Thysanolaena Maxima Research Articles

Impact of fodder grasses and organic amendments on productivity and soil and crop quality in a subtropical region of eastern Himalayas, India

Agriculture in the Eastern Indian Himalayas is characterized by fragility and marginality with about 77% of the geographical area under hills and degraded plateau. Thus, field experiments were conducted for three consecutive years during 2008–2011 to assess the impact of perennial fodder grasses and sources of nutrient supply on productivity and quality of soil and fodder under terrace conditions in a subtropical degraded hill soil of Meghalaya, India (980m above sea level). The treatment consisted of four fodder crops and three sources of nutrients. Fodder crops were broom grass (Thysanolaena maxima), congosignal grass (Brachieria rosenesis), hybrid napier (Pennisetum typhoides x P. purpureum) and guinea grass (Panicum maximum). Three sources of nutrient supply were organic, inorganic and control (inherent soil fertility conditions). Farmyard manure (FYM) was used as organic source of nutrient supply on N equivalent basis and P nutrition was supplemented through rock-phosphate. Fertilizer urea, single super phosphate and muriate of potash were used as inorganic source of nutrients. The dry fodder yield increased in each successive year and three year average dry fodder yield was significantly higher with hybrid napier (28.1Mgha−1) than other grasses. Among nutrient sources, the average dry fodder yield under organic amendment (22.9Mgha−1) was 27.5 and 64.4% higher than that under inorganic fertilizer (17.9Mgha−1) and control (13.9Mgha−1), respectively. Crude fibre (35.9%) and lignin (7.02%) concentrations were the maximum in hybrid napier whereas, cellulose (39.1%) was the highest in congosignal grass. On the contrary, crude protein concentration was the maximum in broom grass (8.27%), and it was at par with that in hybrid napier. The available N, P, K and soil organic carbon (SOC) contents were significantly higher (P=0.05) under organic compared to those under other nutrient sources. The SOC concentration (17.2gkg−1) and stock (32.2Mgha−1) after three years under organic treatment was 5.3 and 2.1% and 13.3 and 8.1% higher than that recorded under inorganic and control, respectively. The study indicated suitability of fodder grasses and organic amendments in improving quality of marginal degraded hill soils.

Towards a natural classification of Astrosphaeriella-like species; introducing Astrosphaeriellaceae and Pseudoastrosphaeriellaceae fam. nov. and Astrosphaeriellopsis, gen. nov.

Astrosphaeriella sensu lato is a common genus occurring on bamboo, palms and stout grasses. Species of Astrosphaeriella have been collected from various countries in tropical, subtropical or temperate regions. In Asia, species have been collected in Brunei, China, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines and Vietnam. There have been several morphological studies on Astrosphaeriella, but molecular work and phylogenetic analyses are generally lacking. Taxa included in Astrosphaeriella were characterized in three main groups 1) typical Astrosphaeriella species (sensu stricto) having carbonaceous, erumpent, conical ascostromata 2) atypical Astrosphaeriella species (sensu lato) having immersed, coriaceous ascostromata with short to long papilla and 3) lophiostoma-like species having immersed ascostromata with slit-like openings. Some of the latter Astrosphaeriella species, having slit-like openings, have been transferred to Fissuroma and Rimora in Aigialaceae. In this study five type specimens of Astrosphaeriella were loaned from herbaria worldwide and re-examined and are re-described and illustrated. Collections of Astrosphaeriella were also made in Thailand and morphologically examined. Pure cultures were obtained from single spores and used in molecular studies. The asexual morph was induced on sterile bamboo pieces placed on water agar. Phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, SSU and TEF1 sequence data of astrosphaeriella-like species using Bayesian, Maximum parsimony (MP) and Randomized Accelerated Maximum Likelihood (RAxML) analyses were carried out. Phylogenetic analyses show that species of Astrosphaeriella can be distinguished in at least three families. Species of Astrosphaeriella sensu stricto with erumpent, carbonaceous ascostromata, form a strongly supported clade with Pteridiospora species and a new family, Astrosphaeriellaceae, is introduced to accommodate these taxa. The genera are revised and Astrosphaeriella bambusae, A. neofusispora, A. neostellata, A. thailandica, A. thysanolaenae and Pteridiospora chiangraiensis are introduced as new species. Astrosphaeriella exorrhiza is reported on a dead stem of Thysanolaena maxima and is the first record for Thailand. Reference specimens for A. fusispora and A. tornata are designated to stabilize the taxonomy of Astrosphaeriella. The coelomycetous asexual morph of A. bambusae is reported and forms hyaline, globose to subglobose, aseptate conidia. Species of Astrosphaeriella sensu lato with immersed, coriaceous ascostromata, with short to long papilla and striate ascospores, form a sister clade with Tetraplosphaeriaceae. The genus Pseudoastrosphaeriella is introduced to accommodate some of these taxa with three new species and three new combinations, viz. P. aequatoriensis, P. africana, P. bambusae, P. longicolla, P. papillata and P. thailandensis. A new family Pseudoastrosphaeriellaceae is introduced to accommodate this presently monotypic lineage comprising Pseudoastrosphaeriella. The asexual morph of P. thailandensis is described. Astrosphaeriella bakeriana forms a distinct clade basal to Aigialaceae. Astrosphaeriella bakeriana is excluded from Astrosphaeriella and a new genus Astrosphaeriellopsis, placed in Dothideomycetes genera incertae sedis, is introduced to accommodate this taxon. Fissuroma aggregata (Aigialaceae) is re-visited and is shown to be a cryptic species. Three new species of Fissuroma and a new combination are introduced based on morphology and phylogeny viz. F. bambusae, F. fissuristoma, F. neoaggregata and F. thailandicum.

