Floristic Study Of The Family Poaceae Of The Sakra Block Of Muzaffarpur District, Bihar, India.

Poaceae (Gramineae), the most successful Angiosperms, is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants known as grasses. Poaceae are monocot grasses with fibrous root system, hollow jointed stem(culm), linear leaves with parallel venation, sheath and ligule, spikelet inflorescence with bisexual and /or unisexual flowers (with glumes, lemma, palea and lodicules) and grain-type fruits, making them one of the most economically important plant families. Poaceae includes cereals, bamboos, and the grasses of natural grasslands, cultivated lawns (turf), and pastures. This family comprises 750-770 genera and more than 11000- 12000 species distributed across 12 subfamilies and subtribes (Kellogg,2015, Soreng et al., 2017) worldwide. India represents with 266 genera and more than 1506 species (Kellogg et al.2020), while Bihar is represented by 80-120 genera and 200-350 species. Grasses continuously supply the soil with humus, supplying and boosting primary production. Many Poaceae species are cultivated as staple food crops worldwide, such as Rice, Wheat, Maize, Barley, and Millets (various species). These crops are essential sources of carbohydrates, proteins, and other nutrients for human consumption. Grasse of Sakra block of Muzaffarpur are economically, ecologically, and socially vital. They provide food, fodder, income, soil protection, and raw materials, making them indespensable for the livelihood and sustainability of rural communities. Sakra block is surrounded by the following blocks: Muraul Bandra, Kudhani, Musahari, and Pusa. This block has 120 villages with a population of more than 3.5 Lakh. It covers approximately 216.68 sq. km. An extensive study on the family Poaceae will reveal the available species.

MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY

The study was conducted in the Sakra Block of the Muzaffarpur district by dividing the whole area into 10 zones, each having 10-12 villages. The specific sampling sites were selected for intensive studies that included villages such as Chakrahi Urf, Maniyari, Majhauliya, Chandanpatti, Kesopur, Sarmastpur, Sakra Wajitpur, Faridpur, Sabaha, Bishanpur, Mura, Chakhazarat, and Sahdullapur. These areas are primarily agricultural fields, with major crops including wheat, maize, jowar, jawar, paddy, and seasonal grasses. The region experiences a subtropical climate with hot summers, moderate rainfall, and cool winters. The type of soil is mainly alluvial, supporting rich vegetation, including both cultivated and wild Poaceae species.

Regular field visits were conducted from June 2024 to January 2026. A random sampling method was used in agricultural fields. Grass species were collected from crop fields (wheat, maize, paddy, and sugarcane) and nearby areas. Photographs were taken with a GPS-enabled camera for geotagging. Specimens were identified based on morphological characters, including inflorescence type, spikelets, and leaf structure. Standard floras and taxonomic keys were used. Plants were collected from wheat fields, mustard fields, maize fields, cabbage fields, cauliflower fields, roadsides, wetland areas, sugarcane fields, pond sides, etc.

A total of 35 plants were collected, out of which 31 were identified and listed.

All the grasses are growing along roadsides, in the margins of crop fields, in leftover grounds, near ponds, puddles, riversides, rail tracksides, etc. have been collected and identified. They are listed in the table l.

Table 1. Different species of Poaceae and their uses