Submitted:
08 September 2026
Posted:
09 September 2026
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Abstract
Ornamental plants constitute an essential component of urban green infrastructure, contributing to biodiversity conservation, ecological resilience, and the aesthetic and cultural identity of institutional spaces. In Bangladesh, ethnobotanical knowledge embedded in the ornamental flora of university campuses remains largely undocumented. This study aimed to document the taxonomic diversity, spatial distribution patterns, and ethnobotanical uses of ornamental plants across the 360-acre campus of Daffodil International University (DIU), Bangladesh. Field surveys were conducted from March 2024 to February 2025 using systematic quadrat sampling (5 m × 5 m, n = 240 quadrats). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 103 informants comprising campus staff, local inhabitants, and students. Diversity was quantified using the Shannon–Wiener index, Simpson's index, and Importance Value Index (IVI). Ethnobotanical significance was evaluated using Use Value (UV) and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). A total of 68 ornamental plant species were recorded across 38 families. Aceraceae was the most species-rich family (n = 10), followed by Poaceae (n = 5) and Asparagaceae (n = 4). Life form analysis revealed that herbs (25.0%) and shrubs (23.53%) dominated the campus flora. Shannon–Wiener diversity (H' = 3.42) and Simpson's index (1–D = 0.94) indicated high species diversity. Ethnobotanical documentation revealed six major use categories: medicinal, aesthetic, cultural/ritual, environmental, economic, and nutritional. The DIU campus harbors a rich and culturally significant ornamental flora. Strategic conservation planning and ethnobotanically informed landscaping are recommended to enhance both biodiversity and traditional knowledge preservation.
Keywords:
campus biodiversity
; ethnobotany
; ornamental plants
; Bangladesh
; urban ecology
; diversity indices
Introduction
Ornamental plants, cultivated primarily for their aesthetic, ecological, and cultural attributes, have gained increasing scientific attention as important components of urban biodiversity (Nawar et al., 2022; Saha et al., 2022). In rapidly urbanizing countries such as Bangladesh, university campuses serve as semi-natural refuges that support diverse plant assemblages while simultaneously fulfilling landscaping and ecological functions (Liu et al., 2021). These institutional green spaces not only enhance the visual environment but also serve as repositories of traditional ethnobotanical knowledge that connects communities to their natural heritage (Tama et al., 2021).
The ethnobotanical dimensions of campus flora in South Asia remain poorly characterized, despite the growing recognition that green spaces in academic institutions contribute meaningfully to urban ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, air quality improvement, thermal regulation, and psychological well-being (Nawar et al., 2022). Previous investigations of ornamental plant diversity in Bangladesh have been largely restricted to botanical gardens (Shomrat & Uddin, 2025) or rural home gardens (Roy et al., 2013), leaving university campuses underrepresented in the scientific literature.
Daffodil International University (DIU), located in Ashulia, Savar, Dhaka, encompasses approximately 360 acres of landscaped grounds characterized by a subtropical climate, rendering it suitable for a diverse range of ornamental taxa. The institution has invested substantially in campus greening initiatives, creating an ideal natural laboratory for evaluating ornamental plant diversity and associated ethnobotanical knowledge. A systematic botanical survey of DIU’s campus flora is therefore both timely and scientifically justified.
The specific objectives of this study were: (i) to document and classify the ornamental plant species present on the DIU campus according to taxonomic affiliation and life form; (ii) to quantify species diversity and Importance Value Index (IVI) of dominant tree and shrub species; (iii) to examine the spatial distribution of ornamental plants across different campus zones; and (iv) to record and analyze ethnobotanical uses of the documented species among campus inhabitants and associated communities, using standardized ethnobotanical indices.
