Lateritic soils of West Bengal supporting Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) under different management systems viz., by Forest Protection Committee (FPC), Forest Department and without any management were studied to characterize the soils and their carbon sequestration potential. Soils were medium to high in bulk density, low in pH, low to medium in organic carbon, low in clay content and cation exchange capacity. The study reveals that the soils managed FPC contain higher carbon stock in comparison to that of plantation stand (managed by Forest Department) and degraded forest soils (all are in a contiguous area). The FPC management improves the soil health with comparatively high organic matter content which in turn lowers the bulk density, making the soil porous with higher moisture and nutrient holding capacity which ultimately enhances the carbon sequestration of soil. These results will be useful to the planners, forest managers and administrators.  

The present study focused on phyto-sociological and physico-chemical attributes of soil in Pinus roxburghii (Chir pine) and Shorea robusta (Sal) plantations in a reserved estate of New Forest, Dehradun. A total of 33 plant species comprising of 18 trees, 10 shrubs and five herbs were recorded from the study area. The tree density, in chir pine was lower 950 individuals/ ha as compared to 1073 individuals/ ha in sal vegetation. In saplings, high density was observed for Syzygium cumini (20 individuals/ 100m²) in sal followed by Broussonetia papyrifera (19 individuals/100m²) in chir pine plantation. Lantana camara, marked its presence with highest density (49 individuals/100 m²) in chir pine followed by Clerodendrum infortunatum (18 individuals/100 m²) in sal plantation. Higher tree basal cover (51 m²/ha) was recorded in sal than chir pine (19 m²/ha). Similarly, the tree diversity in sal was recorded higher (1.68) as compared to chir pine (1.51) plantation. Contrarily, sapling diversity was higher (2.81) in chir pine as compared to sal (2.52) plantation. Herbaceous flora was completely absent in sal plantation. Analysis of size class distribution revealed that sal trees (~ 29%) attained 21-30 cm diameter whereas chir pine trees (68%) were under 11-20 cm diameter class mainly due to preferred growing zone of the species and habitat suitability. The soil under chir pine was slightly acidic (5.98) with sandy loam texture. Soil was comparatively good with higher soil organic carbon (2.71%) under sal plantation mainly due to high humus deposition. It is suggested to restrict wide spread of Lantana camara in chir pine plantation for the better growth of the species and enhance nutrient availability.

Studies were carried to find out the effect of pre-sowing seed treatments to alleviate the dormancy of Palmyrah. A total of ten pre- sowing treatments viz., soaking in water for 24 h, soaking in 1% cow dung solution for 24 h and control (dry seeds) were given to fresh nuts of Palmyrah. At 4, 7, 12, 18 and 24 months after planting in the field, performance of seedlings were evaluated for field emergence, seedling height and the results revealed that seeds soaked in 1% cow dung solution followed by seeds soaked in 1% CaOCl₂ (103 days). Seven months after sowing the seeds soaked in 1% CaOCl₂ recorded the highest field emergence of 56% with high leave production per seedling (2.1) when compared to control. This study also confirms the effect of pre-sowing treatments on field emergence and frond production of Palmyrah nut which has dormancy.

The Indo-Sri Lankan endemic species Barleria courtallica Nees (syns. B. nutans Nees; B. inaequalis Benth.) is lectotypified here; isolectotypes are also designated.The synonym B. inaequalis is also lectotypified. The distribution, current status and notes on conservation of the rare endemic are discussed in detail. 

The present paper deals with the new record of Cynanchum corymbosum Wight (Apocynaceae), for Arunachal Pradesh, India, with detailed taxonomic citation, botanical description, phenology along with ecological notes of the species.

Oldenlandia umbellata L. (Rubiaceae) is reported here as addition to the flora of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A brief note on its taxonomy and distribution is presented along with its diagnostic characters for easy identification.

