The present study was conducted in Goshal, one of the largest villages of Lahaul valley of Himachal Pradesh during 2010 to 2013 to study the land use pattern of village Goshal by classifying the study area into three major ecosystems viz; Forest ecosystem, alpine pasture ecosystem and agro-ecosystem and to assess the soil physical properties of these ecosystems. Land use pattern in agro ecosystem revealed that of the total area of village Goshal, maximum area was occupied under second grade irrigated area and maximum area under non cultivable lands was reported under grasslands. Pea occupied maximum per cent area which showed the shifting of the farming community from traditional cropping pattern to cash crops. It was further observed that the villagers opted plantations of poplars and willows. The soil physical properties of all the three ecosystems were found medium in available nutrient status.

The present study was carried in different geographical regions of Punjab with the aim to evaluate the impact of climate change on the faunal and floral diversity. A multistage random sampling design was followed to select the study area. Species richness, evenness, Simpson index, Shannon-Wiener index, Index of dominance, Similarity and dissimilarity index were calculated. Comparative performance of different species in different locations was studied in term of present and past status. The number of forest tree species in Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana and Bathinda did not show any change in forest tree species and remain same without any change in bio-diversity index. The number of fruit tree species has been increased comparatively in all three localities. The number of bird’s species has been decreased comparatively in all three localities due to change in climatic condition, whereas, incremental changes were recorded in number of individuals of animals, however number of species is remained unchanged. The number of wild species has been decreased comparatively in all three localities. Ecological indices revealed that diversity index, species richness and evenness index were increased in all three localities; however, Index of Dominance was reduced.

The combination of different substrate concentrations (0.05M, 0.10M, 0.15M, 0.20M and 0.25M, KNO₃) with different pH of phosphate buffer (0.10 M and 0.20 M, KH₂PO₄ of the pH 7.0, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, and 7.8) solutions were tried for  in-vivo nitrate reductase activity of Adenanthera microsperma leaves. Maximum nitrate reductase activity was observed in the combination of buffer solution (0.20M KH₂PO₄) having pH 7.7 and substrate solution 0.20 M concentration.

Shorea robusta Gaertn. f. (Dipterocarpaceae), commonly known as sal, is one of the most important timbers of India both ecologically and economically. It is of Indian origin, widely distributed in central and north India and constitutes an important ecosystem, which provides cool and calm environment rich in biodiversity. This tree species has a highest number of insect fauna among the forest trees. Of about 346 insects recorded on sal, about 155 species of insects belonging to the order Lepidoptera (105), Coleoptera (31), Thysanoptera (9), Hemiptera (4), Orthoptera (4), Ephemeroptera (1) and Isoptera (1) are associated with living tree. The major insect pests of sal are, ‘seed and seedling borer’ Pammene theristis Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Eucosmidae), feeding on seed while they are on the tree; Sitophilus rugicollis Casey (Coleoptera : Curculionidae), damage seed either on the forest floor or during storage; white grubs such as Holotrichia spp. (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae), which feed on the root system of the plants in nurseries and beetles feed on the foliage; defoliators such as Caviria sericea Moore (Lepidoptera : Lymantriidae), Lymantria mathura Moore (Lepidoptera : Lymantriidae), Paectes   subapicalis Walker (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae), Trabala vishnou Lefebvre (Lepidoptera : Lasiocampidae), which feed on the leaves; stem borer such as Hoplocerambyx spinicornis Newman (Coleoptera : Cerambycidae) and sap sucker, such as Drosicha stebbingi Green (Hemiptera : Coccidae).  Termites, such as Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren (Isoptera : Rhinotermitidae) and timber borers, such as Sinoxylon anale and S. crassum (Coleoptera : Bostrychidae), damage sal timber in dying, felled or stored logs in depots.

Anthocephalus cadamba is an important tree species for pulp and paper industry.  Anatomical studies were conducted between trees of different age viz., 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 were selected from different plantation. One plus tree from each age was felled for the study. The transverse discs of 10 cm thickness were collected from three different heights of tree representing base, middle and top positions. Anatomical properties like Fibre Length, Fibre Diameter, Fibre Lumen Width, Fibre Wall Thickness, Flexibility, Slenderness ratio, Runkel ratio, Vessel Length, Vessel Diameter, Vessel Area, Vessel Frequency, Ray Height, Ray Width and Ray Frequency were studied. Present study revealed that the average Runkel ratio of Anthocephalus cadamba was 0.48; hence it is suitable for pulp and paper production. Fibre length at the ages of 6, 8 and 10 were at par. Fibre wall thickness were not significantly different at 2, 4, 6 and 8 age but 10 years of age fibre wall thickness differed significantly from other five different ages. Fibre diameter, fibre lumen width and slenderness were at par for all the five ages. Flexibility was at par in the ages of 2, 4, 6, and 8. Best practice of harvesting Anthocephalus cadamba would be at the age of six. Ray and vessel morphology did not show any specific trend from two to ten years old tree.

