Flowering of Dendrocalamus giganteus occurred for the first time in Kottayam and Kozhikkode districts of Kerala during 2004 to 2007. The present study depicts the observations made on floral biology, seed set and post flowering behavior. The observations on floral biology agreed with the earlier descriptions by other authors. Clump flowered during 2007 in Kottayam district produced seeds in limited quantity while seed set was absent in the clump from Kozhikkode. Absence of in vitro germination of pollens and low pollen viability (10-15 %) by Acetocarmine staining indicate the low seed production. The observation on nature of flowering depicted at least two flowering cohorts in Kerala, the one that flowered currently and those, which do not flower yet. Of the various flowering cycles reported, the cohort currently flowering appears to show a cycle of 65 years. Clump flowered during 2004 in Mallappally reverted back to vegetative phase indicating the potential to develop a clone without death after flowering for commercial plantation.

This paper attempts to document NTFPs diversity in the shifting agriculture fallow land of Adi tribe in Siang districts in Arunachal Pradesh. A total of 62 species belonging to 57 genera and 38 families were recorded, which have significant role in livelihood sustenance of Adi community. Among all the NTFP species, angiosperms contributed highest number of 56 species followed by 4 species of pteridophytes and 2 species of fungi. Based upon the different broad uses, these NTFPs species have been grouped into 10 categories. Of which, highest of 24 species is use as vegetable followed by medicine 23 spp., handicraft 13 spp., animal feeds 7 spp., ritual 6 spp., etc. Depending upon the extraction and utilization of plant and plant parts by the Adis, it was observed that leaf is the most dominant plant part used as NTFPs, which only contributed 35 numbers of species followed by stem 20 species. During survey, it has been recorded that a total of 18 species are marketed and as many as 8 spp. are sold at the rate of twenty rupee only per kg. Further, it is advocated that by value addition and creating market linkages, the income from NTFPs could be enhanced, which will help in developing alternative livelihood for shifting cultivators. Therefore, the need of hours is to recognize the importance of NTFPs to mitigate the environmental degradation through sustainable harvesting by maintaining the forest intact.

A taxonomic survey of the plants of Orchidaceae was made in the Jokai reserve forest of Dibrugarh District of Assam, India, during 2006-2008. Total 31 species under 22 genera are reported in this communication.

The leaf extract of Aonla and Ber showed allelopathc influence over the test crops- Cluster Bean, Moth Bean, Brinjal and Mustard. Cluster Bean and Moth Bean showed significant reduction in germination and seedling growth characters treated with aqueous leaf extract of Karonda. While Brinjal and Mustard recorded a significant increase in these characters following use of leaf extract of Karonda as compared to control. Significant differences in soil nutrient status with respect to N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn and Fe content between tree-crop agric system and sole cropping were recorded while non-significant differences were obtained in zinc content among different treatments during initiation and termination of experiment. The nutrient status was recorded to be more in the soils under tree-crop agric system as compared to the soils under sole cropping. A decreasing trend in the nutrient status was observed with increasing depth of soil profile.

The paper describes the occurrence of two types of Chlorophyll nutan seedlings in Dendrocalamus strictus.

Medicinal plants enhanced with minerals are tested to determine whether these elements could be used as a new source of mineral dietary supplements that provide essential minerals in a more available form than current, inorganically based mineral supplements. The tribe Kanikaran or Kani of Agasthiar Hills has the sound knowledge on medicinal plants, which leads to the present investigation on the five selected plants, Amorphophallus paeonifoliius (Areaceae), Phyllanthus polyphyllus Willd (Euphorbiaceae), Fluggea leucopyrus (Euphorbiaceae), Stephania wightii Dunn (Menispermaceae) and Ventilago Madaraspatana (Rhamaceae). The Calcium content is high in Ventilago Madaraspatana, Iron content is more in Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, Manganease value is higher in Phyllanthus polyphyllus, and the values of potassium, Sodium, Barium, Copper,and Zinc are higher in Stephania wightii Dunn.  The present study shows that Stephania wightii Dunn root is highly nutritive. This study can bring out many different clues for the development drugs to treat human diseases.

The paper highlights a unique indigenous application of L. echinata Roxb. fruits to cure jaundice. A brief description of plant along with its distribution and important chemical constituents has also been provided.

The paper enumerates plants used by the Van Gujjars inhabiting the Pathri forest, District Haridwar Uttarakhand are a tribal community of Pathri forest. About 200 families of the Gujjars are lived in the forest. They are a pastord and nomadic muslim tribe. The pastralism of the Van Gujjars is based on their herd of buffaloes. The Economy of Van Gujjars is in shambles. The main source of their income is selling milk and ghee. They also use the forest plants for their uses.