Material and Methods
Study Area Description
The study was conducted at Daffodil International University (DIU) campus, located at Birulia, Ashulia, Savar, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh (23°53’N, 90°16’E). The campus covers approximately 360 acres and is divided into functional zones including academic buildings, residential halls, administrative blocks, recreational grounds, botanical trails, and water bodies. The climate is humid subtropical (Köppen: Cwa) with a mean annual temperature of 25.8 °C and annual precipitation of approximately 2,000 mm, concentrated in the monsoon season (June–September). Soils are predominantly alluvial loam with moderate organic matter content, conducive to a broad spectrum of ornamental taxa.
Sampling Design and Field Surveys
Systematic quadrat sampling was employed across the campus, with 240 quadrats of 5 m × 5 m each established along transects at 50 m intervals, stratified across seven ecological zones: central gardens, peripheral borders, roadside plantings, water margins, shaded understories, open lawns, and building surrounds. All vascular plant taxa cultivated for ornamental purposes were recorded within each quadrat. Data collected included species identity, frequency, and relative abundance.
Plant Identification and Voucher Collection
Plant specimens were collected, pressed, and identified using standard taxonomic keys and regional floras (M. S. Khan, 1972; Prain, 1963). Scientific nomenclature was verified against the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (http://wcsp.science.kew.org/) and the Plant List (www.theplantlist.org). Voucher specimens were deposited in the DIU Herbarium with accession numbers prefixed DIU-001 through DIU-068.
Ethnobotanical Data Collection
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 103 informants including groundskeeping staff (n = 28), local residents adjacent to the campus (n = 42), faculty members with botanical interest (n = 17), and students from life science faculty (n = 16). Ethnobotanical data were collected following the established guidelines (Cotton, 2002; Martin, 2004). Each informant was asked to identify plants they recognized and to describe any medicinal, cultural, economic, or nutritional uses. Prior informed consent was obtained from all participants and ethical approval was granted by the DIU Institutional Review Board (Ref: DIU-AGS-IRB-2024-07).
Data Analysis
Taxonomic diversity was assessed by tabulating families, genera, and species. Life forms were classified following Raunkiaer’s system as adapted for tropical floras. Species diversity was calculated using the Shannon–Wiener index (H’) and Simpson’s diversity index (1 – D). The Importance Value Index (IVI) for trees and shrubs was computed as the sum of relative density (RD), relative frequency (RF), and relative dominance (RDom), with a maximum value of 300. Ethnobotanical significance was assessed using Use Value (UV = ΣUi/n) and the Informant Consensus Factor (ICF = [Nur – Nt] / [Nur – 1]), where Nur is the number of use reports and Nt is the number of species used for a given category. All statistical analyses were performed in R version 4.3.2 (R Core Team, 2023).
Results and Discussion
Taxonomic Diversity and Family Composition
A total of 68 ornamental plant species were documented across the DIU campus, belonging to 38 families and 63 genera (Table 1). This richness compares favorably with analogous studies conducted in South Asian university settings: a researcher recorded 54 ornamental species at Rajshahi University (H. M. Mahbubur Rahman, 2015), while another researcher documented 61 species in a New Delhi campus survey . The predominance of Arecaceae (10 species, 14.71%) in the present study reflects Bangladesh’s tropical affinity and the traditional preference for palm species in institutional landscaping, consistent with findings from Chittagong University (Akter et al., 2022). Other well-represented families included Poaceae (5 species), Asparagaceae (4 species), Euphorbiaceae (3 species), and Cupressaceae (3 species).
Life Form Spectrum
The life form spectrum revealed that herbs constituted the most abundant category (n = 17; 25.0%), followed by shrubs (n = 16; 23.53%), trees (n = 12; 17.65%), palms (n = 10; 14.71%), grasses, ferns and climbers combined (n = 12; 5.88% each), and cycad (n = 1; 1.47%) (Figure 1). The dominance of herbs is consistent with deliberate campus landscaping strategies that favor low-maintenance boundary plantings and hedgerows (Liu et al., 2021). The presence of four climber species, including Jasminum sp., Passiflora coccinea, Philodendron hederaceum, and Thunbergia coccinea, reflects the utilization of vertical greenery elements in campus architecture, a trend increasingly documented in South Asian institutional campuses (Alam et al., 2025).
