Sunderban, the mangroves in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta shared between India and Bangladesh are the largest coastal wetland system, well known for their floral diversity.  Vegetation survey and analysis was carried out at 42 forest sites randomly selected in Sundarban to record 30 species of mangrove plants belonging to 18 families. Change dynamics of mangrove forests was also studied taking Champion and Seth (1968) forest type classification as a baseline to record striking changes in forest composition. Significant changes were observed in vegetation composition at sites previously demarcated under a particular sub-type. Palm swamp with predominantly Phoenix paludosa have converted into mangrove scrub with mixed species composition. Some new species have emerged in pure mangrove forest (4B/TS2) which has acquired character of salt water mixed forest (Heretiera). These composition and structure changes of Sundarban forests may be attributed climatic change and anthropogenic pressure.

The present study was conducted in Shorea robusta (sal), Pinus roxburghii (Chir pine), Tectona grandis (Teak) and Ailanthus excelsa (Ardu) plantations of different ages at different sites in Uttarakhand. Biomass was calculated on the basis of complete tree harvesting method (stratified mean tree technique method). Biomass Expansion Factor (BEF) and root-to-shoot ratio (R) of all these 4 tree species have been calculated and presented in this paper. Sample trees of S. robusta were of 45, 53 and 60 years of age. BEF for all these 3 age series were assessed as 1.3 at 45 years, 1.4 at 53 years and 1.2 at 60 years of age. Similarly, R values were assessed as 0.27, 0.28 and 0.26, respectively, in these 3 age series. BEF and R values assessed for T. grandis (28 years age) as 1.46 and 0.21; and for A. excelsa (39 years age) as 1.23 and 0.23, respectively. BEF for P. roxburghii trees calculated as 2.3 for 13 years age, 1.75 for 20 years, 1.71 for 22 years, 1.5 for 33 years and 1.46 for trees of 45 years of age. Similarly, R values were 0.2 for 13 years, 0.21 for 20 years, 0.12 for 22 years, 0.13 for 33 years and 0.15 for 45 years of age. P. roxburghii sample trees have shown decreasing order of BEF with increasing age, whereas S. robusta has not shown such trend along the chronosequence.

Fly ash is one of the pollutants of thermal power generation. Germination of Pongamia pinnata (Pungam) have been studied in fly ash incorporated nursery mixtures. The sand and fly ash mixed with nursery medium have increased germination and seedling vigour. Whereas fly ash alone have found to be inhibitory to seed germination and seedling vigour.

Plumbago zeylanica is a perennial herb or straggling shrub and is greatly valued in ayurvedic treatment of cough, asthma and gastrointestinal disorders. Propagation of the species through seed is unreliable due to poor seed quality, erratic germination and seedling mortality under natural field conditions. Hence, it’s Propagation through tissue culture was sought. The nodal explants were taken as the starting material for the establishment of cultures. After washing the explants were surface sterilized by different sterilants viz. HgCl₂, NaOCl and H₂O₂ with different concentrations and time duration where 0.1% of HgCl₂ for 5 minutes was found the best. After sterilization nodal segments were inoculated on MS medium with different hormonal concentrations under aseptic conditions. Bud break was observed after two weeks of culture in 1.0 mg/l of BAP. These axillary shoots were excised and transferred to MS medium supplemented with different hormonal concentrations. A very high rate of multiplication occurred on MS + BAP (1.0 mg/l) + KIN (0.4 mg/l) and NAA (0.2 mg/l). In vitro grown shoots were rooted in ½ strength MS medium supplemented with different concentration of IBA (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 mg/l), IAA (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 mg/l). Maximum rooting was recorded in 0.5 mg/l IBA. After one month on rooting medium healthy roots were developed and there after plantlets were transferred to mist chamber for acclimatization.

The present study highlights the analysis of physicochemical properties of soil under dense and open forests of Quercus leucotrichophora (Banj Oak) at Chakrata (Uttarakhand). Soil texture varied from red and black soils to brown soil. Soil moisture ranged from 28±0.57% to 57±0.49% and showed fixed seasonal pattern and maximum in rainy season (mid-September) followed by winter and summer. Water holding capacity was more or less similar in all the sites. Soil was acidic with pH ranging from 5.5-6.5 across the sites. Soil nutrient concentration also varied across the study sites.

Pittosporum eriocarpum Royle is an endangered plant of the temperate region is native to India  and declared as endangered species.  A survey was carried out to estimate the population status of  the species. Belt transect method was used in the study. It was observed that population of the species is drastically declining. Efforts were undertaken for ex-situ conservation of the species. There is urgent need to take suitable measures to conserve species for future.

In the present study, efficacy of Copper-Ethanolamine-Boron (CEB) against white rot fungus has been evaluated. CEB (10%w/v) was tested at various concentration levels viz., 2.5 and 3% against white rot. From the results of the toxicity study, it was found that the lethal dose of CEB to control the attack of white rot was 2.5%. In India, this is the first report of utilising Copper Ethanolamine Boron in wood to control the wood destroying fungus i.e. white rot.

Observations on the biology of 11 species namely Curculio c-album (Fab.), Curculio ficusi Pajni & Singh, Indocurculio minutus Pajni et al, Barioscapus cordiae (Mshl.), Apotomorrhinus cribratus Sch., Apion (Thymapion) majorinum Fst., Acallopistus sp., Tanymecus indicus Fst., Hypera postica (Gyll.), Myllocerus undecimpustulatus maculosu Desb., Sitophilus rugicollis casey, belonging to 8 subfamilies of family Curculionidae have revealed highly variable annual cycles, differences in stage of diapause, number of generations and the habitat of the larvae. The adult beetles, however, are always external feeders.

