Flora Of India Research Articles

Flora, religion, cure and identity: Indian plants in indentured diaspora countries

ABSTRACT This essay examines the presence of Indian plants in the indentured diaspora countries that were brought to meet religious and medical needs and hence played seminal role in the formation of Indian identity. Indian floras and their connection to Indian culture and medical practices is one of the gaps in the historiography of the Indian indentured diaspora. Scholarly works on indenture primarily concentrate on the social, economic, political, and religious aspects of the Indian labour diaspora in the host countries. However, there is a dearth of attention paid to the significance of Indian flora in the development of identity in terms of religious and cultural practices, traditions, and medical needs. By investigating the Indian flora among the indentured Indians, this research aims to fill this gap and provides a floral-medico viewpoint in the formation of Indian diaspora and its identity.

Emilia fosbergii (Asteraceae) – A new record for India

Emilia fosbergii Nicolson of the family Asteraceae is reported here as new record for Indian flora from Jharkhand state. Brief description, illustration and photographs are provided in this article to aid field identification.

Monotypic Genera of Angiosperms in Indian Flora Need for Conservation

In this paper monotypie genera of angiosperms in Indian flora have been enumerated. The number of such genera amounts to 189. The family Poaceae has the maximum number (32) of monotypie genera. In this communication emphasis is laid on the conservation of monotypics, for if they are lost, we will loose them for ever. Hubbardia (Poaceae) is said to be facing extinction while Meeboldia has not been collected after the type collection.

A Conspectus of the Family Onagraceae in India

The paper presents a concise account of Onagraceous plants in India. They are represented by 4 genera and 46 species. Five species of the genus OENOTHERA, an American genus, became naturalised, other 8 species are occasionally cultivated. The genus CLARKIA with 3 species and Fuchsia with 8 species are cultivated. Of the hitherto known taxa of EPILOBIUM ONE species is relegated to synonymy, one new species has been added. Original citations, synonymy, reference to taxonomic revisions and Indian floras, types, distribution, ecological notes, phenology etc. have been provided. A key to the genera and species is given. A list of cultivated species has been added.

Nomenclatural Notes on some Flowering Plants-III

The paper deals with changes in names of several plants, consequent either on the strict application of the current ICBN (1978) or due to a changed concept of taxa or both. These have been critically evaluated from published literature consulted during general studies on the Flora of India.

A Note on Rosa Hirsuta, Sp. Nov. and Four other Endemic Taxa of Rosa L. in the Indian Flora

During our revisionary studies on the genus Rosa L., 31 taxa comprising 24 species and seven additional infraspecific units, are sorted out occurring indigenously or as naturalized elements within the political boundary of India. Of these, five taxa, including a new species described here, are endemic to India proper. The correct name of the taxon with reference to pertinent literature and relevant synonyms, if any, is followed by a short description with diagnostic features and citation of types and representative specimens studied in CAL, distributional range of the taxon in India. is also indicated.

Concept of <I>Phyllanthus niruri</I> (Euphorbiaceae) in Indian Floras

The study reveals that 'Phyllanthus nirui in Fora of British India is a mixture of three distinct species, viz., P. amarus Schum. & Thonn., P. fraternus Webster and P. debilis Klein ex Willd., the true P. niruri Linn, being endemic to West Indies. It is further observed that true P. debilis Klein ex Willd. (1804) is not correctly recognised in any Indian Flora and the plant that goes under the name is an altogether different species-P. debilis Herb. Ham. ex Hook.f. (1887), which however, being a later homonym is to be replaced by P. aity-shawii Brunei & Roux (1984). P. mukerjeeanus Mitra & Bennet has been found to represent juvenile form of P. debilis Klein ex Willd., hence reduced to the synonymy of that species. To facilitate proper identification a key to the different taxa of this complex in India is provided and their diagnostic characters are described and illustrated.

Changing Pattern in the Indian Flora

No Abstract.

<I>Asplenium × Germanicum</I> Auct., a Fern Hybrid, Rare in India

Asplmium × Germanicum auct., a rare and little known taxon in Indian flora, is reported from Kashmir and described as there is no standard description available in the published form.

Role of University and College Students in the Studies on Indian Flora

No Abstract.

Changing Patterns of the Indian Flora

No Abstract.

