This paper analyses the demand-supply situation of Teakwood in Kerala State in India. The total demand for Teakwood during 2000-2001 was 96,294 m3, which was 4.7 per cent of the total demand for all timbers. Among the timber-using sectors, housing was the largest Teakwood-using sector. Teakwood export to other States within the country was 13,812 m3 of which 6335 m3 was Teak poles. The international export was only 113 m3. Of the total Teakwood supply, forest plantations accounted for 52 per cent, import 15 per cent and areas outside forests contributed the remaining 33 per cent. Production and consumption of Teakwood was more or less matched, with only a small deficit of 667 m3. Kerala, a traditional exporter, has now become a net importer. Shortening of the rotation age of forest Teak plantations to 50 years has reduced the production of larger girth logs. A policy for increasing the rotation age of forest Teak plantations must be adopted to make available high value larger girth logs for the national and international markets.

Haryana Forest Department (HFD) was pioneer in implementing Joint Forest Management (JFM) in 1990. Benefit sharing under JFM was key for which people participated in the programme. In a span of eight years number of Hill Resource Management Societies (HRMS) were established and became self-sustaining through the income generated by sale of Bhabbar (Eulaliopsis binata) and other activities. However, in 1998 HFD came out with a new sharing system of the produce obtained from JFM activities. In the new system HRMS had a share of only 45% of the total revenue generated. Most of the HRMS collapsed post 1998 due to lack of sufficient income. Repercussion of introduction of new sharing system on existence of HRMS and on forest resources was analysed. It was found that the new sharing system is detrimental for the existence of HRMS. Forests established with the cooperation of people are no more managed by the people as a result fire incidences have increased in the Bhabbar yielding forest post 1998 JFM resolution

A field experiment was initiated at National Research Centre for Agroforestry (NRCAF), Jhansi, India to study the effect of pruning treatment on the growth and yield of Dalbergia sissoo and Hardwickia binnata under silvipastoral system. The experiment consisted of two treatments viz naturally grown trees and pruned trees (50%) planted at a spacing of 6 x 4m. At the age of ten years, eight trees were harvested from both the tree species and under each of two treatments for above ground biomass components and volume estimates. The mean above ground dry biomass (AGB) production under pruned and unpruned conditions was 68.43, 128.36 kg/tree for D. sissoo and 28.17, 61.24kg/tree for H. binnata respectively. Allometric functions were used to develop model for estimation of AGB on the basis of dbh (diameter at breast height) and the fitted equations were AGB=0.666*(dbh)1.831 for Dalbergia -unpruned; AGB=0.611*(dbh)1.752 for Dalbergia -pruned and AGB=5.973*(dbh)0.917 for Hardwickia -unpruned; AGB=2.246*(dbh)1.086 for Hardwickia –pruned respectively. The above ground biomass productivity (tons/ha/yr) ranged from 2.73 to 5.13 for D. sissoo in case of pruned and unpruned respectively, whereas the wood volume index (m3/ha/yr) ranged from 2.8 to 4.4 respectively. In case of H. binnata, the biomass productivity was observed from 1.10 to 2.44 and wood volume index from 1.12 to 2.24 respectively under pruned and unpruned conditions.

A young patch of mangrove on South-West coast of India is subjected to intense human interference. A succession pattern was in progress in the undisturbed areas, wherein, a monospecifically dominated Avicennia officinalis stand was facilitating an understorey of shade loving species like Bruguiera cylindrica and Excoecaria agallocha. On the other hand, those parts of the forest which were subjected to human interference, the retrogression of the ecosystem was at play. The canopy gaps so created were covered by Acanthus ilicifolius, a light demanding under-shrub species, forming a thick bed of 2-3 ft height entirely covering the forest floor, thus prohibiting the establishment of other tree species. However, undisturbed mangrove forest areas were devoid of this shrub species.

