Four non-linear functions, viz., Exponential, Logistic, Schumacher and Chapman-Richards were fitted for bole biomass, total wood biomass and bole volume (over bark) of Azadirachta indica. The functions were fitted using 13.5 years old trees data and explanatory variables ‘D’and ‘D²H’, where D- diameter at breast height and H- height of tree. The goodness of fitted models was judged by mean square error and adjusted R² criteria. These models were also subjected to graphical analysis for selecting best model. In case of bole biomass and total wood biomass, the Logistic models B₁ = 82.882[1 + exp (1.908-9.443 D²H)]^-1 and B₂ = 156.677[1 + exp (1.963-9.897 D²H)]^-1; where B₁- bole biomass in kg/tree, B₂- total wood biomass in kg/tree; were found to be best fit. Whereas in case of bole volume, the Chapman-Richards model V= 0.99[1 – exp (-0.259 D²H)]^0.969, where V- bole volume (over bark) in m³/tree, was found best fit on the basis of statistical and graphical criteria. Hence, the proposed models may be used for estimating the bole biomass, total wood biomass and bole volume (over bark) of Azadirachta indica tree in semi-arid region with reasonable accuracy.

During a study on biomass production and carbon storage in above ground woody biomass of the Bamboo (Melocanna baccifera) in Forest Research Institute campus, the culms showed both monopodial as well as sympodial characteristics and was thus categorized as amphipodial. The number of clumps was 200 ha^-1 and average number of culms in a clump was 68 exluding dired, damaged ones and new shoots. The average clump diameter was 180.43 cm and average number of culms occurring as monopodial was 6502 ha^-1. The biomass accumulation in above ground woody biomass is 52.45 Mg ha^-1 and carbon storage 26.23 (tons/ha).

Rosa webbiana is an important shrub of cold desert areas. A study was conducted to examine vegetative propagation of this species through root cuttings. The cuttings were collected from Pooh area of Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh during rainy season and immediately brought to HFRI Shimla. They were grouped into four diameter classes and planted under intermittent mist in sterilized sand. Assessment on sprouting, rooting, root number, root length and number of shoots on the cuttings were conducted after one year of planting whereas survival was recorded after one and half year of planting. The maximum rooting percent (97.50) and survival percent was observed in root cuttings having 8-10 mm thickness. However, number of roots and root length were found to be maximum in highest diameter class (12.14 mm) root cuttings. Overall, the diameter class D₃ (8-10 mm) of root cuttings may be recommended for mass propagation of Rosa webbiana in green house during rainy season.

In the present study the biomass estimation and growth analysis has been carried out by making different girth class and age group commonly multi purpose fodder tree species. The result of foliar biomass and lopping regeneration in relation to mean annual increment (MAI) of some common fodder tree species with the allometric equation, variables and parameters relation to biomass comparison with observed result and character with different age class (<A0 to >A6) and different girth class (<G1 to >G6).

The allelopathic effect of medicinal plants, viz., Acorus calamus, Aloe barbadensis, Andrographis paniculate, Asparagus racemosus, Cyperus scariosus, Plumbago zeylanica and Rauvolfia serpentina was observed on Mulberry (Morus alba Linn.). Twenty five cuttings of S-146 variety of Mulberry were soaked for 48 hours in 10% aqueous extract of seven-nine month old dried roots of all the medicinal plants in three replication each and then the treated cuttings were transplanted in the nursery bed and irrigated regularly. The cuttings of each treatment were subsequently observed after two months for their survival and number of sproutings. The survival per cent of cuttings in different treatments varied from 76-96% against 81% in control. There was no significant difference between treated cuttings and cuttings of control barring Aloe barbadensis treated with respect to their survival. Average sprouting was 1.36 to 1.67 in treated against 1.31 in control cuttings. Hence, these medicinal plants do not seem to exert any harmful effect on survival of Mulberry cuttings and may be successfully grown as intercrops along with Mulberry plants in sericultural gardens to enhance the income of farmers.

An ethno-botanical field survey was carried out in the Sikkim Himalaya along with the characterization of some medicinal plants used by the different tribes. To meet their day to day requirements like food, fodder and medicines, the tribes are totally dependent on forest and forest products. Use of medicinal plants to cure specific ailments is an old practice and has been documented in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and other types of therapies. Sikkim is the second smallest state in India; which covers about 36.3% of the total state land under forest and is the richest phytogeographical region of Eastern Himalaya. From the forest area about 67 plants having ethno-botanical uses were collected, identified and studied. These are presented in this paper.

Present communication describes wild edible seeds consumed by the Palliyar tribals of Southeastern slopes of Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. A survey of wild edible seeds was undertaken and about 45 species belonging to 22 families were selected and documented from different settlements of Palliyar in the Southeastern slopes of Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. The wild edible seeds in this region have been tabulated as per botanical name along with family name, local (Palliyar) name, habit, part used and consumption pattern, etc.