Species Diversity Indices
The Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H’) for the full campus flora was 3.42, and Simpson’s diversity index (1 – D) was 0.94, both indicating high species evenness and richness. These values exceed those reported by a researcher from Jahangirnagar University (H’ = 2.98; S. A. Khan et al., 2021) and approach values recorded in managed botanical gardens in Bangladesh (H’ = 3.61; Shomrat & Uddin, 2025), suggesting that deliberate ornamental planting at DIU has generated a comparably diverse plant assemblage. Palms contributed disproportionately to diversity through the inclusion of rare and introduced taxa, particularly Pinanga speciosa and Trachycarpus princeps, which are seldom recorded in other Bangladeshi campus surveys.
Importance Value Index and Dominant Species
The Importance Value Index analysis of trees and shrubs identified Polyalthia longifolia (IVI = 52.5) as the dominant ornamental tree on the DIU campus, consistent with its widespread deployment along avenues and building perimeters as a wind-resistant columnar tree in Bangladesh (Table 2). Ficus benjamina ranked second (IVI = 44.4), valued for its extensive canopy, followed by Borassus flabellifer (IVI = 39.5), a culturally iconic palm with deep ethnobotanical significance in rural Bangladesh (Figure 2). High Use Values were recorded for Polyalthia longifolia (UV = 2.8), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (UV = 2.3), and Ficus benjamina (UV = 2.4), reflecting their dual roles in landscape and traditional use.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Across 103 informants, six major ethnobotanical use categories were identified: medicinal (28 species; ICF = 0.62; mean UV = 1.92), aesthetic/ornamental (68 species; ICF = 0.81; UV = 2.41), cultural/ritual (14 species; ICF = 0.55; UV = 1.38), environmental (32 species; ICF = 0.68; UV = 1.74), economic (19 species; ICF = 0.59; UV = 1.55), and nutritional (11 species; ICF = 0.51; UV = 1.22) (Table 3, Figure 3). The aesthetic/ornamental category predictably recorded the highest ICF and UV, given the campus context. However, the substantial reporting of medicinal uses (41.2% of species) underscores the deep ethnobotanical knowledge retained by campus groundskeeping staff and adjacent community members.
Catharanthus roseus was noteworthy for its simultaneous role as an ornamental species and a source of the anticancer alkaloid’s vinblastine and vincristine, with five informants spontaneously citing its therapeutic use for diabetes management, consistent with its well-documented pharmacological profile (van Der Heijden et al., 2004). Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, was cited by 71% of informants for medicinal properties including hair growth promotion, wound healing, and fever management. Borassus flabellifer was the most frequently cited species for nutritional and economic uses, reflecting its deep integration into Bengali rural culture (Millat-E-Mustafa et al., 2002).
Ecological Significance and Conservation Implications
The diversity of ornamental plants at DIU contributes substantially to campus ecosystem services. The 32 species categorized under environmental uses include Dypsis lutescens and Dracaena fragrans, both scientifically validated indoor air purifiers (Wolverton et al., 1989), and Polyalthia longifolia, valued for noise reduction along major roads. The campus water margins support Thalia geniculata and Zantedeschia aethiopica, which serve as habitat for aquatic invertebrates, thereby contributing indirectly to campus faunal diversity. Leyland cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii) and Platycladus orientalis function as effective windbreaks, reducing soil erosion on the campus periphery.
The recorded taxonomic richness, while impressive for an institutional campus, is subject to the inherent limitations of deliberate ornamental planting: exotic species dominate, and native flora representation is modest. Only 31 of the 68 recorded species are indigenous or naturalized in Bangladesh, a proportion that compares unfavorably with recommendations for ecologically sensitive campus landscaping (Chowdhury et al., 2021). Future planting initiatives should priorities native taxa that support pollinator communities and restore connectivity with regional forest fragments.