The genus Riccardia Gray has been recorded for the first time in Andaman & Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and two species, viz. R. graeffei (Steph.) Hewson and R. tamariscina (Steph.) Schiffn. are described and illustrated. The former is new to these islands, while the latter is new to the Indian bryoflora.

An overlooked but spectacular species of Huperzia from higher altitude in North-East India and North Myanmar is distinguished by its very long, linear, strongly downward-deflexed, grey leaves, which then angle upwards in their apical halves. It is named here as Huperzia kingdonwardiana Fraser-Jenk., after one of its collectors, the remarkable British botanist and plantsman, Frank Kingdon Ward.  It was firstbrought to notice by Fraser-Jenkins (2008) during the ongoing preparation of a checklist of pteridophytes of Arunachal Pradesh State, and was then identified by the present author as H. quasipolytrichoides (Hayata) Ching, in error, influenced by the poor illustration given for that species by Nessel (1939).  Subsequently it was reidentified by the present author at BM under the present name in Jan. 2012, which he had first coined for it in 2002 on recognising it as a species previously unknown in India. It differs from H. quasipolytrichoides from Taiwan and East China in itsobviously longer, narrower leaves that arch upwards more strongly above the deflexed basal part of the leaf, and in its wider branches. A further previously unrecognised species from the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya State, North-East India, is described as H. meghalaica Fraser-Jenk., and is similar to a longer-leaved H. pulcherrima (Wall. ex Hook. & Grev.) Pich.-Serm.

Fimbristylis acuminata Vahl, Scleria stocksiana Boeck., Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & L.M. Perry and Hedyotis membranacea Thwaites are being reported here as additions to the flora of Tamil Nadu.

Two species of Drepanolejeunea viz., D. fleischeri (Steph.) Grolle & R.L. Zhu and D. yunnanensis (P.C. Chen) Grolle & R.L. Zhu, are reported for the first time in Meghalaya. Of these, the former was earlier reported in India from Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Sikkim and West Bengal, while the latter from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Manipur and West Bengal. Taxonomic descriptions and illustration of both the species and key to the species of genus in Meghalaya are provided.

Emilia javanica (Burm.f.) C.B. Rob. and Inula falconeri Hook. f. of family Asteraceae are reported for the first time from Uttar Pradesh.

Begonia hirtella Link (Family Begoniaceae; Section Doratometra), an exotic weed native of Central and South America has been recorded for the first time from Tamil Nadu. A taxonomic description, phenology and photographs are provided for easy identification.

Chlorophytum breviscapum Dalz., a little known species of Liliaceae is reported as a new addition to the flora of Kerala.

Two aquatic angiosperms, Pistia stratiotes L. (Araceae), and Sagittaria guayanensis ssp. lappula (Alismataceae) collected from Middle Andaman Islands are additions to the flora of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Brief introduction description, phenology and distribution are presented along with photographs.

In present communication a rare Silver fern Aleuritopteris chrysophylla is reported for the first time from Uttarakahnd Himalaya. A Taxonomic description, distribution and diagnostic features of the taxon along with a photograph has been provided for easy identification.

Crotalaria trichotoma Bojer is reported from Tamil Nadu for the first time. Detailed description, nomenclature and photographs are provided for easy identification and better understanding of the taxon.

Comparative studies carried out on Suregada bifaria  (Roxb. ex Willd.) Baill., S. multiflora (A.Juss.) Baill. and S. glomerulata (Blume) Baill. reveal that S. glomerulata  is conspecific with S. bifaria and therefore the two species are merged.

Pancratium nairii Sasikala & Reema Kumari is recorded here for the first time from Maharashtra. Detailed taxonomic description, distribution and photographs are provided to facilitate easy identification of the species.

Eulophia bicallosa (D.Don) P.F. Hunt & Summerh. is reported as new to Kumaun Himalaya.

Syzygium  beddomei (Duthie) Chithra (Myrtaceae) is a presumably extinct species, confined only to Tirunelveli district, was rediscovered after a centuary from other than type locality in Kanyakumari  Forest division, Kanyakumari district, Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India.

A floristic survey was conducted in the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP), Himachal Pradesh during in 2010-11. The survey resulted in addition of 66 species of Angiosperms belonging to 55 genera under 32 families. These belong to 1 tree, 13 shrubs, 2 climbers and 50 herbs. The information related to the flowering, altitude, habit and uses are also provided.

Invasive alien species of Upper Ganga Ramsar Site in Uttar Pradesh and their impact on the wetland ecosystem is discussed. In all 69 alien invasive species under 58 genera and 32 families were recorded of which there were 55 herbs, 5 climbers/twiners, 5 shrubs, 2 undershrubs and 2 tree species. The alien invasives of American origin dominated while the family Asteraceae showed maximum representation. It is inferred that stringent measures need to be adopted for combating the spread of alien invasives in order to conserve the wetland biodiversity and loss of indigenous species for habitat conservation.