Edaphological Description of the Type Habitat of Coptis' Teeta Wall. - an Endangered Species of Medicinal Importance in Arunachal Pradesh

The edaphic conditions of the habitat of Coptis tetla Wall. have been discussed. The soils, where this species grows either under cultivation or in wild are moderately acidic to highly acidic, poor in surface porosity, very rich in silica content and possess insufficient amount of inorganic binding agents. However, the soils in cultivated fields are satisfactory in organic carbon status, water-holding ability and cation exchange capacity but inadequate presence of liming material and temperate climate adversely effect their energy materials. The 3oils at Malenja where this species is growing wild have textural limitation and anthropogenic interference. In the end the paper is concluded with suggestions. Results depict that the reasons for rarity and depletion of this species are not only anthropogenic but also environmental.