Effect of Plant Density on Economic Return from Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb) Kuntze (Broom Grass) Plantation in Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, India

Thysanolaena maxima is a wild grass cultivated by the farmers of Meghalaya for the production of broom panicles, which has high demand in South and South East Asia. Over the years T. maxima has eme...

Traditional practices of utilization and conservation of non-wood forest products by Adi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh

The survey was carried out during 2009-11 to collect the information of Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) utilized by the Adi tribes of East Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh. It was observeds that Adi tribes used to collect different NWFPs such as wild fruits (Artocarpus heterophyllum Lam., Castanopsis indica (Roxb. ex Lindl.) A. DC., Canarium strictum Roxb. etc.), vegetables (Bauhinia variegata L., Clerodendrum colebrookianum Walp., Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw., Moringa oleifera Lam. etc.), spices (Cinnamomum tamala Nees & Eber.,Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume. and Piper longum L.), fibres (Calamus flagellum Griff. ex Mart., Dendrocalamus hemiltonii Nees et Arn. ex Munro, Pandanus nepaulensis H. St. John and Sterculia villosa Roxb.), floss (Bombax ceiba L.,), broom grass (Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb.) Ktze.), thatching material (Livistona jenkinsiana Griff.), various bamboo and cane species, and other miscellaneous products from the forests and community lands. NWFPs played a significant role in supporting the livelihood of Adi tribes as it has been observed that 32.50 %, 56.67 % and 10.83 % people were earning < Rs. 3000, Rs. 3000 - 6000 and > Rs. 6000, respectively from the sale of different NWFPs. Majority of respondents (80.83 %) were having the opinion that the availability of different NWFPs has declined considerably and maximum (85 %) respondents advocated that the availability of these products would further decrease in future also. Further, Adi tribal community is playing an important role in conservation of different NWFPs yielding species by domesticating them in their home gardens.

What drives elevational pattern of phytolith diversity in Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb.) O. Ktze? A study from the Darjeeling Himalayas