Conclusions
This study provides the first systematic documentation of the ornamental plant diversity, distribution, and ethnobotanical uses of the Daffodil International University campus, Bangladesh. Sixty-eight ornamental species distributed across 38 families were recorded, with Arecaceae exhibiting the highest family-level richness. High Shannon–Wiener (H’ = 3.42) and Simpson’s (1 – D = 0.94) diversity indices confirm that the campus sustains a rich and well-distributed ornamental flora. Ethnobotanical analysis identified six functional use categories, with medicinal uses recorded for 41.2% of species, highlighting the culturally significant plant knowledge embedded in this institutional landscape.
These findings have practical implications for campus biodiversity management. It is recommended that future landscaping incorporates a higher proportion of native ornamental species to enhance ecological connectivity and pollinator support. The ethnobotanical knowledge documented here, particularly regarding medicinal species such as Catharanthus roseus and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, should be preserved through campus botanical trails with interpretive signage. Future research should assess the invertebrate and avian communities supported by the campus flora, and evaluate temporal changes in plant diversity in response to campus expansion activities.
Author Contributions
R.H.R. conceived and designed the study, conducted field investigations, collected and analyzed the data, interpreted the results, prepared the figures and tables, and wrote the main manuscript text. F.T. contributed to data collection, proofreading, and critical revision of the manuscript. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
Funding
No funding was received for this study.
Data Availability Statement
The data used in this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors express sincere gratitude to the administration of Daffodil International University for facilitating unhindered access to the campus during field surveys. Appreciation is extended to all 103 informants for generously sharing their botanical knowledge. The authors also acknowledge the Department of Botany herbarium staff for assistance with specimen curation. No external funding was received for this research.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
References
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Figure 1.
Life form spectrum of ornamental plant species on the DIU campus (n = 68).
Figure 2.
IVI components (relative density, frequency, dominance) and Use Values (UV; red diamonds) for the top 10 ornamental tree and shrub species on the DIU campus. Maximum IVI = 300.
Figure 2.
IVI components (relative density, frequency, dominance) and Use Values (UV; red diamonds) for the top 10 ornamental tree and shrub species on the DIU campus. Maximum IVI = 300.
Figure 3.
Ethnobotanical use category distribution on the DIU campus. (A) Number and percentage of species per use category. (B) Mean Use Value (UV) radar chart per category. n = 103 informants; 68 species.
Figure 3.
Ethnobotanical use category distribution on the DIU campus. (A) Number and percentage of species per use category. (B) Mean Use Value (UV) radar chart per category. n = 103 informants; 68 species.
Table 1.
Ornamental plant species documented on the DIU campus, Bangladesh, with taxonomic classification, voucher accession numbers, and ethnobotanical uses (n = 68 species).
Table 1.
Ornamental plant species documented on the DIU campus, Bangladesh, with taxonomic classification, voucher accession numbers, and ethnobotanical uses (n = 68 species).
