Co-occurrence pattern of congeneric tree species provides conflicting evidence for competition relatedness hypothesis

In plants, negative reproductive interaction among closely related species (i.e., reproductive interference) is known to hamper the coexistence of congeneric species while facilitation can increase species persistence. Since reproductive interference in plants may occur through interspecific pollination, the effective range of reproductive interference may reflects the spatial range of interspecific pollination. Therefore, we hypothesized that the coexistence of congeners on a small spatial scale would be less likely to occur by chance but that such coexistence would be likely to occur on a scale larger than interspecific pollination frequently occur. In the present study, we tested this hypothesis using spatially explicit woody plant survey data. Contrary to our prediction, congeneric tree species often coexisted at the finest spatial scale and significant exclusive distribution was not detected. Our results suggest that cooccurrence of congeneric tree species is not structured by reproductive interference, and they indicate the need for further research to explore the factors that mitigate the effects of reproductive interference.

The preliminary study of herbal rice plants in Pulau Tioman, Pahang, Malaysia.

The herbal plant status in Pulau Tioman is unknown, and may be reduced due to extensive recreational activities in Kg. Tekek Waterfalls. The main objective of this preliminary survey is to assess the varieties of herbal plants that are found at Pulau Tioman, Pahang. Herbal plant survey was carried out in a transect of 5-meter width on both side of the 1 km main track connecting Kampung Tekek Jetty to Kampung Tekek Waterfalls. A total of seven species namely, Dracaena umbratica, Flagellaria indica, Selaginella willdenowii, Ixora javanica, Lygodium microphyllum, Melastoma malabathricum and Cassia alata which belong to seven (7) families namely Asparagaceae, Flagellariaceae, Selaginellaceae, Rubiaceae, Lygodiaceae, Melastomataceae and Leguminosae were collected, identified and reported. The list of plants recorded could be included in a datasheet for the study of plants with medicinal value and the distribution data could be used to update the IUCN and CABI database.

Rediscovery of Melastoma imbricatum Wallich ex Triana in Bangladesh

Melastoma imbricatum Wallich ex Triana (Melastomaceae) has been rediscovered after one hundred forty years from Hooker's report. This species was collected from South-east corner of Champaknagar village (near Indian border); Chhagalnaiya Upazila of Feni district under Chittagong division, Bangladesh on 02/06/2019. The paper is the outcome of the project entitled “Ethno-medicinal plant survey for the management of Cardiovascular diseases in Bangladesh” undertaken in the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

SURVEY OF SOME PLANTS IN NAINAMALAI FOOTHILL, EASTERN GHATS, NAMAKKAL

Objectives: This study was designed to document some medicinal plants in Nainamalai foothill.Methods: The plants were collected from different sites of the hill area, identified by their local names with the help of villagers while walking through the vegetation. The photographs of these plant species were taken during the field visits.Results: Plant survey at Ninamalai foothill has documented a total of 124 plants. Among 124 species surveyed, 123 were angiospermic plants and one pteridophytic plant. Analysis of plants showed that the more number of dicotyledons (115 species) belongs to 43 families and 8 monocotyledons are represented in 5 families. Within dicotyledons, 53 species are polypetalae, 34 species are gamopetalae, and 28 monochlamydeae. For each species, botanical name, family, habit, local name, parts used, and medicinal usage are identified and presented. The family-wise analysis showed that the family Amaranthaceae held the dominant position by representing more number of species (13 species). Habit-wise analysis shows that maximum representatives to the plants are from herb (76) community, followed by trees (22), shrubs (17), climbers (6), parasitic shrub and parasitic twinner (1), and fern (1). The absence of epiphytes indicates the loss special habitats due to the degraded status of the hill. Part-wise analysis showed the predominant use of whole plants, followed by leaves, root, seed, bark, fruit, flower, and stem.Conclusion: People of the study area mostly administered phytomedicine orally. A majority of remedies are prepared in the form of extract or juice, followed by powder form, decoction, and freshly collected plant parts. Most of the villagers in the study are poor, and they largely depend on plants for food, medicine, fuel, and other daily necessities.

Traditional Knowledge on few Medicinal Plants of Biligirirangana Hill, Karnataka, India

Biligirirangana hills (BR Hills) is located in Yelandur taluk, Chamarajanagar District, Western Ghats towards Tamilnadu. The ethno botanical plant survey was executed for the documentation of therapeutic plants. The tribal people have the inborn knowledge about the medicinal plants and their use. In this presentstudy, we have selected 90 plant species belonging to 48 families out of which 38 plant species are herbs, 16 shrubs, 27 treesand 9 climbers were identified with their appropriate information and reported in this paper with their medicinal uses according to tribal communities to cure different ailments. The most common illness treated by the traditional healers are jaundice, diabetes, asthma, fever, cold, cough, digestive problems, piles, paralysis, skin problems, diarrhoea, haemorrhage, kidney problem, gastrointestinal disorders etc.

CROTALARIA PROSTRATA VAR. LEVIS HAINES (LEGUMINOSAE): A POORLY KNOWN SPECIES REDISCOVERED, REDESCRIBED AND ENDEMIC FROM THE NORTHERN WESTERN GHATS, INDIA

During a medicinal plant survey in Amba MPCA, Raigarh District of Maharashtra, a rare and endemic species of Crotalaria, Crotalaria prostrata var. levis, (Fabaceae) were rediscovered after type specimens author collected from Amba MPCA in Maharashtra after 94 years.