Floristic diversity and vascular plant contributions of Wari-La trans Himalaya Ladakh India

Ladakh, a high-altitude cold desert in the Indian, Trans-Himalayan region, is home to diverse and ecologically significant plant species, many of which possess high medicinal properties. However, due to its harsh climatic conditions, rugged terrain and geopolitical constraints, floristic research in this region remains incomplete. The Present study focuses on the documentation of the Wari-La region, a high-altitude pass between the Indus and Nubra Valleys, which has been largely overlooked in previous botanical explorations. Extensive field surveys were conducted from April to October in 2023 and 2024 to document the vascular plant species across an altitudinal gradient from 4000 to 6000 m above mean sea level. A total of 82 species were recorded, contributing significantly to the existing knowledge of Ladakh’s flora. These species belong to 27 families, with Asteraceae being the dominant family (25 species), followed by Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, and Lamiaceae (5 species each); Caryophyllaceae, Polygonaceae, Saxifragaceae and Ranunculaceae (4 species each); Crassulaceae and Rosaceae (3 species each); Boraginaceae, Cyperaceae, Gentianaceae, and Primulaceae (2 species each); and Apiaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Cystopteridaceae, Ephedraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Liliaceae, Orobanchaceae, Plantaginaceae, Plumbaginaceae, Poaceae, Selaginellaceae, Urticaceae and Rhamnaceae (1 species each). The findings of this study indicate that the plant diversity of higher-altitude regions follows a similar distribution pattern to central Ladakh, where approximately 25% of species are unique to high-altitude zones. Given the region’s rich medicinal plant diversity and its role in traditional healing systems Sowa-Rigpa, the study underscores the need for further botanical research and conservation efforts. The results provide a foundation for future floristic and ethnobotanical studies and contributing to the sustainable utilization and preservation of Ladakh’s unique plant biodiversity.