The present study was undertaken to understand the community behaviour of Nardostachys jatamansi in three different sub sites viz., maximum, moderate and minimum density levels in the alpine areas of Kedarnath region of Rudraprayag district in Uttarakhand. The results reveal that the density was highest in the maximum sub site followed by in the moderate and minimum sub sites. Analysis of vegetation revealed that between different densities the community composition did not vary much. Although between various sub sites the density varied significantly between maximum, moderate and minimum categories, comparison of mean density of the area.  Maximum density was represented by a total of fifteen plant species, while moderate and minimum densities showed twelve and thirteen plant species respectively.

Plant diversity of the Rono Hills was studied during 2004-2005. All trees > 10 cm dbh at 1.3 m, shrubs and herbs (including grasses) were recorded. The total and relative values of each species for density, diversity, dominance and Importance Value Indices were calculated. A total of 138 species belonging to 122 genera under 66 families and 3 unidentified species were recorded. The Importance Value Index (IVI) of some ecologically significant trees, shrubs and herbs are Callicarpa arborea (24), Lantana camara (51) and Ageratum conyzoides (19), respectively. The total basal area of trees was 17.84 m2 ha-1. The highest Shannon -Wiener diversity index was recorded for trees (3.66) and minimum for herbs (3.60). The human interference needs to be monitored and controlled for the conservation of forest cover of ecologically fragile foothills.

The study was carried out to develop maturity indices for seeds of four important multipurpose tree species in North India viz. Acacia catechu Willd., Acacia nilotica Willd., Albizia lebbeck Benth., and Tectona grandis L. We suggest that a composite seed harvest index that combines several fruit and seed parameters may be a useful in predicting better seed germination in the species studied. Thus, for achieving maximum seed quality, seeds of A. catechu should be harvested during the second week of January when the seed and pod moisture is 20-23%, 100-pod weight is approximately 23 g, and the seed colour changes from greenish-brown to light brown. The best period for harvesting good quality seeds of A. nilotica is the second fortnight of June when the pod and seed moisture is 5-6% and 100-pod weight is approximately 6 g. A. lebbeck pods should be collected during the last week of February when the seed and pod moisture is approximately 10%, 100-pod weight is approximately 10 g, the pods have not yet started to split, and the seed colour changes from light brown to dark brown. In T. grandis the suitable period for fruit harvest is the first fortnight of March when the 100-fruit weight is between 35-40 gm, the fruit moisture is approximately 14%, and the fruits become lighter in colour.

A study was carried out in the South Indian Moist deciduous forest and Eucalypt plantations of different rotations in the Thrissur Forest Division Kerala to assess the micronutrient status of soils and the variation with rotation. Among the four micronutrients studied (exchangeable iron, copper, manganese and zinc), there was a significant increase in iron and a decrease in copper concentrations with subsequent rotations under Eucalyptus plantations in comparison to the natural forest of the region. As regards to the zinc and manganese, no significant difference was observed between soils under Eucalypt plantations and natural forest. A significant correlation was observed between iron and pH and organic carbon and also between manganese and organic carbon.

Three forest types were recognized in Rawanganga watershed, Quercus glauca dominated forest at lower altitudes (800 - 1200m), Pinus roxburghii dominated forest at middle altitudes (1200 -1600m) and mixed Oak forest at higher altitudes (>1600m). A total of 25 tree species were recorded in all the three types of forests, however, maximum tree species were found in mixed Oak forest. Absence of some species, either in seedling or sapling or from both layers suggested that despite the dominance of such species in canopy, regeneration was suppressed severely and may pose a threat to their survival in coming years. The biomass increment and carbon sequestration by these forest types was in order of Quercus glauca forest>Mixed Oak forest>Pine forest.

Half- sib seeds from 18 Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Dehnhardt) candidate plus trees (CPT) were sown and the time taken for seedling emergence was recorded. Seeds from some CPTs emerged after 5 days while few emerged after 7 days. Seedlings were maintained in the poly bags for 4 months and later transplanted in to the field. To find out the effect of time of emergence on growth, total height, collar diameter, and number of branches were measured after three months in the field. ANOVA on GLM revealed highly significant intra-genotypic variability in both the groups of seedlings. However, Student’s t- test exhibited in-significant differences between these groups indicating negligible effect of emergence time on tree growth. It was assumed that environmental variables and the dispersion mechanisms might have led to the creation of variability in seed germination regimes but the selection forces eroded that variability in morphological features, giving more importance to physiological selection.