Santalum album is one of the commercially important species and most popular for its fragrant oil derived from heartwood. Fruit is a drupe having single seed, which is naked and produce single seedling. Here, we report double embryos in a drupe of this species. Perhaps, this could be the first report on Sandal. This is a rare natural phenomenon and such abnormality may be useful for further breeding programme.

The present paper summarizes the effect of Iron, a micronutrient also treated as heavy metal on the adult growth and yield of Mung bean (Vigno mungo L. cv. T-9). This cultivar found to respond differently to Iron. The present study indicated the promontory effect at lower concentration and inhibitory effect at higher concentration in Vigna mungo L. cv. T-9. It is further indicated that the overall gorwth and nodule formation are suppressed at higher concentration (50 mg/kg soil) of Iron.

This communication carries valuable ethno-veterinary information of 24 plant species along with the botanical name, vernacular name, family, season of flowering/fruiting and part (s) used. Modern veterinary pharmaceutical industry requires such plants as animal care is gaining importance day by day but the claims made by the people need to be cross checked by carrying out detailed pharmacological studies before these plants are actually put up for use in the industry.

The ethnobotanical survey was made during 2006-2008 and information was gathered from medicine men and other knowledgeable persons.

Solanum nigrum L. (Solanaceae), a species distributed throughout India, has been found to be very effective in the treatment of Rickets.

During the floristic surveys conducted by the author between 2003-2008 for the Flora of Upper Subansiri district, a large number of economic plants mostly used by the locals in their daily life were collected and data on their uses were recorded by personal contact with the local settlers. The present investigation based on the extensive floristic survey deals with the economic plants along with ethno- botanical studies of Upper Subansiri district.

Petalidium barlerioides (Roth) Nees, a little known species of Acanthaceae, a new addition to the flora of Kerala is described and illustrated. 

An experiment was conducted to study germination potential of Jatropha curcus L. seeds under orientation, depth and stress level conditions. The percent germination maximum (77.08%), when the seeds were sown in the Styrofoam tray in vertical position with radical emerging point at upward direction and at 4.0 cm depth. The percent germination of maximum (65%) when the seed were treated with –0.2 MPa PEG-600 solution (stress conditions) for 24 hours and 55% with –0.2 MPa for 48 hours. The increasing levels of water stress for 24 hours and 48 hours the rate of germination decreased.

Attention is drawn towards the ever-increasing menace of invasive alien weed Parthenium hysterophorus L., its proliferating populations causing deleterious effects on native flora. Measures for eradication are suggested and appeal for collaborative efforts from all ends including public awareness is made for immediate action on control of spread.

Madhuca latifolia is one of the economically important species, presently seeds of this species is used in biodiesel. In the present study we report twin and triplet seedlings in this species. Reporting of such variation in tree species is most important for future genetic improvement and conservation programmes.

In the present study, Dioscorea oppositifolia L was collected from ten locations in Tirunelveli hills and the genetic variability was investigated using RAPD - PCR fingerprint and the populations which showed high percentage of polymorphism was selected. Those populations were chosen for further phytochemical analysis. The active principle in these plants has been quantified by HPLC analysis. The population which exhibited both high percentage of polymorphism and high amount of active principle was considered to be the superior genotype.

The present study showed that the four species of Ringal-bans (Arundinaria sp.) were found in Uttarakhand at the altitudes from 1200 to 3600 meters. These were used mainly for the preparation of handicraft items. However, Dev-ringal (Arundinaria falconeri) is most suitable for the handicraft items that will helpful to boost therural development and environment. Its leaves were used as fodder for domestic animals for the production of more milk and health. Thus, it is an ideal natural resource and environment-friendly. In spite of it, A. falconeri plantation should be done along the road sides and slopes of the hills in the state of Uttarakhand that will helpful for the control of landslides and soil erosion as well as maintain the ecological balance.

The paper embodies morpho-taxonomic interpretations on the atavistic behaviour of floral spike of Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. (Liliaceae), bearing vegetative buds or bulbils in the lower part besides developing floral buds in the upper part. The presence of bulbils on raceme is rare of the rarest phenomenon which has its own phylogenetic relevance in the classification of allied taxa and establishment of phylogenetic relationship among them. Taxonomic position of Allium L. and Agave L. in relation to the atavistic behaviour of Aloe L. in the light of modern biology, is also discussed.

Flowering plants of Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve have been studied. The systematic collection in the biosphere reserve in different seasons and subsequent their investigations together with earlier reports have resulted in the documentation of 1016 species, distributed under 574 genera and 134 families. All the species are presented in tabular form providing the information on family, habit, collection site, collector’s name and collection number.