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Distributions of plant species over the earth's surface are neither random nor even, but are geographic specific and characterized by specific sets of environmental and climatic factors. The current study aimed to classify the vegetation along the River Panjkora of the district Dir Lower, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan into different phytogeographic units via exercising the Multivariate statistical techniques. Vegetation sampling was carried out through quadrat quantitative ecological techniques. Quadrats of various sizes i.e. 1 * 1 [m.sup.2], 5 * 5 [m.sup.2] and 10 * 10 [m.sup.2] were taken for herbs, shrubs and trees, respectively. Inclusively 215 plant species belong to 22 different phytogeographic elements were analysed and documented. The most dominant category of phytogeographic element was Irano-Turanian with 77 species, followed by Cosmopolitan 25 species, Holarctic 23 species, Pluriregional 19 species, Mediterranean 16 species, Western Himalayan 14 species, Paleotropical 12 species and Eastern Asiatic 6 species. Eurasian, Euro-Siberian and Saharo-Arabian were represented by 3 species, Tropical, Sub-cosmopolitan and Pantropical contribute by 2 species while Paleotemperate, South American, Australian, American, African and central Asian element by a single species. The relationship of various phytogeographic elements with different environmental variables such as pH, EC, TDS, Mn, Ni, Co, Cr, Cu, Cd, Zn, Fe, Na, Ca, Mg and K were determined via Canonical and Detrended Correspondence Analyses. We have observed that with the increase in nutrients concentration i.e., Mn, Co, Mg & Ni the number of Irano-Turanian, Cosmopolitan, Holarctic, Mediterranean & Western Himalayan elements increases while with the decrease in nutrients Cr, Cu, Cd and Na concentration the number of Australian, Sub-Cosmopolitan, Sahro-Arabian, Euro-Siberian, Tropical, American, and Pantropical phytogeographical elements decreases. Therefore, we conclude that there is a direct relationship between phytogeographic elements and soil nutrients that is obviously coupled with the genetic mechanism and natural selection of the species. The area hosting a diverse flora and having a strong correlation with a specif! sets of edaphic and climatic factors. We also elucidate that the area along the river is a hub for various phytogeographical elements and could further be explored from mycorrhizal, genetic, and species migration point of views. Keywords Phytogeographic elements * Multivariate analyses * River Panjkora * Hindu Kush Mountain range, Introduction Plant species are distributed neither even nor random across the globe but they are distributed in a distinct pashion along the geographical units driven by specific environmental and climatic [...]

Since the Palaeozoic era, fire as a potent driver of environmental changes, has dramatically shaped the terrestrial ecosystems. Fire affects soil structure and composition, which in turn affects the floral diversity of an area. This research work aims to examine the impact of fire on vegetation and the physicochemical nature of the soil in fire-affected and fire-free sites across the Mahaban and the surrounding forests, Swabi District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Quadrat quantitative ecological techniques were used for vegetation sampling in fire-free and fire-affected sites. In total, 219 plant species belonging to 173 genera and 70 families were recorded. Among the 219 plant species, 173 species were recorded from fire-free sites and the remaining 122 species were from fire-affected sites. The incidence of fire results in elevated organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and lower calcium carbonate concentrations in the soil. The greatest species richness and evenness were observed across the fire-free sites. Our study concludes that the influence of edaphic and topographic factors on species richness varies between fire-affected and fire-free sites. Fire has significantly altered the nutrient availability in the studied region, and this is confirmed by soil analysis and vegetation research. It is suggested that further research in the field of fire ecology can produce valuable insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant ethnoveterinary uses are evident in various studies around the world, but the ethnoveterinary practices of forage species are not widely reported. Traditional knowledge is rapidly disappearing because of urbanization and commercial activities. The purpose of this study was to document plant species used by the local communities in Malakand Agency, Pakistan for foraging and ethnoveterinary purposes. Twenty different localities in the study area were surveyed for documentation of forage species and related traditional ethnoveterinary knowledge used for livestock. Semistructured questionnaires and field walks were used to conduct 67 interviews with local farmers and herdsmen. A total of 91 forage species from 26 families were documented, as well as their ethnoveterinary applications. Poaceae and Fabaceae were dominant families with 45% and 15% of species respectively. Among the forage species documented, 62 were highly palatable, 26 were moderately palatable and 12 were less palatable. The region's major veterinary diseases are flu, ringworms, inflammations, low milk production, constipation, bloat, mastitis, pneumonia and wounds. The 62 forage species were reported for the first time for various veterinary uses. This study revealed that local communities commonly use a diverse range of forage species in conjunction with indigenous knowledge of ethnoveterinary uses. These forage species have the potential to overcome the recent fodder shortage. Such studies will be beneficial to the commercial production of such forage species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]