Phytosociological and heavy metal profile of Iphiona grantioides and Pluchea arguta (Boiss.) Anderb. subsp. Glabra qaiser

The aim of this study was to investigate the phytosociological, ethnobotanical and heavy metal profile of Iphiona grantioides (Boiss.) Anderb. and Pluchea arguta (Boiss.) subsp. glabra Qaiser of family Asteraceae, from saline localities of District Karak, Khyber Pukhtunkhwah, Pakistan. The resluts showed that the two plants are haloxerophytes in nature found widely growing in close association with other 80 plant species, in areas with highest salinity values, at an elevation, ranging from 450 m to 900 m. Iphiona grantioides was found dominant with maximum importance value (IV) of 49.9 and maximum importance value index (IVI) 16.6. Pluchea arguta subsp. glabra mostly growing in close association with Iphiona grantioides, having the maximum IV of 28.3 and IVI of 9.4. Soil analysis revealed that soil samples of the studied sites were alkaline in reaction and strongly calcareous in nature and deficient in organic matter, N and P. Results obtained for heavy and toxic metals revealed that various parts of Iphiona grantioides and Pluchea arguta subsp. glabra contain heavy metals within safer and permissible limits.