Notes on the type specimens of names in Aconitum (Ranunculaceae) at Central National Herbarium (CAL)

The type specimens belonging to the genus Aconitum available in Central National Herbarium (CAL) are documented with relevant notes. A total of 92 type specimens belonging to 29 taxa are enlisted, it includes 2 holotypes, 2 isotypes, 1 paratype, 12 lectotypes, 25 isolectotypes, 49 syntypes and 1 original material. Lectotype for seven names, A. bakeri, A. ferox subsp. ferox var. crassicaulis, A. ferox subsp. ferox var. flavidiflora, A. ferox subsp. ferox var. laxiflora, A. gammiei, A. insigne and A. wallichianum have been designated here. Second-step lectotype is also designated here for five names, A. deinorrhizum, A. delavayi, A. jucundum, A. soongaricum and A. transsectum.

A COMPREHENSIVE INVENTORY AND ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF ALIEN PLANT INVASION IN MIZORAM, INDIA

Invasion by alien plants has a detrimental effect on the natural forest plant community, leading to the loss of native species. An inventory of alien plants facilitates in determining the potential threats to the natural plant biodiversity. This present paper evaluates the alien plants in Mizoram (an Indo-Burma hotspot region) and provides the first authentic inventory of alien plants of Mizoram along with their diversity, ecological aspects, origin, and status of invasion. Extensive field surveys were done during July 2018 to September 2019 in different protected areas of Mizoram. We adopted Random Sampling Technique using nested quadrats in a plot size of 400 m2 (20 m × 20 m), within which a quadrate size of 5 m × 5 m was laid for shrubs and 1 m × 1 m was laid for herbs. Plant specimens were collected, dried, poisoned with 0.1% Mercuric Chloride (MgCl2); voucher specimens were prepared and deposited in Central National Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India (CAL) after proper identification.The results revealed the occurrence of 163 alien plant species under 135 genera belonging to 51 families in Mizoram. Maximum species were represented by family Asteraceae with 29 species followed by Leguminosae (19 species), Convolvulaceae (9 species), Euphorbiaceae (7 species) and Amaranthaceae (7 species). The 57.66% of the alien species reported from Mizoram were of American origin followed by 11.65 % from African, 7.36% from Mexican and 5.52% from Australian origin. Life form analysis revealed the presence of 58.64 % herbs, 15.43 % trees and 9.87% shrubs. Out of the whole alien plants recorded, 91 species used in traditional medicines, 43 species as ornamental, 15 species were edibles, nine species used as timber and four species used as green manure. The study also recommends the ten most obnoxious species, five neo-invasive plants, which have the greatest potential threats to the native flora. The process and probable causes of invasion in the state were also discussed briefly, which may be utilized in the preparation of conservation or forest management policies.

Neotypification of Terminalia paniculata (Combretaceae)

While preparing a revised treatment of the family Combretaceae for “Flora of India Project,” our attention was drawn on Terminalia paniculata Roth (1821: 383) which was described on the basis of a specimen collected by Benjamin Heyne from peninsular India. The species is well documented in Indian Floras (e.g. Wight & Arnott 1834, Beddome 1869, Brandis 1874, Clarke 1878, Cooke 1903, Talbot 1911, Gamble 1919 and Chandrabose 1983). Gangopadhyay & Chakrabarty (1997) in their revision of the family Combretaceae of Indian subcontinent mentioned that the type of this species is not extant. The type material of T. paniculata housed in the Berlin herbarium (B; herbaria acronyms follow Thiers 2017) was presumably destroyed during the World War II. In the Kew herbarium (K), there is a collection by Benjamin Heyne (K000786096: image!) identified and listed in Wallich’s Numerical List as T. triopteris B.Heyne ex Wallich (1831: no. 3980B). This material contains two twigs, one flowering and the other fruiting and this appears to be a specimen not seen by Roth (1821) since he clearly mentioned in the protologue: “Fructum non vidi.” Thus, as per the provisions of the Code (Mc Neill et al., 2012), as there is no other extant original material (Article 9.7) traceable, a neotype (Articles 9.11 and 9.13) is designated here for T. paniculata from Peninsular India, where Benjamin Heyne made botanical explorations (Burkill, 1965). The neotype specimen is housed in the Central National Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, India (CAL) and its duplicate in the Madras Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India, Southern Regional Centre, Coimbatore, India (MH).

Type specimens of names in Bauhinia and Phanera (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) at Central National Herbarium, Howrah (CAL)

The types of the names in Bauhinia L. and Phanera Lour. at Central National Herbarium, Howrah (CAL) have been enumerated.Keywords: Fabaceae; Caesalpinioideae; Bauhinia; Phanera; Types; CAL.Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 24(1): 1–8, 2017 (June)

Comments on the type specimens of Lindsaea andamanica (Lindsaeaceae) at Central National Herbarium (Cal), India

Not available.Keywords: Corrections; Lindsaea andamanica; Type specimens. DOI: 10.3329/bjpt.v16i2.3930 Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 16(2): 175-176, 2009 (December)

An enumeration of collections of Bauhinia subgen. Phanera (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae) from Bangladesh in Central National Herbarium (CAL), India

Not available. Key words: Bauhinia subgen. Phanera, Collections, CAL, Bangladesh DOI: 10.3329/bjpt.v14i1.526 Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 14(1): 75-77, 2007 (June)