Tree height is one of the basic variables which is used for estimation of growing stock, biomass, carbon stock and site quality. Measuring tree height is expensive, time-consuming, and error prone due to stand structure and efficiency of measuring instruments. Here, we try to explore the errors and efficiencies associated with Vertex, Abney’s level, and Laser Rangefinder for tree height measurement. Standing tree height was measured using all three instruments and the true height was determined with the careful measurement using linear tape after felling. In total 102 trees of Arunkhola community forest of Nawalpur districts were sampled. It was found that the Vertex (0.55 m) and Abney’s level (2.36 m) overestimated the tree height whereas, Rangefinder (-1.65 m) was underestimating. There was significant difference in errors for all the evaluated instruments at 95% confidence interval. However, there was no relation between true height and DBH with difference in measurement for all instruments. Average time required to measure individual trees was 4.15, 2.29 and 0.93 minutes for Abney’s level, Rangefinder, and Vertex respectively. It was estimated that efficiency for Vertex was 4.46 followed by Rangefinder with 22.69 by reflecting Vertex as the most precise and efficient instrument for measuring tree height.

Bhutanese pteridophytes have been compiled into a check-list of 568 taxa (543 species and 25 additional subspecies), based on reidentification of nearly all the world’s herbarium holdings from the Country, studied by the first author. We have also carried out many field-excursions, particularly in west and east Bhutan, collecting and identifying specimens. As a result we have produced a detailed specimen check-list giving full details (Fraser-Jenkins et al., in press 2022). The present list of confirmed taxa makes various additions and corrections to the Bhutan listings in the Annotated Checklist of Indian Pteridophytes (Fraser-Jenkins et al. 2016-2020), detailed in the full checklist. Two new species Diplazium phuntshoi Fraser-Jenk., and Pichisermollodes major Fraser-Jenk. and one new subspecies Dryopteris sparsa subsp. obtusipinnula Fraser-Jenk., are described.  Only 4 species are endemic to Bhutan, but are all presumed to be only temporarily so and are expected to be present also in N.E. India, S.E. Tibet, S.W. China or N. Myanmar, though not yet detected there.

The paper presents the results of studies conducted to estimate the biomass and soil carbon stock at various sites of Betula utilis (Bhojpatra), Cedrus deodara (Devdar), Pinus wallichiana (Kail) and Juniperus polycarpos forests in Himachal Pradesh.

An experiment was conducted to study the influence of seed sources on seed germination and seedling vigour of Pinus gerardiana seeds collected from 23 seed sources during October, 2018 in Kinnaur and Chamba districts of Himachal Pradesh. The seeds were subjected to germination testing to identify the best seed source for raising Pinus gerardiana seedlings in the nursery. Significant differences were observed in germination percent, average seedling length and seedling vigour of seeds collected from different seed sources. The maximum germination of 83.00% was recorded in seeds collected from Jangi seed source followed by 74.00% germination in seeds collected from Purbani, 71.00% germination in seeds collected from Moorang in Kinnaur Forest Division whereas minimum germination of 36.00% germination was recorded in seeds collected from Luj in Pangi Forest Division. Similarly, maximum seedling length of 11.10 cm was recorded in seeds collected from Jangi followed by 10.50 cm in seeds collected from Purbani and 10.21 cm in seeds collected from Moorang in Kinnaur Forest Division whereas minimum seedling length of 7.70 cm was recorded from seeds collected from Luj in Pangi Forest Division. The maximum seedling vigour index of 921 was recorded in seeds collected from Jangi followed by seedling vigour index of 777 from Purbani and seedling vigour index of 724 from Moorang in a decreasing order whereas minimum seedling vigour index of 277 was recorded in seeds collected from Luj in Pangi Forest Division. It is recommended on the basis of present investigation that seeds of Pinus gerardiana should be collected from Jangi seed source in Kinnaur district for raising quality seedlings in the nursery.

The endemic species Vigna hainiana Babu, Gopin. & S.K. Sharma (Fabaceae: Phaseoleae) is reported here for the first time from Nizamabad district for Telangana. Detailed description and photographs are provided to facilitate its easy identification.

Two new species of liverworts, Telaranea mizoramensis Sushil K. Singh sp. nov. (Lepidoziaceae) and Cylindrocolea mizoramensis Sushil K. Singh sp. nov. (Cephaloziellaceae) are described from Mizoram, Northeast India.

The present paper records the occurrence of Crinum lorifolium from Eastern Ghats (Andhra Pradesh). A detailed description, photographs and a key to Crinum species are provided for easy identification.

The present article records the presence of Dillenia pentagyna Roxb. (Dilleniaceae) as an addition to the flora of Uttarakhand. A brief description along with photographs of leaves, flowers and a herbarium specimen is provided.

Ageratum houstonianum Mill. is reported as an addition to the Flora of Telangana from Adilabad District. Detailed description and photo plate are provided for easy identification.

Namdapha National Park in eastern Arunachal Pradesh near the Myanmar border is perhaps the most bio-diverse park in India, being situated at the edge of the region of the centre of diversity of Sino-Himalayan species and also being connected to the S.E. Asian (Malesian) flora through the adjacent mountain ranges of Myanmar. The area has very high rainfall and a great range of altitude (from c. 300 m to 4500 m). Despite increasing human pressure, the Park still contains large areas of species-rich, pristine tropical-type rain-forest and temperate forest, along with secondary forest. It is thus a notable haven for a very great diversity of pteridophytes (ferns and allies, including lycophytes), which form an obvious and often dominant part of the ground vegetation, with tree-ferns (Cyathea) above. However only the lower regions have been explored scientifically, up to c. 500 m altitude. A remarkable nine tenths of the altitude-range of the park remains entirely unexplored and its high-altitude Sino-Himalayan flora, still quite unknown, must be immensely rich, including the pteridophytes. A checklist of pteridophytes of the park is given here as known so far from all relevant herbarium-collections and from the authors’ own collections, altogether 184 taxa, though well over twice that number should be expected if a far-reaching scientific expedition could take place, which has not so far occurred.