Sapria himalayana (Rafflesiaceae) from Mizoram

         Griffith (1844) established the genus Sapria with a species S. himalayana (Rafflesiaceae) from Mishmi Hills of erstwhile Assam, now in Arunachal Pradesh. This genus consists of three species, viz., S. himalayana Griff., S. poilanei Gagnep. and S. ram Banziger & B. Hansen and is confined to Southeast Asia with restricted disjunctive distribution.

         Burkill (1924) enlisted S. himalayana in his paper on the Botany of Abor

Expedition. Abor hills are now in Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Bor

(1938) reported the species from Aka Hills, now in Kameng district of Arunachal

Pradesh. Kanjilal & al. (1940) cited the collections of Burkill (from Khasia

Hills, N.E.F. Tract) and Bor (from Balipara Frontier Tract). Deb (1961) reported

this species from Koupru in Manipur. Adhikari & al. (1983) treated it as a

rare and endangered species in the Namdapha National Park. Chauhan (1987)

included Arunachal Pradesh (Namdapha), Manipur and Meghalaya under

its distribution, and categorised it as a rare species. Bhaumik & al. (1997)

recorded this species from Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh.

This species was also collected from Kopli Hydroelectric area in N. Cachar

hills of Assam by Barua during 2006 - 2008.

           In 2013, Pandey, Singh, Sinha & Verma  have recorded S. himalayana, for the first time from Mizoram. Plants were seen in blooming on the shaded forest floor with moist humus soil in the Tawi Wildlife Sanctuary, Aizwal, located in the northeastern part of the state at altitudes ranging from 400 to 1700 m. The fleshy, globose flower buds of this root-parasite are visible only when they emerge from the soil. The flowers persist for 2 - 3 days after blooming and emit a putrid odour. They are unisexual, c. 20 cm in diam., and bright red in colour with sulphur yellow spots. Gradually they become dark and then decompose slowly. In Mizoram, it flowers during November to December.

Reference : Envis Letter Vol. 18(1):2013

CYCADACEAE

Cycas beddomei Dyer

Common English names : Beddome's cycas, Cicas di Beddome.

Vernacular names : Tel.: Perita, Madhana - Kamakshi.

Trade name : Andhra Pradesh Cycas, Cycad.

Distribution : This species is the global endemic of Seshachalam hills (formerly called as Cuddapah -
Tirupati hills) of the Southern Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.

Habitat : They occur in dry deciduous forests and on the exposed quartzite rock and sandy black soils in valleys of Tirupati hills at altitudes between 300 - 1100 m; along the rock strewn holy streams of the Tirumala in association with Phoenix pusilla Gaertn., Decaschistia cuddapahensis T.K. Paul & M.P. Nayar, Gardenia gummifera L. f. and Pterocarpus santalinus L.f.

Population status/Cause for RET : Endangered (B. Ravi Prasad Rao, Medplant 5: 11-12. 2012). Destruction of natural habitat, forest clearing and over exploitation of the species has resulted in its declination. Selective removal of female plants by some collectors as the cones are more attractive and fetch a higher price which upsets the male to female plants ratio.

Description : Shrubs to 2 m high, dioecious; bark brown, exfoliating in rectangular scales. Leaves up to 1 m long; rachis quadrangular, petiole up to 15 cm long with minute spines on upper portion, base clothed with tufted tomentum; leaflets narrow, linear, 10 - 18 x 0.2-0.35 cm, margins revolute, apex pointed. Male cone oblong-ovoid, up to 35 x 16 cm with a short peduncle; microsporophyll oblong, deltoid, tapering, acuminate at apex, lower erect, upper strongly recurved. Megasporophylls ovate-lanceolate, up to 4 x 2 cm; ovules usually 2 - 4. Seeds globose.

Medicinal properties and other uses : Seeds edible. The seeds are processed and eaten in mixture with
‘Ragi’ cereal. Crude flour made out of the endosperm of the seeds of this plant is used as one of the
ingredients in the preparation of Sweet and Dhosa. The male cones are pruned away by local tribals for its professed medicinal properties and are used as a major ingredient in rejuvenating tonics. The male cones of this plant are also considered to possess the narcotic properties like that of C. circinalis. Further, this plant is horticulturally valued due to the palm-like appearance. The male cones of this plant are used by local herbalists as a cure for rheumatoid and muscle pains. The seeds are ground to a paste with coconut oil and are used as a poultice to treat skin complaints such as wounds, sores and boils.

Parts used commercially : Pith, Cones.

Commercial/Ex-Im data : It is learnt from the local people that male cones of C. beddomei are collected and sold in Chennai market for a maximum of Rs. 1,000/- per cone.

Legal : Listed in Appendix II on 4.2.1977, included in Appendix I w.e.f. 22.10.1987. Also included in
'Schedule VI' of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 of India.

References :
Jain, S.K. & A.R.K. Sastry (1980). Threatened Plants of India. A State-of-the Art Report. P. 40.
Nayar, M.P. & A.R.K. Sastry (1987). Red Data Book of Indian Plants. Vol. 1, p. 359.
Selvam, A.B.D. (2012). Pharmacognosy of Negative Listed Plants. Pp. 48-58.
Walter, K.S. & H.J. Gillett (1998). 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants. P. 30.

Chlamydomonas nivalis causing Watermelon snow

Watermelon snow, also called snow algae, pink snow, red snow, or blood snow, is Chlamydomonas nivalis, a species of green algae containing a secondary red carotenoid pigment(astaxanthin) in addition to chlorophyll. Unlike most species of fresh-water algae, it is cryophilic (cold-loving) and thrives in freezing water. Its specific epithet, nivalis, is from Latin and refers to snow.

