Study of phyto-sociology and ecology of naturally growing Ocimum species with their conservational strategies in Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal

A phyto-sociological and ecological study of naturally growing Ocimum species and their conservational strategies is carried out in Dakshin Dinajpur district, West Bengal, India. The main objective of this work is to find out their (O. americanum and O. × africanum) natural distribution, density, abundance and the dominance along with associated species. A total of 50 (1 × 1 m2) quadrats were made at two study sites, each site contained 25 quadrats. Coexistence of almost 57 species of families with both study species of Ocimum in two study sites indicates similar habitat preference of these species. Dicotyledon species were found maximum in all quadrat of the two study sites. Following the present biotic or abiotic threat as well as oblivious human activities to these species we propose here few possibilities for their conservation. The study will encourage ecologists, pharmacologists as well as biologists to do similar studies on various naturally growing important plants in this part of country.