Coastal agroecosystems are usually characterized by saline sandy soils with low fertility and crop productivity. An integrated approach with the inclusion of silviculture with crop cultivation is important to maintaining the soil fertility and crop productivity. Agrisilvicultural System is one of the alternative land use systems by which both woody perennials and agricultural crops are grown simultaneously in degraded lands. Hence an agrisilvicultural study was initiated to determine the effect of tree species on the yield of inter crops at Portnova region of Tamil Nadu. Four woody perennials were established during October 2003 and five field crops were raised in the interspaces of trees during 2003 to 2005 in split plot design. Grain yield of all crop components were affected by trees. Among the woody perennials, the maximum tree growth was observed in Eucalyptus tereticornis. followed by Casuarina equisetifolia Anacardium occidentale and Moringa oleifera. Grain production was found to be the best from the interspaces of Moringa oleifera and Anacardium occidentale. The cause might be due to less light interception of canopies due to wider spacing of trees and able to extract less amount of moisture from the rhizosphere zone of crop components. The lowest yields of field crops were obtained in association with Eucalyptus tereticornis due to more moisture absorption by this tree.

Mikania micrantha a gregarious perennial fast growing herbaceous creeping vine possess a serious threat to tea production. Negative impacts of the weed include labour cost, reduction in yield of crop, loss of native biodiversity etc. An ecological survey to study the seasonal distribution and economic impact in terms of cost and profitability of tea cultivation was carried out during 2004-2005 in two sites viz., Cinnamora Tea Estate (CTE), Division: Hatigarh and Experimental Garden for plantation crop (EGPC), Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat (Assam). The results of the present investigation showed highest population build-up 2600 and 1000 numbers of Mikania stalks/ha during the month of September and August respectively in CTE and AAU. Study on economic impact of Mikania showed an adverse effect of it on tea cultivation in the surveyed area causing a loss of 41.8% and 18.90 % respectively in CTE and EGPC.

Significant differences were recorded in yield levels of tree fruits as well as annual crop components that obtained under integrated cropping models when compared with their sole cropping.  The growth and yield in tree fruits were more under the integrated cropping models of Aonla + Ber + Karonda + Cluster Bean + Brinjal and Aonla + Ber + Karonda + Cluster bean + Fallow. Minimum yield was recorded when tree fruits were grown as sole crop. The growth and yield parameters in cluster bean, moth bean and brinjal exhibited non- significant differences while plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods/ silique/ fruits per plant and yield were found to be significantly superior in integrated cropping models of Aonla + Ber + Karonda + Cluster Bean + Brinjal and Aonla + Ber + Karonda + Moth Bean + Mustard as compared to their sole cropping except mustard where a reverse trend was observed.

In India higher plants and their products are being used in different traditional medicines since time immemorial. There is now urgent need to check illegal exploitation of such indigenous plants by biotechnologically rich countries through biopiracy or gene robbing. Such an effort would be also helpful in many fold enhancement of Indian herbal products in the global market.

Root sucker resulted maximum rooting, average root length (6.74 cm), root diameter (0.87mm), longest root length (25.33cm) and shoot number per cuttings. Number of roots per cutting (33.30) and best root quality resulted in root suckers. Cutting treated with 3000 ppm IBA resulted maximum number of cutting rooted, root number, root diameter, root length, shoot length, leaf number, and best quality root. Sucker treated with 3000 ppm IBA interacted significantly for the rooting potential and growth.

Production of biomass of five dominant species growing in some tea fields of Assam was investigated. Biomass of weed community showed significant variation in different seasons in the tea fields. Studies showed one peak of accumulation of above ground biomass during September (1466.87g/m²), three peaks in live shoot during February (780.377g/m²), June (1162.99g/m²), and September (1371.87g/m²), two peaks of dead shoots during December (370.2g/m²) and July (184.6 g/m²) in the weed communities. Study indicated one peak in deposition of litter and accumulation of below ground biomass during February (230.6g/m²) and September (345.5g/m²) respectively. Among the five dominant weed species, B. articularis showed highest contribution of biomass during August (10.25%) and minimum by P. conjugatum during March (0.22%) in the weed community of tea fields of Assam.

