The study was conducted to appraise the status of natural regeneration of Juniperus macropoda at three different sites located in Ladakh, the high altitude cold desert of Jammu and Kashmir. Presence of middle diameter class trees at sites I and II indicated that there was potential for natural regeneration at these sites. However, presence of few or no seedlings and saplings at all, at these sites alluded to some forces operating there to nullify this potential. At site III very uneven size class distribution of stems gave an impression of completely irregular stand. Preponderance of mature and over-mature trees at all the three sites and biotic pressures in the form of over-grazing and lopping of twigs, leaves and cones for burning as incense were identified as major factors responsible for very poor natural regeneration of J. macropoda on these sites.

A sizable number of macrophytes growing luxuriantly in Kawar lake, the largest one of its kind in Bihar, are utilized by the native folk for food (Euryale ferox, Ipomoea aquatica, Nelumbo nucifera, Nymphaea nouchali, Nymphaea sp. – a probable hybrid, Cyperus rotundus), fodder (Commelina benghalensis, Cynodon dactylon, Cyperus iria, C. rotundus, Echinochloa colonum, E. crus-galli, Leersia hexandra, Oryza rufipogon, Phragmites karka, Saccharum spontaneum, Schoenoplectus articulatus, S. supinus), fuel (I. aquatica, S. spontaneum), medicine (Centella asiatica, N. nouchali, N. sp.), fish food/duck feed (Ceratophyllum demersum, Hydrilla verticillata), decoration (N. nucifera), worship (N. nucifera, N. nouchali) etc. Besides fulfilling household requirements, the sale of certain macrophytes for medicine (flower of N. nouchali), fish food (whole plant of C. demersum and H. verticillata) and multipurpose materials (C. iria, P. karka) boosts up their economy. These aquatic resources need optimum commercial exploitation for the upliftment of poor people residing around   the lake.

Pseudocyclosorus tylodes (Kunze) Ching and Pseudocyclosorus ochthodes (Kunze) Holttum are the two rare ferns collected from the Western Ghats ranges of the Kudremukh National Park of the Karnataka State. The present collection of P. tylodes is the first report of this species from Karnataka.

Trignospora obtusiloba Sledge has considered to be confined to Sri Lanka. However, this species has now been collected from the Western Ghats ranges of Kudremukh National Park of Karnataka State, India.  This is the second distributional area for this species universally.

India is represented by only 34 species and 5 varieties under 14 genera of Iridaceae. The wild and naturalised species are distributed in 5 phytogeographical regions, viz., Trans-Himalaya, West Himalaya, Eastern Himalaya, North East India and Western Ghats. The wild species are restricted to the Himalayas. The regionwise, taxonwise and altitudewise distribution of Indian Iridaceae is given in this paper.

Tree breakage after high velocity winds and storms was studied in New Forest campus. It was found that canker rots caused by Ganoderma applanatum and Phellinus pachyphloeus are mainly responsible for the tree breakage. Early detection and removal of such hazard trees is advocated to avoid loss of life and property.

Herbarium database is a computational method, where the information about the herbarium specimens are digitalized in such a way that it is easily accessible with the help of Internet and World Wide Web (WWW) throughout the world. The modern databases also include the actual herbarium specimens as digital images with all accompanying information available on the herbarium sheet label. Herbarium databases are also available in the form of Compact Discs. With the advancement in the development of herbarium databases, the Taxonomists around the world can share the information about herbarium specimens stored in a herbarium by considerably cutting down the cost and time. However, based on the application, management, utility and other factors, the herbarium database has its own merits and demerits. The present paper deals with development of a herbarium database in Central National Herbarium (CAL), Botanical Survey of India, Howrah and its future prospects.

The paper records 106 species of Lichens distributed among 39 genera and 17 families from Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary in Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh. Family Parmeliaceae shows maximum diversity, represented by 24 species within 9 genera, whereas Graphis is the largest genus with 13 species.

The seed samples of Albizia lebbeck were collected from thirty seed sources throughout the country. The seed quality parameters of the samples were evaluated using image analyzer. Significant variation was observed among seed sources for seed quality parameters. On the basis of overall performance, Mettupalayam followed by Bhagwala and Gudag sources expressed superiority for seed traits. These identified seed sources could be useful to collect seeds of Albizia lebbeck for genetic improvement and plantation programmes.

