dr. Chetna Ugale
Survey & Documentation
Survey and documentation of plants at Khateshwar Lake, Kalamb, Yavatmal District
Khateshwar is small village located in Kalamb Taluka in Yavatmal District of Maharashtra state extending from 20°19'46.4"N 78°16'50.0"E. During the last two years (2018-2020), Dr. Chetna Ugale making an observation of Plant diversity around the Khateshwar Lake and identification of medicinally important plants. During the previous visit, she observed more than 10 tree species, 10-15 shrub species, 10-12 number of herbs species, and 09 species of hydrophytes having the ecological as well as medicinal values. Yavatmal region considered a dry climatic zone therefore during January 2018 water level of the lake significantly reduce as compared to other climatic zones.
During January of 2018 the lake was completely dry exposing the lotus leaves and plants on the dry surface. In summer, the lake almost dry every year. But year 2018 was extreme dry. The loss of water cover changes with the seriousenvironmental degradation, posing serious challenges to the villager and stakeholders in the Khateshwar. The loss of water cover emerge the plethora of serious challenges such as loss of green cover around the lake, the migratory birds, flora and fauna around the lake and water bodies etc.
During January 2019 the lake was recovered. The recovery of water cover changes with plantation and fulfill the water requirement of the villager and stakeholders in the Khateshwar. Which also recover the green cover around the lake, the migratory birds, flora and fauna around the lake and water bodies etc.
The Plant diversity in and around lake viz. Ficus benghalensis, Butea monosperma, Ficus religios, Azadirachta indica, Annona squamosa, Acacia nilotica, Leucaena leucocephala, Madhuca indica, Emblica officinalis, etc. Different shrubs like Vitex negundo, Lantana camara, Calotropis procera, Hyptis, Ricinus communis, Hibiscus rosa sinensis etc. and herbs like Solanum xanthocarpum, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Celosia argentea, Sida cordata, Tephrosia purpurea, Hygrophila schulli, Tridax procumbence, phyllanthus niruri, Ocimum sanctum, Nerium, Catharanthus roseus etc. and different hydrophytes Ceratophyllum, Potamogeton, Nelumbo, Nymphoid, Hydrilla, Ipomoea aquatic, Vallesnaria, etc.