Phytolith formation in plants is commonly thought to be influenced by variations in temperature, precipitation and other environmental factors. The objective of this study is to test how variations in different climatic and edaphic factors i.e., temperature, rainfall, actual evapotranspiration (AET), potential evapotranspiration (PET), moisture index (MI) and soil pH along a tropical–temperate elevation gradient (150–2456m a.s.l.) in the Darjeeling Himalayas would influence the variability and plasticity of formation and frequencies of phytoliths in Thysanolaena maxima. Among the 16 phytolith types, frequency, diversity and morphometric sensitivity of some consistently occurring morphs viz., stomate, cuneiform bulliform, three-lobates and bilobates have been studied in detail to trace their sensitivity to changing environmental factors along the studied elevation gradient in Darjeeling. We used regression analysis to establish elevational pattern of phytolith diversity and sensitivity of T. maxima and to relate environmental factors with morphometric attributes. Frequencies of bilobate, three-lobates and stomate types increase with increasing elevation and MI, but decrease with MAT (mean annual temperature), AET, PET and soil pH. However, a reverse trend is noticed in frequency of bulliform types. Morphometric measurements show a positive correlation between dimensions of stomate, three-lobates and bilobates with MAT, AET, PET and soil pH and a negative correlation with MI. Length of bilobate shanks and dimension of bulliform cells are found to be negatively correlated with MAT, AET, PET and soil pH and positively correlated with MI; however, an opposite trend is noticed for shank width. No significant relationship is observed with rainfall, but MI, which is a measure of the water balance between rainfall and PET of an area shows significant correlation with morphometric traits. The study thus demonstrates that the diversity and morphometric attributes of T. maxima phytoliths are plastic in their response to different environmental factors.

Mechanical and Dielectric Properties of Thysanolaena Maxima (Broom Grass) Long Fibre Reinforced Polyester Composites

A new natural fibre i.e. broom grass botanically called “Thysanolaena maxima” is introduced in the present work with a view to understand its properties initially. Then the untreated and chemically treated fibre is reinforced into the polyester matrix and the composites are fabricated to test their mechanical and dielectric properties strictly as per ASTM procedures. The highest tensile strength of 82.39MPa, modulus of 1.05GPa is obtained for broom grass CT – 1, CT – 2 fibres respectively. With CT – 2, 3 broom grass FRP composites achieved highest tensile strength, modulus respectively at maximum fibre volume fraction. Broom grass CT – 2 FRP composites have shown good flexural strength, modulus of 78.51MPa, 5.31GPa respectively than the other composites investigated in the present work. Impact strength of 91.11kJ/m2 is achieved for broom grass FRP composites at 39.35% fibre volume fraction. The insulating light weight material according to required dielectric strength is selected from the composites reinforced with broom grass at different volume fractions of fibre. Fibre morphology is understood from the scanning electron micrographs of fibre.

Phytostabilization Potential of Pb Mine Tailings by Two Grass Species, Thysanolaena maxima and Vetiveria zizanioides

Pot and field experiments were conducted to elucidate the phytostabilization potential of two grass species (Thysanolaena maxima and Vetiveria zizanioides) with respect to lead (Pb) tailing soil. Three fertilizers (Osmocote® fertilizer, cow manure, and organic fertilizer) were used to improve the physicochemical properties of tailing soil. V. zizanioides treated with organic fertilizer and cow manure showed the highest biomass (14.0±2.6 and 10.5±2.6 g per plant, respectively) and the highest Pb uptake in the organic fertilizer treatment (T. maxima, 413.3 μg per plant; V. zizanioides, 519.5 μg per plant) in the pot study, whereas in field trials, T. maxima attained the best performances of dry biomass production (217.0 ±57.9g per plant) andPb uptake (32.1mgper plant) in the Osmocote® treatment. In addition, both grasses showed low translocation factor ( 1). During a 1-year field trial, T. maxima also produced the longest shoot (103.9±29.7 cm), followed by V.zizanioides (70.6±16.8 cm), in Osmocote® treatment. Both grass species showed potential as exclud- er plants suitable for phytostabilization applications in Pb- contaminated areas.

The ecological adaptability of four typical plants during the early successional stage of a tropical rainforest

The ecological adaptability of four typical plants (two grasses: Thysanolaena maxima and Miscanthus floridulus; two shrubs: Melastoma candidum and Melastoma sanguineum) in the early successional stage of a tropical rainforest in Hainan Island of China was studied. Our purpose was to test the difference of the adaptive modes and ecological functions for four different functional groups. We measured the physiological parameters and morphological indexes to define the adaptability of the plants at this stage. Results showed that T. maxima possessed stronger water use ability, whose adaptation was mainly by the morphological architecture regulation strategy (by higher leaf self-shading). M. floridulus had greater water regulation ability and its adaptation was mainly through the physiological regulation strategy (by higher net photosynthetic rate (A) and water use efficiency). However, M. candidum and M. sanguineum integrated the morphological architecture and physiological strategies (by high A and leaf self-shading). According to the ecophysiological characteristics and adaptation modes, the plants in the early successional stage of the tropical rainforest in Hainan Island can be categorized into three functional groups: (1) physiological adaptation group, (2) morphological adaptation group, and (3) physiological and morphological integrated adaptation group.