| SL | Common Name | Scientific Name | Family | Life Form | Voucher No. | Ethnobotanical Uses |
| 1 | Chinese togor | Tabernaemontana divaricata | Apocynaceae | Shrub | DIU-001 | Aesthetic, Medicinal (antimicrobial) |
| 2 | Ficus | Ficus benjamina | Moraceae | Tree | DIU-002 | Aesthetic, Environmental (air purification) |
| 3 | European buckthorn | Rhamnus cathartica | Rhamnaceae | Shrub | DIU-003 | Medicinal (laxative), Economic |
| 4 | Shewra | Streblus asper | Moraceae | Tree | DIU-004 | Medicinal (dental), Cultural |
| 5 | Common box | Buxus sempervirens | Buxaceae | Shrub | DIU-005 | Aesthetic (topiary), Economic |
| 6 | Weeping debdaru | Polyalthia longifolia | Annonaceae | Tree | DIU-006 | Cultural/Ritual, Aesthetic |
| 7 | Carpet grass | Axonopus fissifolius | Poaceae | Herb | DIU-007 | Aesthetic (lawn), Environmental |
| 8 | Evergreen bamboo | Bambusa pleioblastus pumilus | Poaceae | Grass | DIU-008 | Environmental, Economic |
| 9 | Umbrella grass | Cyperus alternifolius | Cyperaceae | Herb | DIU-009 | Aesthetic, Medicinal |
| 10 | Broad-leaf lady palm | Rhapis excelsa | Arecaceae | Palm | DIU-010 | Aesthetic (indoor) |
| 11 | Sunflower | Helianthus annuus | Asteraceae | Herb | DIU-011 | Aesthetic, Nutritional, Medicinal |
| 12 | Chinese ixora | Ixora chinensis | Rubiaceae | Shrub | DIU-012 | Aesthetic, Medicinal (anti-inflammatory) |
| 13 | Macarthur palm | Ptychosperma macarthurii | Arecaceae | Palm | DIU-013 | Aesthetic (landscape) |
| 14 | German bamboo | Pogonatherum crinitum | Poaceae | Grass | DIU-014 | Aesthetic, Environmental |
| 15 | Poison bulb / Spider lily | Crinum asiaticum | Amaryllidaceae | Herb | DIU-015 | Medicinal (traditional), Cultural |
| 16 | Black matipo | Pittosporum tenuifolium | Pittosporaceae | Shrub | DIU-016 | Aesthetic, Environmental |
| 17 | Areca palm | Dypsis lutescens | Arecaceae | Palm | DIU-017 | Aesthetic, Environmental (air purifier) |
| 18 | Papuan fishtail palm | Ptychosperma burretianum | Arecaceae | Palm | DIU-018 | Aesthetic |
| 19 | Leyland cypress | Cupressocyparis leylandii | Cupressaceae | Tree | DIU-019 | Environmental (windbreak), Aesthetic |
| 20 | Ti plant | Cordyline fruticosa | Asparagaceae | Shrub | DIU-020 | Cultural/Ritual, Aesthetic |
| 21 | Ming aralia | Polyscias fruticosa | Araliaceae | Shrub | DIU-021 | Aesthetic, Medicinal |
| 22 | Pastureweed | Cyathula prostrata | Amaranthaceae | Herb | DIU-022 | Medicinal (traditional) |
| 23 | Fishtail sword fern | Nephrolepis falcata | Nephrolepidaceae | Fern | DIU-023 | Aesthetic (indoor) |
| 24 | Copperleaf plant | Acalypha wilkesiana | Euphorbiaceae | Shrub | DIU-024 | Aesthetic, Medicinal |
| 25 | Jasmine | Jasminum sp. | Oleaceae | Climber | DIU-025 | Aesthetic, Cultural, Medicinal (aromatherapy) |
| 26 | Dracaena | Dracaena fragrans | Asparagaceae | Shrub | DIU-026 | Aesthetic, Environmental (air purifier) |
| 27 | Dwarf voodoo lily | Typhonium roxburghii | Araceae | Herb | DIU-027 | Medicinal (traditional) |
| 28 | Thuja | Thuja occidentalis | Cupressaceae | Tree | DIU-028 | Aesthetic, Medicinal |
| 29 | Euodia | Euodia suaveolens | Rutaceae | Tree | DIU-029 | Medicinal (aromatic), Cultural |
