Ecological Status of Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. and its Associated Plants in the Context of Assam, India

Assam, a state rich in biodiversity, is home to Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb., a fast-growing, seasonal weed that is also consumed as a wild edible. The study revealed that the maximum growth of this weed occurs in the mid-summer months (June to September) in Assam. The plant contains phytochemical parameters like saponin, tannin, protein, flavonoids, steroids, and carbohydrates and is a highly nutritious plant. However, due to limited studies and a lack of proper scientific documentation, the plant remains underutilised. This research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ecological status of the plant in the different study areas under natural ecosystems. The ecological status of Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. reflects the habitat, associated plants, and phytosociological parameters in randomly placed quadrates in different locations of Assam. In the present study the quantitative ecological parameters like Relative density (RD), Relative frequency (RF), Basal area (BA), Relative dominance (R dom), Importance Index Value (IVI), Simpson’s Diversity Index (D), Species richness index (Dmg), and Pielou’s evenness index (I) were conducted for Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. by using standard methodology. The results showed that the average IVI value of this plant was 122.1, which indicated its high regeneration capacity and greater ecological amplitude among the other associated plant species. From this study, we can provide a comprehensive understanding of the ecological study, which may serve as a valuable reference for future research in this field.