A study was conducted to assess the composition of vegetation along an altitudinal gradient with elevations varying from 1900-2300m above msl in Khajrot beat of Kalatop Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary in district Chamba, Himachal Pradesh during 2011. Total number of plant species was 105 belonging to 60 families and 95 genera. The dominant families were Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Polygonaceae, Lamiaceae and Pinaceae. The number of tree species at 1900-2100m and 2100-2300m elevation was 14 and 10 with the dominance of Picea smithiana at both the altitudes. The number of shrub species was 23 and 19 with the dominance of Sarcococca saligna at both the elevations. The number of herb species was 61 and 54 with the dominance of Valeriana jatamansii at 1900-2100m and 2100-2300m elevation ranges respectively. The distribution pattern of most of the plant species was contiguous in all the altitudinal ranges. Index of diversity for herb species in different elevation ranges was 3.301 and 3.334. Out of 50 medicinal plant species recorded from the area, 3 species i.e. Dioscorea deltoidea,  Polygonatum verticillatum  and Paris polyphylla fall in the category of threatened plants. The better conservation of natural resources can be done through promotion of community based conservation, ex-situ conservation through tissue culture, developing cultivation technologies and nurseries of medicinal plants and conducting of regular training on the procedure of medicinal plants collection and processing among the end users.

A study was conducted to find out the influence of soil pH on sprouting and survival of one year old Teak (Tectona grandis L. f.) stumps.  The stumps were planted in different pH of the soil (8.1, 9.0, 10.2 and 10.5) along with red earth, sand and farmyard manure mixture.  Twenty eight days after planting the results revealed that stumps planted in soil with a pH of 8.1 + sand + farmyard manure at 2:1:1 ratio gave more number of sprouts (2.35), leaves (11.10), secondary roots (4.42) and dry matter production (4.11 mg seedling^–1) per stumps, which was on par with stumps planted in 10.2 pH soil + sand + farm yard manure mixture. Stumps planted in higher soil pH (10.5) alone inhibited the seedling growth. The species is able to tolerate extreme soil pH of 10.5, when the soil is mixed with sand and farmyard manure at 2:1:1 ratio, in terms of survival, seedling growth and chemical attributes of 180 days old seedlings.

Wild edible plant species diversity in Pinus gerardiana forests of district Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh was assessed following quadrat method using stratified random sampling. A total of 55 plant species comprising of five trees, 21 shrubs and 29 herb species have been recorded in the study area. Out of the total recorded plant species, 54.55 per cent were edible and 45.45 per cent were non-edible. Among trees, P. gerardiana was recorded with the highest density of 206.77 trees/ha, basal area of 22.43 m²/ha and IVI value of 252.81. Among edible shrubs a rarely used plant, Daphne oleoides was the most dominant species with highest density (0.21 bushes/9m²), frequency (21.23%) and IVI (71.55). In case of herbs, Thymus serphyllum had the highest density of 2.91 individuals/m², frequency (12.04%) and IVI (31.57). During the present study, it has been observed that the P. gerardiana is an important commercial tree species exploited for its edible nuts. However due to over-exploitation, grazing, habitat degradation and other biotic threats its natural regeneration is dwindling. Besides this important natural resource, other species viz., Prunus persica, Berberis aristata, Elaeagnus umbellata, Chenopodium album, Pyhtolacca acinosa etc., also have market potential, however adequate emphasis has not been laid on their propagation and conservation. The results also revealed that many wild species are under growing pressures from various anthropogenic factors. Therefore, it is suggested that large-scale awareness programmes on wild edible plants should be initiated and these species should be included in the forestry/rural plantation programmes. Further, propagation plan needs to be developed on important wild edible plant species and people should be encouraged to grow these wild edible plants of commercial importance which will reduce the pressure on the wild populations growing in the forest areas.

Croton scabiosus, a member of Euphorbiaceae and an endemic and vulnerable tree species of southern Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh was studied for its carbon storage capacity and carbon sequestration potential. The species population was sampled through 75 transects of 0.5 ha each and a total of 8743 individuals were enumerated. We estimated its carbon stocks at 1738.8 tons and CO₂ sequestration potential as 6294.46 tons.

Fiber dimensions of Melocanna baccifera was examined to assess their suitability for pulp and paper production. Fifty mature culms of M. baccifera were obtained from Forest of Silchar, Cachar District of Assam, India. Samples taken from the top, middle and basal portions were thoroughly mixed and used in the study.

Methane emission from landfills due to unmanaged dumping contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately to climate change. The green house gas emission from the dumping sites depends on various factors like quantity of waste generated, composition of solid waste, and characteristics of solid waste. The quantification and characterization of urban solid waste generation is fundamental for adequate decision making in the management strategy of urban solid waste in a city. The objective of this study is to quantify and characterize the waste generated in the three cities of Himachal Pradesh i.e. Shimla, Solan and Nahan. The chemical characteristics study include pH, Moisture, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Carbon  and C/N ration and physical studies includes the composition of different waste categories. The annual waste generation in Shimla, Solan and Nahan calculated in this study 17,426.52, 7,130.70 and 1,608.37 tons (t) respectively for the year (yr) 2012-13. The main fractions were: Food and Carbon waste, paper and plastic waste. The pH of MSW was found slight to highly acidic in nature whereas moisture content was found to be in the range from 42.60 ± 1.95 in Nahan to 60.12 ± 1.39% in Shimla. The N, K, P and C estimated were found maximum 0.81% (Shimla), 0.65% (Nahan), 0.33% (Shimla), and 40.49% (Solan) respectively.

