A nursery trial was conducted to study the effects of root pruning on the seedling growth and other parameters of Juniperus polycarpos. Roots of two-year-old seedlings of J. polycarpos were pruned at different levels and transplanted in polybags of size 9’’ × 5” filled with potting media comprising soil, sand, and farm yard manure (2:1:1). Maximum growth of various seedling parameters, viz., shoot length (42.90 cm), root length (38.40 cm), collar diameter (6.16 mm), number of roots (45.93) and biomass, viz., fresh shoot biomass (24.03 g), fresh root biomass (6.35 g), total fresh biomass (30.38 g), dry shoot biomass (10.21 g), dry root biomass (2.48 g), total dry biomass (12.69 g), weight of secondary + tertiary roots (0.61 g) were recorded in seedlings in which 5 cm roots were retained after pruning, whereas, minimum growth of seedling parameters and biomass was recorded in seedlings in which no root pruning was done. The maximum value of seedling quality parameters, viz., volume index (1627.86), Quality index (1.14), and ratio of secondary + tertiary roots to total root biomass (0.08) was also observed in seedlings in which 5 cm roots were retained after pruning. The study suggests that roots of J. polycarpos may be pruned up to 5 cm in length for production of quality nursery stock.

The state of Uttarakhand has about 4800 species under 213 families, which is about 22 per cent of the total Indian Flora. Most updated information on the floristic account of Uttarakhand is available in a checklist, which includes both wild and cultivated plants, but, without any precise locality. During a floristic survey of Uttarakhand and scrutiny of herbarium specimens, the distribution of twenty-nine species was studied, among them three species, viz., Acacia leucophleoa (Roxb.) Willd., Cordia macleodii (Griff.) Hook.f. & Thoms., and Syzygium heyneanum (Duthie) Wall. ex Gamble have been recorded for the first time in Uttarakhand. Dalbergia latifolia Roxb., so far known under cultivation, is now recorded from Chandi Devi area. Other twenty-three species are rare and restricted in distribution. Localities and a note on each species have been provided. All the species except Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd. and Acacia modesta Wall., are placed according to current nomenclature (POWO).

The paper presents result of floristic explorations in the forest of Seijosa circle in Pakke-Kessang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Eight plant species have been reported as new to the flora of Arunachal Pradesh and two to Northeast India.

Rungia longifolia subsp. keralensis, Smithia venkobarowii and Utricularia babui are reported here as additions to the state flora of Tamil Nadu from Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary. Detailed descriptions, distribution and photographs are provided for easy identification.

Impatiens rosea Lindl., an Indian endemic species of family Balsaminaceae, collected from Mahendragiri hills of Odisha state (Eastern Ghats), is reported here for the first time from the state. A detailed description and photographs are provided for easy identification of the species.

The invasive alien species of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India have been presented in the paper. A total of 74 species under 58 genera of 29 families have been described in brief.

Based on recent collections, the present communication reports the presence of authentic Thelypteris repanda (Fée) C.V.Morton for the first time from India. Its distinction from another rare and allied species, Thelypteris birii (R.D.Dixit & Balkr.) Fraser-Jenk. is made clear. T. repanda was recently excluded from India, as all previous reports of it were misidentifications, but it has now been confirmed from two collections from Arunachal Pradesh, one of which had been misreported as a S.E. Asian species, T. megacuspis, in error. Both species are currently known in India from Arunachal Pradesh, with T. birii also occurring just over its border in northern Assam State. Detailed descriptions and photographs of these two species are provided with specimen citations.

The aim of present investigation was to carry out the presence of bioactive compounds found in methanolic extract of a leafy liverwort, Plagiochila asplenioides (L.) Dumort. of the family Plagiochilaceae of Marchantiophyta using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). By comparing the retention time and peak area, 16 major phytochemical compounds were identified. Out of which, Azulene, Phytol, Globulol, L (+)-Ascorbic acid 2,6-dihexadecanoate, and Ethyl iso-allocholate were found to be biologically active. The methanolic extract of P. asplenioides prevails potentially bioactive chemicals that may be significant for phyto-pharmaceutical purposes. The phytochemical characterization of P. asplenioides collected from the Kumaun region of Western Himalayas is being presented for the first time. Future research on compound characteristics, however, will provide invaluable information for developing new drugs.

Hill slopes in Uttarakhand Himalaya are observed for their largescale slope destabilization. Landslides are among hydro-geological hazard in the fragile geology of the state which cause huge losses in terms of biodiversity, infrastructure, time and human life. This paper highlights presence and diversity of mycorrhizal species in landslides prone areas in locality of selected highways in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. Eight (08) AM fungi, viz., G. macrocarpum, G. fasciculatum, F. coronatum, A. laevis, A. foveata, A. tuberculata, A. sporocarpia and A. myriocarpa were found in 20 large landslide areas. Acaulosporaceae was found dominant family followed by Glomeraceae. Spore density of G. macrocarpum was the highest with 13 spores/100 g soil. The percentage of importance value varied from 7.16 to 21.59. Results of present paper may endorse the use of AM fungi in restoration the unstable soil profiles.