Trigonostemon viridissimus var. chatterjii (Deb & G.K. Deka) N.P. Balakr. & Chakrab. (Euphorbiaceae), a rare and endemic taxon is reported here as a new distributional record for the state Arunachal Pradesh. It was earlier known only from two localities of Meghalaya in India. Detailed taxonomic description along with field photographs are provided for its easy identification.

A new variety of Dichanthium caricosum (L.) A. Camus (Poaceae) is described and illustrated from Papikonda National Park, Andhra Pradesh, India. The new variety differs from the typical variety by its two lobed lemma of pedicelled spikelets and solitary racemes. 

The genus Adenosma R.Br. is reported here as an addition to the Flora of Telangana, collected from Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Telangana, India. The detailed description and photo plate is provided for easy identification. 

Tropidia thwaitesii Hook. f. is an overlooked Indo-Lankan orchid hitherto reported only from the Andaman Islands, Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, and the present find from the tail end of Eastern Ghats is of phytogeographical significance. A detailed description, ecology, photographs and other relevant notes are provided for the better understanding and conservation of the taxa. 

Extended distribution of Ficus fergusonii (King) T. B. Worth. ex Corner to Tamil Nadu and Ficus travancorica King to Karnataka are reported here. Reinstation of F. travancorica discussed.

Tripogon anantaswamianus and Tripogon narayanae have been relegated to variety of Tripogon bromoides and synonym of Tripogon filiformis respectively. Similarly Tripogon sivarajanii and Tripogon tirumalae have been reduced as varieties under Tripogon trifidus whereas Tripogon jayachandranii and  Tripogon nallamalayanus  are treated here under synonyms of Tripogon trifidus var. sivarajanii. The following species/varieties are treated here as synonyms under various well-defined species. Tripogon borii is synonymous to Tripogon bromoides var. anantaswamianus. Tripogon ashihoi, Tripogon idukkianus, Tripogon karnatakensis, Tripogon munnarensis and Tripogon ravianus are conspecific to Tripogon bromoides var. bromoides. Tripogon paramjitianus is synonymous to Tripogon pungens. Tripogon copei, Tripogon wightii var. kanyakumariensis and Tripogon velliangiriensis are synonyms of Tripogon wightii. The new varieties and synonyms are proposed after careful study of Type and additional specimens from type locality and other areas. 

Based on a recent collection from Pithoragarh district, the present communication confirms the occurrence of a Cheilanthoid fern, Oeosporangium tenuifolium (Burm. f.) Fraser-Jenk. & Pariyar in Uttarakhand State in the western Himalaya in India.

Five species of Dicranaceae viz., Campylopus ericoides (Griff.) A. Jaeger, C. fragilis subsp. goughii (Mitt) J.P. Frahm, C. introflexus (Hedw.) Bird., C. subfragilis Renauld & Cardot and Thysanomitrion involutum (Müll. Hal.) P. dela Varde, collected from different localities of Chittoor and Visakhapatnam districts, are being reported here as new distributional records to the state of Andhra Pradesh. 

Four myxomycetes namely Arcyria major (G. Lister) Ing, Lycogala epidendrum (J.C. Buxb. ex L.) Fr., Stemonitis fusca Roth and Trichia decipiens (Pers.) T. Macbr. were collected and identified from the temperate and tropical forests of Jammu Province, Jammu and Kashmir, India. While L. epidendrum has been described earlier, the remaining three taxa are being reported and described for the first time from Jammu and Kashmir. Macro and microscopic details of the present collections have been provided.

The leafy liverwort genus Udaria D.K.Singh, S.Majumdar & D.Singh was recently described based on plants from Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim in India. However, the name is a later homonym of Udaria A.Gupta, a fossil fungal genus discovered in Tertiary sediments of Dagshai and Subathu Formations in Himachal Pradesh, India. Hence, the liverwort genus is renamed here as Ramudaria, nom. nov. honouring the original eponym, Prof. Ram Udar. Its only species, Udaria lamellicaulis D.K.Singh, S.Majumdar & D.Singh is transferred to the newly named genus as Ramudaria lamellicaulis, comb. nov.