Floristic Study along the Banks of River Narmada at Hoshangabad (Narmadapuram), Madhya Pradesh, India

This study documents the floristic diversity along the riparian zones of the River Narmada in Hoshangabad (Narmadapuram), Madhya Pradesh. Serving as a crucial ecological interface between terrestrial and aquatic habitats, the region supports a rich variety of plant life. Extensive field surveys were conducted across different seasons, identifying a total of 131 plant species. The documented flora is predominantly represented by dicotyledons (84 species), with a notable presence of monocots (25 species), aquatic macrophytes (19 species), and pteridophytes (3 species). The dominance of dicot trees indicates strong adaptation to the terrestrial and semi-arid conditions of the tropical dry deciduous forest zone. However, ecological observations reveal significant anthropogenic pressure along the river ghats and a rising dominance of invasive species such as Argemone mexicana, Lantana camara, and Parthenium hysterophorus. While the high species diversity indicates a relatively stable ecosystem, the proliferation of invasive taxa and human interference underscore the urgent need for targeted conservation planning, invasive species management, and community awareness programs