Comparison of Floral Diversity in Fresh Water and Salt Water Wetland Sacred Groves of Kannur District

Abstract

Kannur District of Kerala is having 352 major sacred groves. Some of the  sacred groves are found in the salt water and fresh water wetlands.  Present paper compares the floral diversity in two sample sacred groves of which one is present in fresh water wetland and the other in salt water wetland. The methodology adapted for the study was the frequent field visit and identification of flora with the help of authentic books and experts in the field.  Pungot Kavu is a  fresh water wetland having Myristica swamp where  Hopea parviflora, Myristica malabarica, Knema attenuata etc are abundant.  Myristica malabarica is the dominant species.  ThazheKavu is a salt water wetland with mangrove ecosystem.  The dominant species are Bruguiera cylindrica, Avicennia officinalis, Rhizophora apiculata etc. Two entirely different type of vegetation is found in these sacred groves which is dependant on the nature of water available to plants.  Some of the plants are found in both the type of scared groves.   Sacred groves played an important role in conserving water resources.