Do environmental variables and overstory communities affect the spatial pattern of understory vegetation? Lessons from Monotheca buxifolia (Falc.) A. DC. forests in Pakistan

The importance of understory vegetation cannot be denied as an integral component forest ecosystems, but there is a dearth studies to explore the effects environmental variables and canopy species on its diversity composition. Here we investigated overstory stand structure in old-growth Monotheca buxifolia dominated forests with considerable co-dominance other broadleaved by using ecologically standardized data collection methods across Pakistan. Multivariate analyses were used examine composition different assemblages multiple influencing variables. We found total 58 belonging 55 genera 30 families mostly representing pluriregional (33.89 %) chorological affinities therophytic (17 species) life-form dominance microphyll (34.48 leaf-size spectrum. Likewise, significant differences observed richness indices between community types. Attributes such elevation, aspect, soil properties, tree most strongly correlated Redundancy Analysis (RDA-ordination), indicating that several factors exert strongest influence explained spatial pattern vegetation. findings this research can assist forestry resources managers, biologists ecologists restoration conservation plans for region.