Additions to the Indian' Flora from Great Nicobar Island

The paper presents 10 plant species from the Great Nicobar Island which are additions to the Indian flora.

Additions to the Orchidaceous Flora of Orissa

The paper records 9 genera, 56 species/varieties of orchids as new records of taxa for the state or Orissa. The enumeration provides correct names of taxa dealt with, the basionym and relevant synonyms, if any, and is followed by citation of specimens collected during the last thirteen years. Notes on ecology and phenology are followed by records of distribution. Bulbophyllum micranthum Hook, f., Nervilia punctata (Bl.) Makino, Luisia filiformis Hook f., L. primulina Par. & Reichb. f. form new records of species for India. The distributional range of 110 taxa of orchids reported to-date from Orissa supports Gamble (1892) that Orissa is the meeting ground for the Himalayan and South Indian elements of the Indian flora.

Notes on Cyperaceae of Assam

The paper includes, as addition to the Indian flora, Carex eteusinoides Turcz. ex Kunth, Fimbristylis fimbristyloides (F. v. Muell.) Druce and F. yunnanensis Glrake. Six species have been recorded as new to the Assam region. On examination of mature specimens, Carex fuscifructus Clarke has been proved to be a distinct species. Mistakes have been pointed out on the reported occurrence in India of Carex lachenalii Schkuhr, C. prainii Clarke and Juncellus stylosus Clarke. Doubts have been raised on the distinctivity of several taxa, and biosystematic studies have been suggested to solve some of the complexes. A list of twelve species and one variety endemic to the Assam region, and miscellaneous notes on some other taxa have also been included.

Grasses of Indian Botanic Garden

In this paper 71 species of grasses belonging to 42 genera have been enumerated. Panicum elegantissimum and Polytrias amaura are new additions to Indian Flora. They have been collected from Indian Botanic Garden which falls under the Lower Gangetic Plains.

Notes on some Little Known Ferns of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

During detailed explorations of the Andaman & Nicobar Group of Islands, particularly the rich fern flora, it was found that several species were new additions to the Indian flora. While sixteen of these are recorded here, the occasion is also used to propose a new combination and to describe a new variety.

A Note on the Family Caryophyllaceae, with Special Reference to the Indian Species

This note provides with the general features of the family with discussions on the geographical distribution, phylogeny and systematic position, garden plants, and the medicinal and economic uses of a few species of the family. A detailed enumeration and description of taxa will be published later on in the "Flora of India".

The Genus <i>Dentella</i> J. R. & G. Forst. (Rubiaceae) in India

During studies on the weed-flora of the Indian Botanic Garden, Sibpur, Howrah, two forms of "Dentella repens", were met with; they were identified as two distinct species-D. retens (Linn.) J. R. & G. Forst. and D. scrpyllifolia Wall. ex Airy-Shaw. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of both the species, hitherto not available in Indian floras, are given to facilitate easy identification. Specimens of Dentella present in various herbaria in India were studied in order to establish their correct identity.

A Taxonomic Revision of Indian <I>Panax</I> Linn. (Araliaceae)

The genus Panax Linn. growing wild in India including Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim is the subject of this Revision. Hitherto 2 species and 1 variety have been described in Indian Floras. The author has discovered 2 more species viz. P. sikkimensis Ban. and P. assamicus Ban. which he named and described with Latin diagnosis in the present paper.

Third List of Species and Genera of Indian Phanerogams not Included in J. D. Hooker's Flora of British India (Excluding Bangladesh, Burma, Ceylon, Malayan Peninsula and Pakistan)

Calder et al. (1926) presented the first list of Phancrogams not included in J.D. Hooker's Flora of British India and it covered a span of twenty six years between 1898-1924. Razi (1959) enumerated the second list of Indian Phanerogams supplementing Calder's list for the period from 1924 to 1950 and this again covered a period of twenty six years. The third list now presented by the authors spanned a period of twenty five years (1950-1975) and the plants enumerated is geographically delimited to India, Bhutan and Nepal. In the present list the authors have listed about 1000 taxa of Phanerogams added to the Indian flora supplementing the lists of Calder (1926) and Razi (1959). The countries Bhutan and Nepal are part of Himalayan region and for any study of Himalayan flora of India, it is necessary to understand the floristic elements of Nepal and Bhutan since many Himalayan elements occur in the contiguous territories of India, Bhutan and Nepal.