An attempt has been made to document market information of some important Tree spices in Sirsi and Siddapur talukas of Uttara Kannada District during 2005-2006. Forest dwellers mainly depend on some tree spices for their survival and growth. Tree spice marketing is a process which starts with a harvest in wild that can be sold in an organized/ unorganized market. It involves activities, comprising the process of collecting the products and services from producer to the end users. However, simple value additions increase the selling price at primary, collector level and industrial level. Among the tree spice studied (Uppage, Kokam, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Zumma), the Myristica seeds fetch lowest price, whereas arils of Myristica fetch highest price. There was greater reduction in price of Uppage during the period 2000-2005. In general, two marketing channels viz. substantial use and sale to private traders/middlemen were identified in the study area. Lack of market information has been found to make the primary collectors to resort on thirsty middlemen. The processor, who is making substantial efforts to add value, is getting a lion share of the end user price.

This paper highlights the occurrence of seventeen rare and endangered medicinal plant species, which are being over exploited for their medicinal uses. Each species has been provided with correct nomenclature, family, vernacular name, description, distribution, ecology along with phenological data, status, medicinal uses and critical notes on red listed plants.

The present study depicts the economics of nursery raising, cultivation and essential oil distillation of Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) produced in Himachal Pradesh. Cost components were calculated on the basis of prevailing market prices of inputs and outputs. Cost of raising rooted cutting in nursery worked out to be Re 0.70/plant. Cost of cultivation for producing an average spike yield of 35 q/ha/annum worked out to Rs. 54,049.25/ha/yr. Cost of essential oil production and net returns were calculated as Rs. 1,894.37/kg oil and Rs. 32,247.25/ha/yr, respectively. Lavender oil production is a remunerative venture with Rs. 50,310.00 as net present value (NPV), 12.72 per cent as internal rate of return (IRR) and benefit cost ratio (BCR) as 1.58 and break even production of oil at 12.33 kg as found out from the compiled data of Lavender production in Himachal Pradesh.

Graded levels of N and nitrification inhibitors were tried to increase nutrient uptake and growth of containerized Rosewood plants. Application of 2 g N per seedling in the form of Neem cake coated urea significantly increased the concentration and uptake of nutrients (N, P and K) compared to other treatments. Further increase in N levels to 3 g N per seedling decreased the concentration and uptake of nutrients. Increased nutrient concentration and uptake due to application of 2 g N per plant in the form of Neem coated urea reflected in enhanced growth attributes of plants.

This article highlights the importance and role of plant based medicines and their applications of indigenous believes, knowledge, skills, customs and practices, concerned with primary health care, edible and other economic importances among Irulas of Velliangiri hills, Western Ghats of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India. Analyzing the ethnobotanical information gathered on 93 plant species is presented in this paper.

To understand the influence of weather parameters on the adult population of Hyblaea puera Cramer, correlation study was made on the number of adults trapped through the light trap. Total rainfall, minimum temperature and relative humidity (morning and evening) showed significant positive correlation with adult light trap catches whereas maximum temperature had significant negative influence. Step down regression analysis suggested that total rainfall, minimum temperature, morning and evening relative humidity are the most important weather parameters which determine the population build-up in H. puera.

Tamarindus indica L. is one of the fruit yielding trees and commonly used for wasteland afforestation. Seed and seedling characters are most important for afforestation programme and these characters are interdependent and polygenically controlled.  The study conducted to elucidate the selection criteria at early stage based on association of characters of seed and seedling revealed the existence of strong inherent association between various traits at genetic level. Hundred seed weight and shoot characters (shoot length and number of leaves) can be used as selection index at seed and seedling stage respectively.

Observation of albino seedlings from natural population of Erythropalum scandens Blume forms first record and this phenomenon insights much genetic significance to the species. Albinism being the cause of repeated self breeding and leads to possible extinction risk in plants especially if the species is isolated geographically. Therefore, such incidence warrants developing strategies for conservation of these species from its untimely endangerment.

This paper deals with the occurrence of seven rare, endemic, endangered and red listed plant species such as Impatiens auriculata Wight (Balsaminaceae), Biophytum polyphyllum Munro (Oxalidaceae), Melicope indica Wight (Rutaceae), Eugenia singampattiana Bedd. (Myrtaceae), Hedyotis hirsutissima Bedd. (Rubiaceae), Anaphalis notoniana (DC.) DC. (Asteraceae), and Cissampelopsis ansteadi (Tadul. & K.C. Jacob) C. Jeffrey & Y.L. Chen. (Asteraceae) of angiosperms have been collected from Velliangiri hills and reported as additions to the flora of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu. A brief description together with phenological, distributional data and critical notes are given for easy identification and further collections.

This paper communicates information on fodder resources as gathered from tribal and rural people of Nasik District.  About 92 species belonging to 75 genera and 36 families of angiosperms are in vogue as fodder for their domestic animals, of which eight species are exotic. Nearly 12 species are cultivated, whereas rest others are wild or weeds in cultivated fields. The fabaceous and graminaceous taxa are represented by the largest numbers (9 species each), whereas the members of Mimosaceae constitute the second largest group (8 species).  Botanical identity, family, local name, habit, status and the kind of animal fed are being reported.

The paper presents a brief account of the multiple uses of two hundred forty one species found in the Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh. The botanical binomial of the plants, local name with the use(s) of the plant has been provided.

This paper presents the ethnomedicinal uses of plant species found in the Tikri forest of Gonda District. The tribal peoples of ‘Bhar’ community reside in the remote village of the forest. ‘Bhar’ community possessed the knowledge of 67 medicinal uses derived from 33 plants species belonging to 22 families to treat a wide range of ailments. Besides raw usage, maximum infusion and juicy form of medicines were administered mostly orally or externally. Roots and leaves were the most frequent used plant parts. The present study indicates some interesting and reliable uses of plants as medicinal and there is lack of phyto-therepeutic evidence of many of the species, so phytochemical and pharmacological studies should be carried out in order to confirm the validity of properties attributed to these species.

Treating seeds of Picrorhiza kurroa, an important endangered temperate medicinal plant, with 150 ppm GA3 for 24 hrs. resulted in maximum germination percentage of 68%. Seedlings should be allowed to remain in the nursery beds for at least one season by which they develop enough rootstock to withstand transplantation shock. Approximately 40-50 g seed is required for raising nursery for one hectare area.

In the present communication the taxa of family Gentianaceae occurring in the West Bengal are enumerated along with their distribution, phenology and ecology. A total of 27 species, one subspecies under 10 genera occurs in the State. Tripterospermum volubile subsp. longipes Aitken & Long is endemic to Darjeeling.