Grass Flora of Porbandar District, Gujarat, India

Grasses, with their remarkable abundance and ubiquitous presence, are among the most widespread and diverse group of flowering plants found in a variety of ecosystems. Grasses are members of the Poaceae (Gramineae) family and are integral to our daily lives, serving as a vital source of food, medicine, fodder for livestock, as well as playing a significant role in many other aspects. This article presents a checklist of grasses in Porbandar, a district located in the state of Gujarat, India. A total of 82 species of grasses were recorded, representing 48 genera under 13 tribes. Among the identified species, the dominant genera are Setaria, Chloris, Eragrostis and Panicum. The study also identified several threats to the survival of the grasses in Porbandar, such as habitat loss due to mining and urbanization, overgrazing, and the invasion of exotic plant species, and highlights the socio-economic utilization of the recorded grass species.