39PLANT DIVERSITY IN THE SACRED GROVES OF MADEOUR, KARAIKAL REGION, PONDICHERRYSacred groves are spiritually charged and holy places having patches of vegetation in its climatic state and which have been protected by local people on socio-religious grounds. In real sense sacred groves are the oldest existing form which is known as ancient Botanical garden and modern biodiversity hot spots. The present paper deals with the plant diversity in the sacred groves of Madeour Maduravalliamman grove, Karaikal District, Pondicherry. The enumeration of plant species in study area occupying 84 species belonging to 44 familiesktkvathi.phd@gmail.comResearch412014Plant diversity,Sacred groves,Karaikal,PondicherryK.Tholkappiyavathi,S.NadanakunjidamDepartment of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Kanchi Mamunivar Center for Post-Graduate Studies, Lawspet, Puducherry-605008, India.,Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Kanchi Mamunivar Center for Post-Graduate Studies, Lawspet, Puducherry-605008, India.