Diversity and Utilization of Aquatic Plants in Hua Khua Village, Tambol Tha Khon Yang, Kantarawichai District, Maha Sarakham Province

Abstract

The diversity and utilization of aquatic plants in Hua Khua village, Tambol ThaKhon Yang, Kantarawichai district, Maha Sarakham province between January and December 2018. Survey and collected followed by interviews traditional uses of aquatic plants. The collected plants belong to 29 genera, 33 species in 23 families of aquatic plants. The Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons were 11 families comprising 18 species in 15 genera and 14 species in 13 genera, respectively. The Pteridophytes has 1 species. Families exhibiting the most diversity were Cyperaceae, followed by Araceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae and Apiaceae, respectively. The aquatic plants in this area can be divided into three groups, the marginal plant group is the most diverse followed by floating plant group and emerged plant group. It was revealed that the traditional uses of aquatic plants in this study area were most frequently used for foods, medicines, ornamental plants, other uses, basketwork and in rituals. The UV values and CI values were calculated for Oryza sativa L., Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (1.5), indicating that rice and lotus are the most important and necessary to the community.