CHECKLIST OF THE AQUATIC MACROPHYTES IN CERTAIN WETLANDS OF YAVATMAL DISTRICT, MAHARASTRA STATE, INDIA

The present investigation concerns with the aquatic macrophyte diversity and its role in understanding the wetland ecosystem dynamics and species composition of aquatic macrophytes, seasonal distribution in five wetlands in Yavatmal district, viz. Arunavati dam, Nandgavan dam, Fetri dam in Digras Tehsil and Jamwadi Lake and Manpur Lake, in Yavatmal tehsil were studied during 2009-2011. Forty two different species of aquatic macrophytes were recorded from the studied wetlands which include three free floating macrophytes, seven submerged, two rooted floating and twenty eight emergent species of macrophytes. The free floating species Eichornia crassipes occurs throughout the year. While the submerged species Vallisneria spiralis, Ceratophyllum demursum, Hydrilla verticillata occur throughout the year. In the rooted floating category Ipomoea aquatica occurs throughout the year.