A scientific assessment of traditional knowledge on firewood and fodder values in Sikkim, India

Communities in the Yuksam-Dzongri trekking corridor of Sikkim use a wide variety of plant species as firewood and fodder with species preferences based on their local knowledge. Current practices are increasing harvest pressures on good quality firewood and fodder plants leading to deteriorating forest condition along the trekking corridor. To help develop management strategies and to ensure the long term sustainability of forest resources in this region, it is important to understand local peoples’ basis for their species preferences. In this paper, we compared people's preferences for species used as firewood and fodder using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools with data on these species’ chemical constituent properties to better understand the rationale for local preferences. Sixteen woody trees species ( Rhododendron arboreum, Rhododendron falconeri, Rhododendron barbatum, Quercus lamellosa, Q. lineate, Schima wallichii, Prunus cerasoides, Prunus nepalensis, Castanopsis hystrix, Beilschmiedia sikkimensis, Acer oblongum, Betula alnoides, Eurya acuminate, Symplocos ramosissima, Alnus nepalensis and Litsaea elongate) and twenty-three fodder plants (including Thysanolaena maxima, Ficus nemoralis, Q. lamellosa, Imperata cylindrical, and Saurauia nepaulensis), the most widely used species in the area, were selected for study. The tree species were evaluated for their wood properties (calorific value, wood density, moisture and ash content) based on the Firewood Value Index (FVI), and fodder species for their nutritional qualities (dry matter, nitrogen and crude protein, and fat content). Most of the highly preferred species were found to have high values for firewood or fodder properties, and a significant correlation was found between the community scores and the FVI and some fodder attributes, namely dry matter and protein content. The study illustrates the applicability of local knowledge in relation to the chemical properties of species used for firewood and fodder.

Exserohilum Leaf Spot on Tiger Grass

Tiger grass [Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb.) Kuntze] is a popular ornamental grass grown throughout landscapes in South Florida. In the summer of 2006, a leaf spot was observed on tiger grass in the landscape and a commercial nursery in Homestead, FL. The causal agent of the leaf spot was isolated and characterized morphologically and molecularly as Exserohilum rostratum (Drechsler) Leonard & Suggs. At high inoculum densities, symptoms were apparent as early as 12 h after inoculation, and caused widespread necrosis. Germinating conidia of E. rostratum and appressoria were observed in direct association with lesions. This newly discovered disease could potentially have a dramatic effect on the aesthetic quality and salability of this landscape ornamental. Accepted for publication 24 September 2009. Published 15 December 2009.

Long-term effect of pastures on soil quality in acid soil of North-East India

North-East India is known for its complex, diverse, risk-prone, and fragile hilly ecosystem. Natural resources in terms of soil, water, vegetation, and soil organic carbon (SOC) are much degraded. Effects of long-term perennial grasses maintained at a permanent fodder block of the ICAR Research Complex, Meghalaya, on soil quality were examined after 15 cropping cycles. The aims were (i) to ascertain whether perennial grass primarily maintained as fodder source for ruminants could conserve resources and improve soil quality in the hilly ecosystem of North-East India, and (ii) to select a suitable perennial grass to minimise land degradation, restore SOC, and improve the soil quality. Soil samples were collected in 2007–08 (dry season) from plots of 8 perennial grasses [Setaria sphacelata (setaria), Brachieria rosenesis (congosignal), Thysanolaena maxima (broom), Penicum maximum var. Makunia and var. Hamil (guinea), Pennisetum purpureum (napier), Paspalum conjugalum (paspalam), Arachis pintoi (wild groundnut)] and analysed for physical, chemical, and biological properties. A control plot had no grass cover. Hamil and Makunia produced a large amount of green fodder, while Makunia, paspalam, setaria, and congosignal had greatest root biomass. Relative to the control, soil under perennial grasses showed increases of ~30% SOC, 70% mean weight diameter, 20% available soil water, 40% hydraulic conductivity, 63% infiltration rate, and 10% soil microbial biomass carbon. Among grasses, soil under setaria, congosignal, and Makunia had higher values of these attributes than under other species because of better soil binding through an extensive root system. Improvement of soil physical properties and processes under these grasses, coupled with complete ground cover, reduced soil erosion by ~33% and also signified ecological benefits through C-sequestration. Soil quality management in the fragile ecosystem of North-East India should include permanent pastural grasses, particularly, setaria, congosignal, and Makunia.