Sinoxylon anale Lesne is recorded for the first time as a major wood borer in poles/logs of Xylia xylocarpa at timber depot, Gadegaon, Bhandara, Maharashtra. The emergence of this wood borer generally occurs during the month of June-July and continues till the poles/logs are available in depot. This is an annual phenomenon that occurs every year with varying intensity in respect of girth class of poles/logs. Lowest girth class poles/logs of 16-25 cm GBH exhibited highest damage of borer (47.00%), followed by 26-35 cm GBH (22.67%) and 36-45 cm GBH poles (8.67%).

There are considerable demands in market for the production of herbal products particularly for pharmacies of ayurveda based on plant products of medicinal climbers like Abrus precatorius, Asparagus racemosus, Caesalpinia bonduc, Celastrus paniculatus, Cissampelos pariera, Cissus quadrangularis, Gymnema sylvestre, Hemidesmus indicus, Ichnocarpus frutescens, Mucuna pruriens, Paederia scandens, Tinospora cordifolia etc. But, due to over exploitation and collection of above plants, it becomes rare in their natural habitat. The farmers and growers of medicinal plants are often taking less interest for cultivation of above medicinal climbers. In the above context, it is delineated herewith enumeration of some medicinal plants mostly climbers for cultivation under Herbo-Agroforestry System (HAS) besides the cultivation of other crops and maintenances of components under the canopy of trees. It would be a suitable option for conservation of valuable medicinal climbers.  

The accumulation of heavy metals in soil at roadside has been studied by the analysis of top soil/dust samples. Concentration of the elements Co, Cr, Pb and Cd were measured on 39 top soil/dust samples collected from near the highways, industrial area and control site. The samples were analysed for Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The mean concentrations of Co, Cr, Pb and Cd were 0.390, 0.090, 2.195 and 0.094 mg kg^-1, respectively. Data obtained from analysis, were statistically examined to know the distribution of metals in different highways and industrial area. The results showed that the topsoil/dust near the highway and industrial sites had significantly enrichment particularly Pb than control sites.

Ramaria conjunctipes (Coker) Corner is being recorded for the first time from Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.The species constitutes new addition to the Indian mushroom flora and has been described and illustrated in the present paper. Furthermore, an updated checklist of the genus Ramaria from India has also been presented.

The mycophagous insect Halyzia tschitscherini Semenor is a potential biocontrol agent of Powdery Mildew, Phyllactinea corylea (Pess.) in Mulberry. The present study covers the bionomics of H. tschitscherini and its feeding behavior on Powdery Mildew infected Mulberry leaves. The eggs are laid in clusters of 5-24 with an average of 15.75±5.40 eggs per leaf on the abaxial surface of infected leaves. The incubation period was recorded 4.46±0.50.The larval span of first, second, third and fourth instars was recorded as 2.54±0.50, 3.91±0.80, 4.68±0.71, 5.70±0.70 days respectively and total larval span about 16.83 days and for entire life cycle in 30 days. The measurements in mean length and breadth of different stages of H. tschitscherini viz. eggs (1.69 ± 0.04 & 0.71± 0.02), first instar (1.92 ± 0.15 & 0.68 ± 0.02), second instar (3.97 ± 0.32 & 0.82 ± 0.12), third instar (5.50 ±0.65 & 1.26 ±0.14), fourth instars (8.21±0.74 & 1.93±0.20) pupa (5.22±0.23 &3.35±0.23) and male (5.30±0.72 & 3.35±0.41) and female adults were 5.83±0.20 &3.59± 0.24, respectively. The grubs feed only on conidia during first instar, on conidia and conidiophores during second instar, and also on parts of mycelia during third instar. The final instar grub feed on entire aerial mycelia mass leaving only stomatopodia and hyphal remnants. Pupation is for 9-10 days. Adults also feed voraciously on the fungal mass. Field observations indicated a drastic fall in the incidence of Powdery Mildew disease in Mulberry even in the usual peak disease period, with the increased population of H. tschitscherini in the Mulberry garden.

Hamatostrepta concinna Vána & D.G.Long is described and illustrated from West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh in Eastern Himalaya, India. This constitutes the first record of this monotypic genus in Indian bryoflora.

Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson subsp. micrantha (Nees) Ensermu and Hyptis capitata Jacq. are recorded as additions to the Flora of Karnataka state.

Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary, Mizoram, one of the most remote and inaccessible, protected area in India, lies at the Indo-Bangladesh border. A new species Lejeunea mizoramensis of liverwort (Marchantiophyta) was collected from this protected area and described in the present article. It distinctly differs from the related species in stem anatomy, leaf size, number of male bracts (6–8 pairs), female bract and bracteoles and perianth size. Its relation with allied species is discussed.

Based on the recent collection a tree fern Cyathea gigantea (Wall. ex Hook.) Holttum is reported here for the first time from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.

Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino, a herbaceous vine of the family Cucurbitaceae is reported here as new record for Karnataka state.

The present manuscript deals with the reassessment of the fern flora of Triyuginarayan after 10-12 years. A critical treatment of 45 genera, 122 species is done in the present study. A comparison of the families, genera and species occurring in the area during 2012-14 with the prior reports. The study reveals the absence of 48 fern species which were reported earlier by various authors and 11 new species are collected which were not reported earlier.

A new species, Corchorus tirunelveliensis  (Tiliaceae) is described and  illustrated.

Two genera of family Fabaceae, Calopogonium Desv. (C. mucunoides Desv.) and Centrosema (DC.) Benth. (C. pubescens Benth.) are reported here as additions to the flora of Andhra Pradesh.

Memecylon elegans Kurz is rediscovered after a lapse of 142 years from Andaman and Nicobar Islands.