A new variety, Notoscyphus darjeelingensis Udar & A. Kumar var. sikkimensis D. Singh, D.K. Singh and A. Kumar is described from Sikkim, India. It differs from the typical variety in having underleaves 0.30 – 0.60 mm long, 0.20 – 0.35 mm wide with the lobes 5 – 13 cells long, 4 – 6 cells wide at base bearing 1 – 2 teeth on each side, or occasionally 3 teeth on any side, of its margin and with repeated 1-2 subfloral innovations. Key to the hitherto known Indian taxa of the genus is provided.

Canscora stricta Sedgw. is rediscovered from Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Udupi District., Karnataka after a lapse of 90 years. A detailed description, distribution, ecology and relevant notes are provided.

Geodorum attenuatum Griff., collected from the Niyamgiri Hills of Orissa, is described here as new record to the flora of India.

In the present paper 41 species of the family Cyperaceae belonging to 8 genera invading the cultivated fields of Varanasi District have been recorded. The study shows that 28 species occur in paddy fields exclusively and 13 in association with Gram, Sugarcane, Trapa, Vegetables, and Wheat crops. During the survey Fimbristylis eragrostis (Nees & Mey) Hance was recorded as a new record for Uttar Pradesh. Twenty three species have been recorded for the first time from Varanasi District.

The paper deals with four species of Opegrapha: O. agelaeotera Vain., O. medusulina Nyl., O. ochrocheila Nyl. and O. subrimulosa Nyl. from Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, West Bengal and are recorded for the first time from India.

During critical study on the flora of Ladakh (2001-2007) few collections made in 2002-2003 from Nubra valley by the author have been identified as Asplenium ruta-muraria L. a rare fern in India, which is a recollection from Ladakh after long time. The collection of this fern species from the area extents its distribution ranges from Kashmir, Uttarakhand to Ladakh in Indian Himalaya.

Neanotis indica (DC.) Lewis var. deltoidea (Wall.ex Wight &  Arn.) Lewis, so far known from Tamil Nadu is now recorded to Kerala state. Detailed description with illustration is provided.

Campylanthus pungens O. Schwartz. (Scrophulariaceae) is reported from Bhuj, Kachchh District of Gujarat, as a new record for India. Detailed taxonomical characteristics, habitat ecology and associated floral information are provided.

Paper deals with the phytogeographical analysis of the flora and shows that the native flora is composed of 12 various phytogeographical elements and predominant elements are Indian wides, tropical and subtropical and Indian.

The present communication reports Geodorum recurvum (Roxb.) Alston as a new distributional record for the Southern Eastern Ghats of India. Technical description, distribution and photographs are provided for the species.

Biophytum longipedunculatum Govind. (Oxalidaceae) and Oberonia chandrasekharanii V.J.Nair, V.S.Ramachandran & R.Ansari (Orchidaceae), were occurring hitherto in Kerala State in Southern Peninsular India have been collected from Velliangiri hills, the Western Ghats of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu form an extension of the known range of distribution as well as an additions to the Flora of Tamil Nadu also.

A colour variant of Liparis bootanensis Griff. collected from Mangpoo, Darjeeling district of West Bengal has been recorded for the first time from India. The variant is described here with the help of photographs.

Two little known species viz., Elaeocarpus rugosus Roxb. ex G. Don and Memecylon variens Thw. are reported for the first time from Southern Western Ghats and thus form an addition to the flora of Kerala. The occurrence of Cinnamomum walaiwarense Kosterm. in Kerala is also confirmed. They are described and illustrated based on fresh specimens.

The multiplication of Podocarpus wallichianus Presl., an IUCN listed threatened species and lone conifer of the Western Ghats was carried out through stem cuttings. The study reveals that this species can be multiplied through tender cuttings without hormone treatment. The ex-situ conservation programme was also initiated to save this species from the verge of extinction.