The status of reptiles fauna was studied in Tropical Forest Research Institute, Campus, Jabalpur area 109 ha from 2010 to 2011. A total 18 species of reptiles, belonging 10 families were recorded from TFRI Campus, Jabalpur. Several species of reptiles like skinks, lizards and snakes were recorded in the different habitat of TFRI such as forest nurseries, plantations, experimental fields, residential colony, near Gour River and surrounding agriculture fields. Among these, 2 species of skinks (11%), 3 species of lizards (16%) and 13 species of snakes (73%) were found during the extensive field survey study. The serpent (snake) species were dominance species as comparison to other reptiles. Some species of reptiles were found very rarely and comes under different Schedule and Parts of Wild Life Protection Act, (1972). The observations support the value of the campus area in providing valuable resources for reptile fauna.

Arthonia redingeri Grube, a new record from India. The taxon is characterized by its red coloured lirellate ascomata and transversely 3-septate, small ascospores with strongly pigmented lower septum. It is an interesting addition to the lichen flora of India and detailed taxonomic description with illustrations are provided herewith for easy identification of the taxon.

Nine taxa viz. Adonis davidii Franchet, Schisandra incarnata Stapf, Acrotrema costatum Jack., Hypericum petiolulatum subsp. yunnanense (Franch.) N. Robson, Cotoneaster chengkangensis T. T. Yu, Leptomischus primuloides Drake, Pternopetalum gracillimum (H. Wolff) Hand.-Mazz., Swertia handeliana Harry Sm., Mazus celsioides Hand.-Mazz. were reported as new distributional records for India from Arunachal Pradesh.

A new species of Zingiberaceae, Curcuma mukhraniae R. Kr. Singh et Arti Garg from Western Ghats, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Udupi Dist., Karnataka, India is described and illustrated.

A new species, Anisomeles  tirunelveliensis, is described and illustrated. The species differs from its closely allied species, Anisomeles  heyneana  Benth. in having terete stem, long petiole; long calyx and glabrous without and long corolla.

A taxonomic account of the genus Ruellia L. (Acanthaceae) from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is presented.

The present paper deals with new distributional record of Scurrula gracilifolia (Roxb. ex Schult.f.) Danser (Loranthaceae) for the state of West Bengal.

This communication reports the rediscovery of Connarus nicobaricus King (Connaraceae) nearly after a eighty three (83) years from the type locality viz Nicobar Islands. It was encountered during the Quantitative Assessment and Mapping Plant Resources of Nicobar Islands.  A short description along with relevant notes, colour plate, distribution map, etc. is provided here.

Eria globulifera Seidenf., an interesting sympodial orchid has been reported here as new distributional record for West Bengal.

Crotalaria pallida Aiton, Hibiscus beddomei Rakshit & Kundu, Laggera crispata (Vahl) Hepper & Wood, Nervilia prainiana (King & Pantl.) Seidenf., Remusatia vivipara (Roxb.) Schott, Sauromatum pedatum (Willd.) Schott, Solanum viarum Dunal, Soliva anthemifolia  (A. Juss.) R. Br. and Tiliacora acuminata (Lam.) Hook. f. & Thomson are reported as new records for the Chhattisgarh state.

The paper describes the importance of plant taxonomy and classifies the various plant taxonomic databases. It tries to focus on some selective important online public domain databases of plant taxonomy and systematics which are becoming a new path of data flow to the plant taxonomists, botanists and researchers on biodiversity all over the world.

The present investigations were carried out in Jeypore Reserve Forests in Assam valley tropical wet evergreen forests. Phytosociological analysis was carried out as per standard methodology. Total 28 family, 47 genus and 53 species were observed. The poaceae was most dominant family. The Shannon – Winner index (H) for herbs ranges from 1.59 to 3.16. The present study will provide the baseline information for biodiversity conservation of tropical wet evergreen forests.

A number of Indian liverworts are only poorly known in country’s bryoflora with apparently no representation in Indian herbaria. Two such species, viz. Horikawaella subacuta (Herzog) S.Hatt. & Amakawa – an Himalayan endemic, and Pleurozia purpurea Lindb., widespread in North America, Europe and Southeast Asia,  have been described and illustrated here based on recently collected specimens from Arunachal Pradesh in the Eastern Himalaya.

Observations on the morphological variations in Androcorys josephi (Rchb.f.) Agrawala & H. J. Chowdhery (Orchidaceae) along with notes on its rare status are discussed.

Six lichen species belonging to the family Graphidaceae namely Graphis malacodes Nyl., Graphis proserpens Vain., Hemithecium aphaneomicrosporum Makhija & Adawadkar, Hemithecium lamii (Redgr.) V. Tewari & Upreti, Pallidogramme chlorocarpoides (Nyl.) Staiger & al. and Phaeographis divaricoides Räsänen are described as new additions to the lichen flora of Western Ghats. Chemical studies were carried out by thin layer chromatography using Merk F254 precoated silica gel aluminium plates and B.D.A. solvent systems.

The study of herbarium specimens and pertinent literature with regard to Herminium jaffreyanum King & Pantl. has revealed that the species should be transferred to the genus Androcorys Schltr. Accordingly a new combination is proposed.