Efficacy of vegetative barriers for rehabilitation of degraded hill slopes in eastern India

Vegetative barriers have assumed greater importance world over for control of erosion as the mechanical measures are constrained by high costs and shorter life. However, performance of such erosion control measures is location specific. Hence, effect of stone bunds and vegetative barriers, viz, local grass sambuta ( Saccharum spp.), vetiver ( Vetiveria zizanioides) and hill broom ( Thysanolaena maxima) on erosion, crop yield and soil properties in degraded hill slopes of Eastern Ghats of India, was studied for three consecutive years (2000–2002). Simultaneously, the morphological parameters of vegetative barriers were also evaluated. The analysis of the experimental data revealed that at 11% slope, sambuta and vetiver barriers reduced runoff and soil loss by 63.4 and 68.6%, respectively, over control (runoff 25.9% and soil loss 14.0 t ha −1). However, the sambuta barriers resulted in increased yield of finger millet ( Eleusine coracana), enhanced organic carbon accumulation and available potassium in the soil when compared with rest of the conservation measures. Moreover, plant growth vigour was more in vetiver, root growth was better in sambuta and hill broom was the tallest plant amongst all barriers. Overall binding factor (395) and overall performance index (OPI) (0.9) of sambuta was the highest. The present investigation demonstrated the effectiveness of vegetative barriers in controlling soil erosion, and thereby improving crop yield and restoring soil fertility.

Recovery Process of Fallow Vegetation in the Traditional Karen Swidden Cultivation System in the Bago Mountain Range, Myanmar ( Ecological Resource Use and Social Change in the Minority Regions of Myanmar)

Forests in Myanmar have a long history of teak (Tectona grandis Linn.) production, which can be traced back to the age of the English rule in the nineteenth century, when forests in Myanmar were categorized into those for timber production and those for other uses. Many farmers such as the Karen people, who were swidden cultivators, inhabited the forests. Therefore, the government established the “Karen Area” in the late nineteenth century, permitting swidden cultivation (shifting cultivation) for their self consumption. Short cultivation, long fallow swidden cultivation has been continued for over years in the areas. We surveyed fallow vegetation and total carbon and nitrogen after swidden cultivation by Karen people in the Bago mountain range and compared with those in natural teak forests under selective logging systems. We set circular plots m in radius at fallow stands of various ages. Trees were identified and measured by diameter at breast height (DBH). Surface soil was sampled at cm. The amounts of total carbon and nitrogen in soils varied among the plots, but no stand age dependency was observed. Grass and herb species such as Chromolaena odoratum and Thysanolaena maxima were dominant and comprised the maximum biomass in -and -year fallows. Bamboo species such as Bambusa polymorpha and Bambusa tulda rapidly recovered after grass and herb species, and the bamboo biomass in the -year fallow was nearly equivalent to that in over-year fallows. Tree species recovered to nearly the same biomass level as that of bamboos in the -year fallow, and further facilitated the increase in the above-ground biomass. Xylia xylocarpa was the most common tree species while species such as T. grandis might be excluded from the fallow vegetation cycle. On the whole, swidden cultivation with a short cultivation period of year and over -year fallows maintained sufficient fallow vegetation recovery to sustain continuous swidden cultivation in the Bago mountain range.

Growth and lead accumulation by the grasses Vetiveria zizanioides and Thysanolaena maxima in lead-contaminated soil amended with pig manure and fertilizer: A glasshouse study

