The present research was aimed as a pharmacognostic study of whole plants of Allium wallichii and Allium stracheyi, both of which are very important traditional medicinal plants of North-West Himalayas. This study was carried out in terms of macroscopic and microscopic analyses and standard histochemical methods were followed for detecting starch, calcium oxalate, tannins, total lipids and alkaloids. Allium wallichi can be distinguished from A. stracheyi by possessing polyarch roots, mycorrhizal fungi in the outer cortical cells and triangular leaf midrib. The present study is the first to describe the pharmacognosy in terms of anatomical and histochemical features of these two Himalayan Allium species. Although they are listed in Ayurvedic database, the API so far has not given an account on these two species and hence this work is of high importance. Also, the herbal industries, researchers and traditional medicine can now use the distinguishing characters of these species listed in the current paper, while specifically acquiring them from local markets without any confusion.

The present paper deals with the study conducted to know the floristic diversity assessment and vegetation composition analysis in various forest types of Dharmapuri Forest division situated in Eastern Ghats of Southern India in the state of Tamilnadu. A total of 352 species of 233 genera and belonging to 79 families were recorded. The quantitative features such as density and important value index (IVI) varied greatly among forest and different forest types. In the present study the diversity index of shrubs and herbs were found to be higher than the tree species. The presence of high number of higher girth class of tree species and low number of sapling and seedling indicates that the present forest is old and exhibiting the low regeneration.

Bauhinia bassacensis var. nicobarica, described here as a new variety from Great Nicobar Island, India. Diagnostic characters for the variety nicobarensis include exstipulate leaves and obtuse lobes of leaflets, bracts ovate rusty tomentose, corolla deltoid and blade margin undulating and pods rusty tomentose. A comparative table with diagnostic morphological features to distinguish between the following three varieties of Bauhinia bassacensis: var. bassacensis var. backeri and var. nicobarica is provided. A detailed description with nomenclature, distribution, photographs and an illustration of the species is also provided.

In India, 55 species of Berberis have been reported and 22 species are found in Uttarakhand state. Berberis rawatii (Berberidaceae), a new species from Chamoli and Pithoragarh districts of Uttarakhand state of India (western Himalaya) is here described and illustrated. In terms of leaf and inflorescence, Berberis rawatii shows affinities with B. cretica L. Both these species have entire leaves, fascicled inflorescences, conspicuous style and black berries, but B. rawatii differs in the presence of a petiole, the dorsal surface of leaf pruinose, presence of elongated‐ovate glands, presence of prophylls, three ovules and pruinose fruits.

The study deals with the floristic diversity assessment and vegetation composition analysis in various forest types from Hosur Forest division situated in Eastern Ghats of Southern India, in the state of Tamil Nadu. The study recorded 468 species of plants belonging to 283 genera and 91 families, including Angiosperms (464 species), Pteridophytes (3 species) and Bryophytes (1 species). Of the total, 94 species are trees, 12 are lianas, 70 are shrubs, 34 species are climbers, 194 species are herbs, sedges 7, grasses 21, ferns 3 and 1 species of moss. The five most abundant families in Hosur Forest Division were Fabaceae (45 spp.), Poaceae (34 spp.), Acanthaceae (30 spp.), Euphorbiaceae (28 spp.) and Rubiaceae (25 spp.). The quantitative features such as density and important value index (IVI) varied greatly among forest and in different forest types. In the present study, the diversity index of shrubs and herbs were found to be higher than that of trees. The maximum species diversity was recorded in Southern dry mixed deciduous forest (SDMDF) followed by Southern Thorn Forest (STF) and Southern Thorn Scrub (STS). The species diversity (H) was recorded the highest for SDMDF (5.61) followed by STF (5.18) and the lowest for STS (5.12). The presence of large number of higher girth class tree species and low number of sapling and seedling indicates that the present forests investigated are old and exhibiting low regeneration.