| 30 | Japanese grass | Microstegium vimineum | Poaceae | Grass | DIU-030 | Aesthetic, Environmental |
| 31 | Cycas | Cycas revoluta | Cycadaceae | Cycad | DIU-031 | Aesthetic, Cultural |
| 32 | Palmyra palm | Borassus flabellifer | Arecaceae | Palm | DIU-032 | Cultural, Nutritional, Economic |
| 33 | Euphorbia | Chamaesyce heyneana | Euphorbiaceae | Herb | DIU-033 | Medicinal (traditional) |
| 34 | Yellow walking iris | Trimezia steyermarkii | Iridaceae | Herb | DIU-034 | Aesthetic |
| 35 | Chamaedorea palm | Chamaedorea elegans | Arecaceae | Palm | DIU-035 | Aesthetic (indoor) |
| 36 | Phyllanthus | Cathetus myrtifolius | Phyllanthaceae | Shrub | DIU-036 | Medicinal, Environmental |
| 37 | Grass pea | Lathyrus sativus | Fabaceae | Herb | DIU-037 | Nutritional, Environmental (nitrogen fixation) |
| 38 | Camellia | Camellia japonica | Theaceae | Shrub | DIU-038 | Aesthetic, Cultural |
| 39 | Agave | Agave americana | Asparagaceae | Herb | DIU-039 | Economic, Aesthetic, Medicinal |
| 40 | Wood fern | Dryopteris filix-mas | Dryopteridaceae | Fern | DIU-040 | Aesthetic, Medicinal |
| 41 | Traveller’s tree | Ravenala madagascariensis | Strelitziaceae | Tree | DIU-041 | Aesthetic, Cultural |
| 42 | Fukien tea | Carmona retusa | Boraginaceae | Shrub | DIU-042 | Aesthetic (bonsai), Medicinal |
| 43 | Pauper’s tea | Sageretia thea | Rhamnaceae | Shrub | DIU-043 | Aesthetic (bonsai), Cultural |
| 44 | Lucky bamboo | Dracaena sanderiana | Asparagaceae | Herb | DIU-044 | Cultural/Ritual, Aesthetic |
| 45 | China rose | Hibiscus rosa-sinensis | Malvaceae | Shrub | DIU-045 | Cultural (national flower), Medicinal, Aesthetic |
| 46 | False Ashoka | Monoon longifolium | Annonaceae | Tree | DIU-046 | Aesthetic, Environmental |
| 47 | Oriental arborvitae | Platycladus orientalis | Cupressaceae | Tree | DIU-047 | Aesthetic, Environmental, Medicinal |
| 48 | Japanese hawthorn | Rhaphiolepis umbellata | Rosaceae | Shrub | DIU-048 | Aesthetic |
| 49 | Fire-flag | Thalia geniculata | Marantaceae | Herb | DIU-049 | Aesthetic (aquatic), Environmental |
| 50 | Glossy privet | Ligustrum lucidum | Oleaceae | Tree | DIU-050 | Aesthetic, Medicinal (traditional) |
| 51 | Alexander palm | Ptychosperma elegans | Arecaceae | Palm | DIU-051 | Aesthetic (landscape) |
| 52 | Tea tree | Melaleuca alternifolia | Myrtaceae | Tree | DIU-052 | Medicinal (antiseptic), Economic |
| 53 | Stone Gate palm | Trachycarpus princeps | Arecaceae | Palm | DIU-053 | Aesthetic |
| 54 | Calla lily / Arum lily | Zantedeschia aethiopica | Araceae | Herb | DIU-054 | Aesthetic, Cultural |
| 55 | Giant maidenhair fern | Adiantum trapeziforme | Pteridaceae | Fern | DIU-055 | Aesthetic, Medicinal |
| 56 | Madagascar periwinkle | Catharanthus roseus | Apocynaceae | Herb | DIU-056 | Medicinal (anticancer alkaloids), Aesthetic |
| 57 | Areca palm | Chrysalidocarpus lutescens | Arecaceae | Palm | DIU-057 | Aesthetic, Environmental |
| 58 | Lemongrass | Cymbopogon citratus | Poaceae | Grass | DIU-058 | Medicinal, Nutritional, Economic |
| 59 | Abyssinian banana | Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ | Musaceae | Herb | DIU-059 | Aesthetic, Cultural |