Bo Ngam lead mine soils contain high concentrations of lead (up 1% total Pb) and low amounts of organic matter and major nutrients (N, P, K). A glasshouse study was conducted to compare growth performance, metal tolerance and metal uptake by two grasses, Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb.) O. Kuntze and four ecotypes of Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash, syn. Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty (three from Thailand: Surat Thani, Songkhla and Kamphaeng Phet, and one from Sri Lanka) and to study the effects of pig manure (20% and 40% w/w) and inorganic fertilizer (75 and 150 mg kg −1) amendments to this lead mine soil. The results showed that both T. maxima and V. zizanioides (Surat Thani and Songkhla) could tolerate high Pb concentrations in soil (10 750 mg kg −1) and had very good growth performance. Application of pig manure increased electrical conductivity (EC) and reduced DTPA-extractable Pb concentration in the soils. Pig manure application improved the growth of vetiver, especially at 20%, application dosage. Vetiver had the highest biomass. T. maxima could not tolerate high EC values. The uptake by roots and transport of Pb to shoots of both species was reduced when soils were amended with pig manure. Application of inorganic fertilizer did not improve growth of vetiver but did improve that of T. maxima. Fertilizer application did not have any great influence on the Pb uptake in vetiver while T. maxima took up more Pb as a result of the fertilizer enhancing its biomass yield. Both species transported low Pb concentrations to shoots (8.3–179 mg kg −1) and accumulated higher concentrations in roots (107–911 mg kg −1). In summary, both species may be species well suited for phytostabilization in tropical lead mine areas.

Diversity of fungi on six species of Gramineae and one species of Cyperaceae in Hong Kong

Samples of standing senescent culms of Panicum maximum, Pennisetum purpureum, Phragmites australis, Miscanthus floridulus, Saccharum arundinaceum and Thysanolaena maxima (Gramineae), and Schoenoplectus litoralis (Cyperaceae) were collected in Hong Kong between 1997 to 1999. A total of 205 fungal taxa were identified on these samples, including 61 ascomycetes, and 144 mitosporic taxa. Common fungal genera included Diaporthe, Leptosphaeria, Massarina, Ophiobolus and Ophioceras (ascomycetes), and Monodictys, Phaeoisaria, Periconia, Phoma, Phomopsis, Rhinocladiella, Septoria and Sporidesmium (mitosporic taxa). Different grass species were host to different fungal communities and diversities of taxa. Diversity indices for fungi on the hosts varied from 3.3 to 8.7, the highest index being from Pennisetum purpureum, and were overall higher from species offering more durable, strongly sclerenchymatic substrates. No single saprobic fungus collected in this study is thought to be specific to any one grass, however, certain fungi tended to reoccur on single grass species, but not on adjacent grasses. A ‘core fungal group’ was commonly associated with the decaying grasses and this ‘core’ was thought to be important in nutrient cycling in the grasses. A comparison of the fungi occurring on grasses with those on other monocotyledonous hosts is made. The numbers of fungi known to occur on Juncus roemerianus and Phragmites australis are briefly summarised.

Variation among Strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vasculorum from Mauritius and other Countries Based on Fatty Acid Analysis

Fatty acid profiling was used to study variation amongst strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vasculorum (Xcv). They could be divided into five groups using cellular fatty acid profiles. Group A strains represent a new and little known taxon and all came from plants of broom bamboo (Thysanolaena maxima) from Mauritius. Group B strains included the Xcv pathotype reference strain and were from palms, broom bamboo and sugarcane from Mauritius, Reunion and Australia. Group C contained southern African and Malagasy strains from sugarcane and maize, together with X. campestris pv. holcicola strain. No Mascarene strains fell into this group. Group D strains isolated from sugarcane, maize and royal palm (Roystonea regia) were from Mauritius and Reunion, the earliest known strains coming from Réunion. These groups represented in the Mascarene Islands possibly belong to three different Xanthomonas species. A further Group E comprised one Xcv strain (NCPPB 182) from Puerto Rico, one X. vasicola pv. holcicola strain plus 6 other unclassified Xanthomonas strains causing red stripe disease symptoms in sugarcane. Three of these groups occur on Mauritius and two occur on Réunion. Group B strains originally caused serious problems in noble canes. As resistant interspecific hybrids were introduced, group D strains appeared in Mauritius possibly being introduced from Reunion but having similar host ranges within the Gramineae and Palmae. The findings that 3 of these groups (A, B, D) can cause gumming disease in a grass species (T. maxima) and that 2 of them (B, D) also cause gumming disease in sugar cane (Gramineae) and palms (Palmae) is unusual.

