Survey of emergent aquatic macrophytes in the district of dharashiv of Maharashtra

Aquatic macrophyte plants are found globally and exhibit a variety of growth forms along with adaptable physiological and metabolic processes that respond to changes in environmental conditions. The majority of macrophyte species are cosmopolitan, and closely related species often replace one another in the aquatic ecosystems across different regions of the world. Macrophytic vegetation encompasses both deep-water and shallow-water species, as well as those that thrive in water in emergent, submerged, or floating forms. While some species are exclusively aquatic, others can grow and reproduce in environments that are periodically flooded. A comprehensive survey was conducted to assess the presence of emergent macrophytes in the waterways of the Dharashiv district in Maharashtra, and the findings were documented. The survey results reveal that a total of species from 27 families were recorded in. The Cyperaceae family was the most prevalent, comprising 39 species, followed by the Poaceae family with 10 species, Nymphaceae with 7 species, and Convolvulaceae with 4 species. Additionally, there were 2 species each from 7 emergent macrophyte families, along with one species from 14 other families. This study offers essential baseline data on the diversity of emergent macrophytes, their comparative status, variability, and distribution within the region.