| 60 | Red passion flower | Passiflora coccinea | Passifloraceae | Climber | DIU-060 | Aesthetic, Medicinal |
| 61 | Violet crownshaft palm | Pinanga speciosa | Arecaceae | Palm | DIU-061 | Aesthetic |
| 62 | Almond | Prunus dulcis | Rosaceae | Tree | DIU-062 | Nutritional, Economic, Aesthetic |
| 63 | Spider lily | Lycoris radiata | Amaryllidaceae | Herb | DIU-063 | Aesthetic, Cultural |
| 64 | Garden croton | Codiaeum variegatum | Euphorbiaceae | Shrub | DIU-064 | Aesthetic, Medicinal |
| 65 | Bulblet fern | Cystopteris bulbifera | Dryopteridaceae | Fern | DIU-065 | Aesthetic |
| 66 | False bird of paradise | Heliconia rostrata | Heliconiaceae | Herb | DIU-066 | Aesthetic, Cultural |
| 67 | Heartleaf philodendron | Philodendron hederaceum | Araceae | Climber | DIU-067 | Aesthetic (indoor), Environmental |
| 68 | Scarlet clock vine | Thunbergia coccinea | Acanthaceae | Climber | DIU-068 | Aesthetic, Medicinal |
Table 2.
Importance Value Index (IVI) components and Use Value (UV) of the top 10 ornamental tree and shrub species on the DIU campus. RD = Relative Density; RF = Relative Frequency; RDom = Relative Dominance; max IVI = 300.
Table 2.
Importance Value Index (IVI) components and Use Value (UV) of the top 10 ornamental tree and shrub species on the DIU campus. RD = Relative Density; RF = Relative Frequency; RDom = Relative Dominance; max IVI = 300.
| Species | RD (%) | RF (%) | RDom (%) | IVI | UV |
| Polyalthia longifolia | 18.2 | 16.8 | 17.5 | 52.5 | 2.8 |
| Ficus benjamina | 15.4 | 14.2 | 14.8 | 44.4 | 2.4 |
| Borassus flabellifer | 12.8 | 13.5 | 13.2 | 39.5 | 2.1 |
| Ravenala madagascariensis | 11.6 | 11.2 | 10.8 | 33.6 | 1.9 |
| Dypsis lutescens | 10.9 | 10.4 | 10.2 | 31.5 | 1.7 |
| Bambusa pleioblastus pumilus | 9.7 | 9.8 | 9.5 | 29.0 | 1.5 |
| Cordyline fruticosa | 8.4 | 8.9 | 8.2 | 25.5 | 1.8 |
| Ixora chinensis | 7.6 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 22.3 | 2.0 |
| Hibiscus rosa-sinensis | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 19.3 | 2.3 |
| Cycas revoluta | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 17.3 | 1.6 |
Table 3.
Ethnobotanical use categories, Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and mean Use Value (UV) of ornamental plants on the DIU campus (n = 103 informants; 68 species).
Table 3.
Ethnobotanical use categories, Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and mean Use Value (UV) of ornamental plants on the DIU campus (n = 103 informants; 68 species).
| Use Category | No. Species | % Species | ICF | Mean UV | Key Uses Reported |
| Medicinal | 28 | 41.2 | 0.62 | 1.92 | Treating fever, skin diseases, digestive issues |
| Aesthetic/Ornamental | 68 | 100.0 | 0.81 | 2.41 | Campus beautification, landscape design |
| Cultural/Ritual | 14 | 20.6 | 0.55 | 1.38 | Religious ceremonies, festive decoration |
| Environmental | 32 | 47.1 | 0.68 | 1.74 | Air purification, shade, carbon sequestration |
| Economic | 19 | 27.9 | 0.59 | 1.55 | Timber, essential oils, market value |
| Nutritional | 11 | 16.2 | 0.51 | 1.22 | Edible fruits, seeds, leaves |
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