Picea

Rahman, A. U., Ullah, Z., Qureshi, R., Burslem, D. F. R. P. & Mashwani, Z. U. R., 2022, Composition and structure of plant communities in the Moist Temperate Forest Ecosystem of the Hindukush Mountains, Pakistan, Brazilian Journal of Biology (e 266637) 82, pp. 1-14 : 6

3.6. Picea - Salix - Primula community (PSP)

Picea - Salix - Primula possesses an average number of 81 plant species concerning other community types in the study area. This association was found in 12 sampling sites accompanied by 81 plant species located between 2087-2865m.The representative indicator species of this vegetation type were Picea smithiana , Salix acmophylla and Primula rosea with the highest importance values (76.6 IVI), (28.9 IVI) and (7.3 IVI) respectively. The second topmost dominant species of trees were Abies pindrow (107.1 IVI) and Pinus wallichiana (123.2 IVI) while shrubby vegetation included Viburnum cotinifolium (54.3 IVI), Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana (70.3 IVI), Indigofera heterantha (41.7 IVI) and Zanthoxylum armatum (24.9 IVI). Among 55 herb species of PSP association 6 plant species were co-dominant of which Ajuga bracteosa (6.2 IVI), Carex schlagintweitiana (5.5 IVI), Solena amplexicaulis (5.2 IVI), Veronica anagalis-aquatica (5.2 IVI), Impatiens edgeworthi (4.8 IVI) and Plantago lanceolate (4.6 IVI). The loamy soil of PSP community contained 10.3-2.4% calcium carbonate, 133.4± 113.57 mg /Kg potassium, 3.23- 1.91 mg / Kg phosphorus, 0.29-0.14%nitrogen, 2.9-2.1% organic matter and EC 0.19-0.07 dSm-1. Soil pH values were 6.2- 4.5 with clay 7.3-2.4%, sand 29.7-15.3% and silt 39.6-33.7%. The community was affected by moderate grazing and deforestation.