Paper from Thysanolaena maxima

Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb) (tiger or broom grass), is a tall reed-like perennial grass, grown on shady slopes in forests in India and the Nicobar Islands. Culms are solid, smooth and rounded and up to a height of 4 m. The leaves and the tips are used as fodder; the bushy, fox-tail-like panicles (30–90 cm) are used for making brooms. When the panicles are cut, the stem portion (3–4 m) is left out in the field and is burnt. Fibres, of average 1.25 mm in length at 45% yield (unbleached), could be obtained from this grass. The laboratory handmade paper sheets exhibited good properties, with a burst factor of 30, a breaking length of 3555 m and a tear factor of 106. Hence, it can be suggested that T. maxima may become a potential source of raw material for pulp- and paper-making either alone or in combination with the conventional pulp- and paper-making raw materials. This material could help to meet the future demand for pulp- and paper-making raw material, if properly exploited.

PALLAS'S BUCKTHORN AND TWO AND A HALF CENTURIES 3F NEGLECTED BINOMIALS

SummaryAn examination of European botanic garden ephemera has revealed over 250 overlooked binomials applied to vascular plants. Besides some 23 changes in authority, there are changes in names: Rhamnus pallasii Fisch. & Mey. becomes R. erythroxyhides Hoffmanns, in which two subspecific combinations are proposed; Potentilla fulgens Wall, ex Hook, is antedated by P. lineata Trev.; Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb.) Kuntze is T. latifolia (Roxb. ex Hornern.) Honda; Tillandsia maxima Lillo & Hauman becomes T. australis Mez; new combinations are proposed in Encyclia and Miscanthus and a new name in Crinum. There will probably have to be changes in Rabdosia, Rotala and Triumfetta and possibly in Arenaria, Calceolaria, Crinum, Croton, Flaveria, Haageocereus, Helianthus and Pinus, while some names in Achillea, Acrostichum, Betonica, Carex, Cnicus, Commelina, Eclipta, Iris, Pandanus, Pelargonium, Phyteuma, Pothos, Rhus, Silene and Verbascum remain to be disposed of and Leucas lavandulifolia Sm. is restored.

Pallas's Buckthorn and Two and a Half Centuries of Neglected Binomials

Summary An examination of European botanic garden ephemera has revealed over 250 overlooked binomials applied to vascular plants. Besides some 23 changes in authority, there are changes in names: Rhamnus pallasii Fisch. & Mey. becomes R. erythroxyloides Hoffmanns. in which two subspecific combinations are proposed; Potentillafulgens Wall. ex Hook. is antedated by P. lineata Trev.; Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb.) Kuntze is T. latifolia (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Honda; Tillandsia maxima Lillo & Hauman becomes T. australis Mez; new combinations are proposed in Encyclia and Miscanthus and a new name in Crinum. There will probably have to be changes in Rabdosia, Rotala and Triumfetta and possibly in Arenaria, Calceolaria, Crinum, Croton, Flaveria, Haageocereus, Helianthus and Pinus, while some names in Achillea, Acrostichum, Betonica, Carex, Cnicus, Commelina, Eclipta, Iris, Pandanus, Pelargonium, Phyteuma, Pothos, Rhus, Silene and Verbascum remain to be disposed of and Leucas lavandulifolia Sm. is restored.

Growth and allocation strategies of some perennial weeds of slash and burn agriculture (Jhum) in northeastern India

Growth and allocation patterns of dry matter and nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) in four important perennial weeds, viz., Eupatorium odoratum, Grewia elastica, Imperata cylindrica, and Thysanolaena maxima, were analysed. Eupatorium odoratum, a C3 species and exclusively dependent upon the sexual mode of reproduction, had the highest values for relative growth rate and net assimilation rate. This species also showed the highest concentrations of nutrients in the leaf tissue. Eupatorium odoratum exhibited a greater allocation of its total biomass as well as nutrients to stem as compared with the other three species all of which can "sprout" (regenerate from underground organs) after fire. The reverse was true for the allocation of biomass and nutrients to the leaf component. The two rhizomatous species (I. cylindrica and T. maxima) diverted significantly greater proportions of dry matter as well as nutrients to belowground tissues compared with the two nonrhizomatous species (E. odoratum and G. elastica). The two C4 species, I. cylindrica and T. maxima, showed higher efficiency in nutrient uptake in spite of their low nutrient demand per unit dry matter production. The findings are discussed in relation to the photosynthetic and regenerative strategies of these species.