Experiment was conducted to develop a drought tolerant Jatropha curcas through cleft (or) wedge grafting with Jatropha glandulifera and Jatropha gossypifolia (drought tolerant species) and to find out the grafting compatibility, survival and growth attributes of grafted plant at weekly intervals up to seven weeks. On seven weeks after grafting, the results revealed that survival percentage (80.3 per cent) and number of sprouts per plant (3.2) was higher in plants grafted with Jatropha gossypifolia than the plants grafted with Jatropha glandulifera. From this experiment, it could be concluded that considering the survival percentage and number of sprouts per grafted plant, cleft or wedge grafting of Jatropha gossypifolia with Jatropha curcas was found to have good compatibility for grafting, which in turn results in good tolerance against drought especially during summer months.

A survey of medicinal plants was carried out in different tribal and non tribal villages of South Assam. Some of the informations collected, are especially for heart related problems and leucorrhoea. These informations are different from the previous reports either in the form of treatment of the diseases or in the methods of use of the plant.

The paper high lights the medicinal plants used for treating diarrhoea and dysentery by the tribals in Pathanamthitta district. There are about six tribal communities inhabiting this area with a very good knowledge of medicinal plants in their surrounding forest. About eight plant species are used to cure diarrhoea and dysentery.

The paper provides information on the use of plant crude drugs for the treatment of cold and cough by tribal and rural people of East Godavari district (A.P.). The tribals of this area totally depend on the herbal drugs for their primary health care, which is attributed partly to their socio-economic and cultural conditions.

The present paper highlights the use of 35 wild edible plant species that have definite market potential in Arunachal Pradesh. An attempt is made here to provide information regarding not only the local names but also the scientific names of the plants, utility pattern, current market prices and gross income from the sale of these products. The paper also indicates that there is tremendous scope for some of these wild species to be developed into important agricultural crops and staple food of the region.

In the present paper 41 grass species belonging to 30 genera collected from Baghpat district are enumerated.

Bageshwar is a small district of the hill-state of Uttarakhand-the 'Abode of Gods', situated in the Northern part of India. Being a hill country side, the main occupation of people here is agriculture and other similar practices. Due to a complete dependence on crop fields the major problems of farmers here include the abundance of weed plants like Galinsoga parviflora Cav., Parthenium hysterophorus L. etc. are the obnoxious weeds of this region. paper describes 37 angiospermic weed plant species found growing in major crop land areas of Bageshwar.

Eria glandulifera Deori and Phukan, so far known endemic to Meghalaya is reported for the firsttime from Arunachal Pradesh. The same is described here.

Goodyera biflora (Lindl.) Hook.f. (Orchidaceae) - a beautiful and rare orchid belonging to the 'Jewel Orchid' group is collected from Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. Its distributional significance is discussed with a brief description and illustration with information on its phenology, habitat and conservation status.

Zeuxine pantlingii Av. Bhattacharjee & H.J. Chowdhery is treated as a heterotypic synonym of Z. bidupensis Aver. This treatment also constitutes a new distributional record for Z. bidupensis from India.

Legume intercropping in Jatropha during initial gestational period helps the farmer not only to increase his economy but also his soil health. In the kharif trial, five pulse crops, viz., Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), Cowpea (Vigna anguiculata), Cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonolobus), Green gram (Vigna radiatus) and Black gram (Vigna mungo) were studied. The yield attributes showed that maximum fruit and seed yield was achieved in Jatropha-Cowpea combination with Jatropha recording 222.8 fruits/plant and seed yield 435.05 kg/ ha respectively. This is followed by Jatropha-pigeon pea intercropping with a yield of 215.7 fruits/plant and 421.18 kg seeds / ba in Jatropha. Lowest yield of 190.4 fruits/plant and 371.78 kg seeds / ha were recorded in control in which no intercropping was taken up. Though Jatropha + Green gram and Jatropha + Black gram gave good returns, there were no significant improvement in fruit production of Jatropha. The minimum weed population (10.33/m²) was noticed in Jatropha + black gram combination where as, the maximum weed population was noticed in control (Jatropha with no intercrops). The mean total LER was <1 in all intercropping treatments ranging from 0.75 to 0.93.

Critical studies based on the type, living and herbarium materials have shown that Eria apertiflora Summerh. is conspecific with Eria bipunctata Lindl. The same is reduced as a heterotypic synonym of Eria bipunctata.

The present paper deals with the performance evaluation of Bambusa arundinacea with ten different fire retardants cum preservative compositions to offer protection against fire and bio-deterioration. The performance of treated bamboo against fire is tested by flame penetration test, inflammability test and rate of burning test as per Indian standards. Bambusa arundinacea treated with only five compositions passed all fire retardant tests. These compositions are Ammonium Sulphate + Ammonium Phosphate + Boric acid + Borax, Ammonium Sulphate + Ammonium Phosphate + CCB, Ammonium Sulphate + Ammonium Phosphate + ZnCI₂ + CCB, Ammonium Sulphate + Ammonium Phosphate + ZnCl₂ + Borax and Magnesium Pyrophosphate + Magnesium Phosphate + Borax + Boric acid.

A new species, Enkianthus indicus M.R.Debta & H.J.Chowdhery belonging to the family Ericaceae from India is described and illustrated.