Angiosperm diversity of riparian zone of Kuppam river, Kannur, Kerala, India: 1- Checklist of trees and herbs

This study was undertaken to analyse the riparian flora of the Kuppam River in Kannur District, Kerala, India. A total of 337 plant species were recorded, comprising 197 herbs and 140 trees. Among the herbs, Poaceae was the dominant family with 21 species, while Moraceae represented the highest number of tree species with 16. The recorded tree species belonged to 41 angiosperm families, and the herbs were distributed across 45 families. The overall vegetation pattern reflects characteristics of a tropical rainforest ecosystem, as evidenced by the presence of representative families such as Dipterocarpaceae, Lauraceae, and Clusiaceae. Additionally, families including Balsaminaceae, Orchidaceae, and Podostemaceae, known for their requirement of specific tropical climatic conditions, were also documented. The riparian vegetation of the Kuppam River further comprises several endemic and rare, endangered and threatened species, highlighting its ecological significance and the need for conservation attention.