In nature the seeds of Salvadora persica and Jatropha curcas possess diversity in their size. Based on their weight, the seeds were segregated into seven categories. In S. persica these ranged from 20 to 90 mg per seed while in J. curcas ranged from 100 to 800 mg per seed. When put to germination, there was no germination at all in seeds weighing up to 30 mg per seed in S. persica and up to 300 mg per seed in J. curcas. The germination was found to be 22, 29, 49, 64, 89 and 100% in S. persica in rest of the six categories while in J. curcas it was found to be 20, 30, 60, 85 and 100% in remaining five categories. The seedling development in terms of height and fresh biomass also increased with the increase in seed weight. When treated with salt solution adjusted to different pH levels (2 to 11), the seed germination was found highest in both species at pH 8.0. The germination was faster at pH from 6 to 8 when compared to other levels. The effect of quality of light on seed germination showed maximum germination in natural light in both the species followed by yellow, green, red and blue lights, respectively. The seed germination was initiated after one week when seeds were treated with saline water of electric conductivity of 2 and 4 dS m-1 in both the species while on higher salinity the germination started during second week. The seed germination was lower at higher salinity. After 4th week of germination the shoot length, root length, collar diameter, fresh and dry biomass of shoot and root were decreased with increase in the salinity of irrigation water.

Kerala flora is endowed with Malabar floristic elements. The extent of dry deciduous forests and its floristic representatives in the State is very low. Flora of Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is significant in this context. This paper deals with the dry deciduous forests in the Sanctuary and peculiarity of its flora, including ten new records to the flora of Kerala.

The present study was conducted in the cold desert region of the Lahaul valley in Himachal Pradesh. Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch. an endangered medicinal herb, was studied in terms of its distribution pattern, cultivation practices and problems in cultivation. Seed germination showed better results in hot chamber in the month of May, June and July. Seeds sown in hot chamber at 30oC showed better germination (99±1.33%) in the month of June in comparison with cold chamber at 20oC. Energy and monetary efficiencies revealed output/input ratio of 7.5 and 0.8, respectively. Introducing of seasonal cash crops like Pea, Potato and Hop, need for a mandatory permit for cultivation and export, longer cultivation cycle (3 years), lower and continuously fluctuating market rates were found to be the main causes of discarding kuth cultivation in the valley. The possibilities for its revival and popularising kuth cultivation have been discussed in the present study.

A new variety of orchid, Bulbophyllum trichocephalum (Schltr.) Tang & Wang var. wallongense, from Arunachal Pradesh, India, is described and illustrated.

Seeds of ten species of Cassia L. were studied for their water permeability capacity in relation to their micromorphology. It was observed that in Cassia, waxy deposition on the seed surface and water imperviousness were not always correlated significantly with each other. Seeds of some species having thick waxy deposition on their surface also had the same response towards permeability to water as observed in the species with the seeds of without waxy deposition after a short period of soaking in water at room temperature. Out of ten, the water pervious capacity of the seeds of seven species, i.e. Cassia glauca, C. javanica, C. mimosoides, C. nodosa, C. obovata, C. pumila and C. siamea was directly proportional to the presence and absence of waxy deposition on their seed surface. This nature of seeds may be useful in assessing germination capacity of forest tree species.

Field studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of age of Poplar on Turmeric during 2002 (2, 3 and 4 years Poplar) and 2003 (1, 2 and 3 years Poplar) at farmers’ fields. The study revealed that the mean GBH of Poplar increased significantly as age of Poplar plantation increased. Fresh rhizome yield of Turmeric decreased significantly as the age of Poplar increased. Maximum reduction in fresh Turmeric yield (85.9%) was recorded under four year old Poplar whereas reduction was minimum in one year old plantation (11%) as compared to pure crop of Turmeric.

Seven species, viz., Calamagrostis stoliczkai Hook. f., Juncus bracteatus Buchen., Matthiola flavida Boiss., Parrya nudicaulis (L.) Regel, Persicaria perfoliata (L.) H. Gross, Ptilotrichum canescens (DC.) C. Meyer and Stellaria tibetica Kurz have been recorded from Pin Valley National Park, Lahaul-Spiti as new additions to the flora of Himachal Pradesh.

The paper reports attractant (kairomonal) property of some compounds isolated from the bark of Sal (Shorea robusta) against its dreaded pest Sal borer, Hoplocerambyx spinicornis, in laboratory. Extract of the bark and its various isolates were prepared by the standard procedure and subjected to bioassay. Phase-wise bioassays of the bark extract and its further isolated compounds were carried out against the beetles in choice conditions in laboratory. Behaviour exhibited by the beetles, viz., orientations, walking movement, antennal activity, visits to the test compound treated surface, biting and feeding attempts to the particular compound and number of beetles attracted has been recorded. They showed positive behaviour with regard to the parameters discussed above against the bark extract as well as other isolated compounds. The chemical analysis of the compounds exhibiting the kairomonal property has also been performed.