Current study deals with the use of wild hemp by the native communities of Manikaran valley, district Kullu of Himachal Pradesh in the North Western Himalaya. Data was collected during 2015 to 2017 through various field visits, questionnaire surveys, interviews with the locals and herb practitioners in the valley. Traditionally, the communities have being using the herb as medicine for treating various ailments like, arthritis, abnormal menstrual disorder, wounds, sores, joint pain, sting pain and recorded their usage pattern.  Hemp plant fibers are used for making ropes, pullan, etc. Its seeds are also used for flavoring traditional foods like Siddu/Aaksalu. Further research is needed to explore and harness the many other benefits of the herb.

The plant names, on etymological analysis, are found very interesting and inform on many aspects pertaining to science, human culture and civilization.The present paper, explains the origin of Sanskrit namesof Cassia fistula L. (Caesalpiniaceae) tree used by ancient practitioners in Ayurvedic medicinal system. They have been established on the basis of their morphological and other characters of this plant.  The Sanskrit names of this species have been given in alphabetical order including their meaning in English language alongwith detail of the basis for the naming of the plant.

Two Hedychium species Hedychium densiflorum Wall. and Hedychium wardii  C.E.C. Fisch. have been collected for the first time from the state of Nagaland, India. Detailed  descriptions of the species along with colour photographs have been provided for their identification and reference.

The paper deals with 49 species of plants covering 46 genera and 31  families used by the tribes of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh for curing cuts and wounds. 26 practices were found to be less known.

Wayanad district of Kerala State of India, situated in the Western Ghat region has a tribal population of about twenty percent. Kurichyas, Mullukurumas, Paniyas, Kattunaikas, etc. are the most important tribes inhabiting the area.  Rice is their staple source of carbohydrate and they cultivate several native rice cultivars from ancient days. Kurichyas and Mullukurumas are traditional rice farmers. The rice cultivars grown by them are phenotypically and genotypically diverse and can be categorized according to ecological and geographical variations. Rice is grown both under wetland and upland conditions by them. Some of the rice cultivars are adapted to upland conditions and others to wetland conditions. However, no efforts have been made in the area to scientifically evaluate the adaptability of the rice cultivars to these conditions.  Upland rice farming is very important in peasantry agriculture including tribal farming since this method demands lesser inputs.  Moreover, upland rice farming can be carried out in non-conventional areas thus making the crop to spread to new agricultural areas.  The present study validates the usability of twelve native rice cultivars cultivated by the tribal farmers of Wayanad both under wetland and upland conditions. These cultivars form an integral part of the native rice germplasm of the area and their conservation and use are the only valid steps that can be adapted to prevent the loss of the unique genes associated with them. The rice cultivars screened successfully for efficient performance both under wetland and upland conditions in the present experiment are Adukkan, Chennelthondi, Jeerakasala, Karimbalan, Kaima, Kothandan, Mahamaya,  Marathondi, Thavalakkannan, Thondi, Urunikaima and Vellimuthu. Recently a devastating flood occurred in Kerala State of India including the Wayanad area in the month of August 2018 and the entire rice crop has been devastated.  More curiously, after the flood, the surface water level has receded tremendously leaving the entire rice farms dry, which is completely unusual in the area.  The only alternative for rice farming in the area in the second crop season is irrigated upland cultivation and invariably the farmers have to resort to it since at least a small crop to keep the seeds viable until the next year’s crop season is to be raised.

The Sacred Groves of the Indian Himalayan Region have not been explored for the ecosystem services provided by them. Therefore, present attempt has been made to assess the economically important floristic diversity of Kamrunag Sacred Grove. A total of 249 species of economical importance belonging to 74 families and 168 genera were recorded. Of these 165 species were, used as medicine and 37 species used as edible; fodder (23 spp.); fuel (11spp.); timber (06 spp.); religious (03spp.); Dye and miscellaneous (4 spp.). Different parts of the plants were utilized, of which Whole plant was used in majority of cases. Maximum number of native (134), non-native (115) and near endemic (68) species were found at an altitudinal range of 1800-2800m. Four species (i.e., Pimpinella acuminata, Goldfussia dalhousiana, Angelica glauca and Wikstroemia canescens) were found endemic to the Indian Himalayan Region. Management options for the conservation and sustainable utilization of the species have been suggested.

Sacred groves are the reservoirs of biodiversity and help in conserving the resources available due to strong cultural and religious beliefs. The study was conducted in four selected sacred groves of Vilavancode and Kalkulam taluks to evaluate the ethnomedicinal values of plants used by the rural communities of Kanyakumari district. A total of 83 ethnomedicinal plants were recorded as per the information given by the rural communities. Apocynaceae was a dominant family followed by Euphorbiaceae. Leaves were used predominantly and internal intake was done mostly than external use. Medicinal preparations were largely taken in the form of juice, paste and decoction. These herbal medicines were frequently used for skin diseases, fever, asthma, body pain, bone fractures, gynaecological disorders, etc. These valuable uses of medicinal plants must be documented for the goodness of man.

Myristica fatua is a critically endangered tree with medicinal novel compounds viz.  Lignan and Diaryl nonanoids having in vitro cytotoxic activities against breast cancer.  Vateria macrocarpa also is a critically endangered medicinal tree which is  the source of an anti-bacterial gum‘Kundirigum’. The destructive harvesting of these two species, restricted habitat and climate changes etc. pose serious threat to their survival. The present study was therefore conducted to raise clonal genetic stock of these species by induced rooting of differentially aged Vateria macrocarpa stem cuttings and air layering twigs of Myristica fatua with the aid of different auxins (IAA, IBA and NAA) under different concentrations. The cuttings of Myristica fatua and air layering twigs of Vateria macrocarpa exhibited 70% of rooting success under NAA-1000 ppm concentration with 65 – 75% RH and 30- 35?C.

The present investigation was carried out in Udaipur, Lahaul & Spiti, H.P. Seven treatments with three spacings were studied to observe the impact on growth parameters. Treatment of  FYM + Vermicompost @ 10 ton per hectare gave maximum fresh weight of bulbs (6.197 g), dry weight of bulbs (3.314g), total fresh yield of bulbs/ha (1254.4 kg) and total dry yield of bulbs/ha (668.6 kg). Maximum values for fresh weight of bulbs (5.347 g), and dry weight of bulbs (2.865 g), total fresh yield of bulbs/ha (1254.4 kg) and total dry yield of bulbs/ha (668.6 kg) were recorded at S₃ (25x25 cm) spacing. Maximum values for total fresh yield of bulbs/ha (1185.1kg) and total dry yield of bulbs/ha (603.1kg) were recorded in S₁ (20x20 cm) spacing.

The paper deals with 14 species of plants used by the tribals of East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh for magico-religious beliefs. Whole plant is used in a maximum of 5 practices followed by wood and fruit (2 each) and others.

The Indian System of medicines has played an important role in our country in providing medical care since antiquity. India is a country with a strong attachment to the using of traditional or folk medicine. The main aim of this work was to collect the information on treating swine flu infection by Lehsunbel (Mansoa alliacea) decoction, infusion and tincture.The new informations are based on the detailed oral interviews held with Vaidhyas, Hakims and elderly village people, who have knowledge of medicinal uses of plants and mostly use them in treating ailments.