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S.A.S. Biswas , H. B. Naithani

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S.A.S. Biswas

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H. B. Naithani , Anup Chandra , S.A.S. Biswas

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H. B. Naithani , S.A.S. Biswas , Anup Chandra

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S.A.S. Biswas , S. S. Jain , Mohinder Pal

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South-East Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe provide nearly 90 per cent of raw materials for medicinal exploitation. It is revealed that there are actually 121 plants tliat yielded prescription drugs as a result of the study on 35,000 species of plants. About 5,000 species world over are considered to have been examined throughly for the active principles. Only 41 species generate commercial sales to the tune of US$ 40 billion per year with nonformulation drugs as adjuncts claiming nearly US$ 60 billion. The Indian region endowed with nearly 20,000 species of plants highlight 75 major species of medicinal flora, out of which at least 25 were most sought after during the last decade. Nearly 3600 species of documented medicinal flora 540 find major use as herbal drugs (about 200 of these are used in bulk quantities and are of commercial potential). The families of plants such as Apocynaceae, Celastraceae, Compositae (Asteraceae), Simaroubaceae, Rutaceae, Thymelaeaceae, Magnoliaceae, Annonaceae, Boraginaceae, Leguminosae (Fabaceae), Liliaceae, Rubiaceae, Gymnosperms (Cephalotaxaceae) have anti-cancer drug yielding species. The paper provides botanical-cumphytogeographical regions of the country with specific elements of medicinal flora. The need for categorizing the rare and threatened medicinal and aromatic flora as per IUCN Red Data enlisting norms has been emphasized in the paper. Research need and priorities targeting different activities on the aspects of (i) Inventorization and Characterization, (ii) Monitoring and Assessment, (iii) Ex-situ Conservation, (iv) In-situ Conservation and (v) Utilization have been outlined in the paper.

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S.A.S. Biswas

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S.A.S. Biswas , Sumer Chandra

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Taxonomic status of Indopiptadenia oudhensis (Brandis) Brenan, a monotypic taxon typically of American and African origin has been elucidated with particular emphasis on distribution, phenology and measures proposed for conservation.

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S.A.S. Biswas , Ramesh Dayal

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Rattan (Cane) is most important non-wood forest produce after timber. Its importance in socio-economic development has increased in recent past. The rattan industry has become a labour intensive and rural or forest-based with an increasing prospect for earning foreign exchange. About half a million people are directly employed in harvesting and processing of rattans in the countries of South-east Asia. The demand for better quality rattan is increasing in the trade of this species. The current trade in rattans is a multimillion dollar business. Indian cane furniture industries produce materials worth Rs. 50 million with the value of exports being Rs. 5 million. The States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Karnataka and Kerala are the main suppliers of unprocessed rattans. Indian rattan products are exported to the countries such as Germany, Kenya, Italy, U.S.A., Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, etc. India is endowed with ca 70 species of rattans distributed among four genera, namely Calamus, Daemonorops, Korthalsia and Plectocomia. North-eastern region can be referred as the centre of genetic diversity for the genus Calamus with ca 25 species. many of the endemic species such as Calamus inermis, C. diiaceratus, Korthalsia rogersii, etc.are under severe threat due to destruction of their habitat and over exploitation. Commercially important Indian species of rattans along with their characteristic features and uses have been elucidated in the paper. Propagation of Indian rattans by seed, wildlings, suckers, cuttings and tissue culture have been discussed. Priorities for research on Indian rattans with emphasis on the conservation measures, socio-economic and utilization aspects have been proposed.

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S.A.S. Biswas , Paramjit Singh , Sumer Chandra

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Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) is one of the most valuable multipurpose species and its potential has been least exploited. Tree is an outstanding example of the species which is higbly efficient not only in restoring soil productivity but also in providing fodder, fuelwood and other value-added products like medicines, pesticides, mosquito repellent, fertilizers, soaps, lubricants, gums and even contraceptives. Neem is considered as a "wonder tree for the future" for the developing Third World countries in their reforestation and environmental restoration programmes and for providing useful products. Paper comprehensively also outlines the research needs and priorities on the species in terms of utilitarian aspects.

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H. B. Naithani , S.A.S. Biswas

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S.A.S. Biswas , Sharad Kukreti

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For the systematic studies on the forest flora of any region it is often required to identify a fruit or seed without recourse to any other plant material. In absence of any consolidated account or manual on seed or fruit taxonomy of Indian species the correct identification of species becomes a tedious task. The present investigation is aimed at identification of 20 species of Terminalia with the aid of carpological studies. The species have mainly been categorised into five groups, viz. I-wingless (9 spp). II-flatly-winged (I sp). III-2 winged (3 sp.), IV-± 3 winged (I sp.) and V-5-winged (6 spp.). Studies reveal that N.E. India, South India and Andaman & Nicobar Is. Regions are extremely rich in species diversity and represent wingless to 5-winged categories of fruits. Illustrations of carpological materials and a table showing distribution of species in different parts of India and adjoining countries are given. The species have been provided with carpological description, important vernacular names and phenology.

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T. C. Bhuyan , S.A.S. Biswas

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Glycosmis cymosa (Kurz) Naryanswamy, collected from Simsangiri Range of East Garo Hills is described in detail as an addition to the flora of Garo Hills.

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S.A.S. Biswas

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North-eastern region of India comprising the States of Sikkim, West Bengal (North Bengal Himalaya), Arunachal, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura has over 50% of bamboo species of the total species from India i.e. ca. 115. The principal genera are : Arundinaria, Bambusa, Cephalostachyum, Chimonobambusa, Dendrocalamus, Dinochloa, Melocanna and Thamnocalamus etc. The region can be referred as the centre of genetic diversity for the genera; Arundinaria, Bambusa, Cephalostachyum and Dendrocalamus. The present studies based on surveys in different parts of north-eastern region reveal useful information on distributional patterns of bamboos within the region and role of attributing factors such as morphological features, altitudinal variation, soil types, rainfall, temperature and biotic influence, etc. Statistical analysis on the dominance of bamboo taxa in different parts of the region is provided.

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S.A.S. Biswas , A. Ahmed

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The paper deals with 26 Nos of medicinal and food plants of Burnihat Valley, Assam/ Meghalaya being used by tbe local inbhabitants. Most of the tribals of the area are Mikirs, Kacharis, Garos and Khasis. The present study provides the ethnobotanical account of plants and plant parts, alongwith their botanical names, local names, diagnostic characters and general distribution.

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