidermal (Bark) Pattern of Flora in Roorkee Area

The study area, Roorkee, is based on the Upper Ganges Canal, which flows towards Haridwar, and the sub-tropical zone has both pure and mixed forests. In the study area, out of 124 plants, 6 categories are classified based on visible epidermal patterns or bark. 24 plants belong to the smooth category, 30 plants belong to the lenticels category, 50 plants belong to the ridges category, and 60 plants belong to the furrows category. Some plants belong to more than one category. A total of 124 plant species, belonging to 45 families, were collected and identified from the study area. Fabaceae (17), Moraceae (12), Apocynaceae (10), and Euphorbiaceae (8) are the four main families of flowering plants. The visible epidermal pattern on the stem depends on the age of the plant. The bark is a protective layer on the stem surface that protects the internal parts of the stem. Every stem has a unique pattern of epidermal layer that may help identify and classify plants. It also gives an indication of flora development and climatic conditions in the area. The bark of different plants has medicinal and chemical values. It provides shelter to different types of arthropods, insects, spiders, and nematodes. The book is expected to provide fundamental knowledge and recent information.…