This type of snow is common during the summer in alpine and coastal polar regions worldwide, such as the Sierra Nevada of California. Here, at altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet (3,000–3,600 m), the temperature is cold throughout the year, and so the snow has lingered from winter storms. Compressing the snow by stepping on it or making snowballs leaves it looking red. Walking on watermelon snow often results in getting bright red soles and pinkish pant cuffs.

History

Watermelon snow streaks.

The first accounts of watermelon snow are in the writings of Aristotle. Watermelon snow has puzzled mountain climbers, explorers, and naturalists for thousands of years, some speculating that it was caused by mineral deposits or oxidation products that were leached from rocks.

In May 1818, four ships sailed from England to search for the Northwest Passage and chart the Arctic coastline of North America. Severe weather made them finally turn the ships back, but the expedition made valuable contributions to science. Captain John Ross noticed crimson snow that streaked the white cliffs like streams of blood as they were rounding Cape York on the northwest coast of Greenland. A landing party stopped and brought back samples to England. The Times wrote about this discovery on December 4, 1818.

“

Captain Sir John Ross has brought from Baffin's Bay a quantity of red snow, or rather snow-water, which has been submitted to chymical analysis in this country, in order to the discovery of the nature of its colouring matter. Our credulity is put to an extreme test upon this occasion, but we cannot learn that there is any reason to doubt the fact as stated. Sir John Ross did not see any red snow fall; but he saw large tracts overspread with it. The colour of the fields of snow was not uniform; but, on the contrary, there were patches or streaks more or less red, and of various depths of tint. The liquor, or dissolved snow, is of so dark a red as to resemble red port wine. It is stated, that the liquor deposits a sediment; and that the question is not answered, whether that sediment is of an animal or vegetable nature. It is suggested that the colour is derived from the soil on which the snow falls: in this case, no red snow can have been seen on the ice.

”

A follow-up article three days later erroneously concluded that the coloration was caused by meteoric iron deposits.

“

Some doubt has been expressed as to the red snow observed by Sir John Ross and his associates in the newly discovered arctic region; but when it is known that the iron which was also found there, lying on the surface, in heaps, and in considerable quantities, was all meteoric, the doubt will cease, and the fact will admit of an easy solution. Sir John Ross brought home small specimens of this iron, which has been subjected by Mr. Professor Brande to the usual tests, and it is found to be precisely of the kind of the meteoric stones that occasionally fall in more southern latitudes. It is impregnated with nickel, which is never found in earth iron. That, therefore, which loads the atmosphere with the fluid which composes this meteoric iron, serves to colour the snow; iron being found to be the colourist of all metallic as well as vegetable matter.

”

When Ross published his account of the voyage in 1818, it contained a botanical appendix by Robert Brown. In it, Brown tentatively attributed the red snow to an alga.

The phenomenon was also reported from the Scottish Highlands in the nineteenth century and subsequently recorded scientifically from a snowpatch in the Cairngorm Mountains in 1967.^[5]

Chlamydomonas nivalis

Unusual watermelon snow pits, superimposed with an orange-ish bootprint

Tracks made by sliding on watermelon snow in Utah's Uinta Mountains

Chlamydomonas nivalis is a green alga that owes its red color to a bright red carotenoid pigment, which protects the chloroplast from intense visible and also ultraviolet radiation, as well as absorbing heat, which provides the alga with liquid water as the snow melts around it. Algal blooms may extend to a depth of 25 cm (10 inches), with each cell measuring about 20 to 30 micrometers in diameter, about four times the diameter of a human red blood cell. It has been calculated that a teaspoon of melted snow contains a million or more cells. The algae sometimes accumulate in "sun cups", which are shallow depressions in the snow. The carotenoid pigment absorbs heat and as a result it deepens the sun cups, and accelerates the melting rate of glaciers and snowbanks.

During the winter months, when snow covers them, the algae become dormant. In spring, nutrients, increased levels of light and meltwater, stimulate germination. Once they germinate, the resting cells release smaller green flagellate cells which travel towards the surface of the snow. Once the flagellated cells reach the surface, they may lose their flagellae and form aplanospores, or thick-walled resting cells, or they may function as gametes, fusing in pairs to form zygotes.

Many species feed on C. nivalis, including protozoans such as ciliates, rotifers, nematodes, ice worms and springtails.

Cyathea spinulosa Wall.ex Hook– Tree Fern

Botanical Name : Cyathea spinulosa Wall.ex Hook Synonyms : Alsophila fauriei H. Christ Alsophila spinulosa (Wall.ex Hook.) R.M. Tryon Cyathea taiwanian Nakai Alsophila decipiens Jcott ex Bedd. Amphicosmia decipiens (J. Scott ex Bedd.) Bedd. 

Family : Cyatheaceae

Habitat: In deep shade usually in moist place in the lower mountainous forest. Distribution India, Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, China, Taiwan. Odisha (Bonai, Keonjhar, South Kalahandi, Gunpur, Sambalpur, Mahendragiri, Malayagiri) 

Fertile time: December - March 

Conservation Status: Threatened 

Description:
Habit : The tree have a single stemmed palm like habit and it reach height of 5-6 meters. 
Trunk : Trunk 5-15 m, 10-20 cm in diameter, densely covered by adventitious roots. Stipes dark purplish distinctly. Spiny near base; scale shining dark brown, stiff, their bases laser develop in to spines. 
Laminae : Laminae about 3m long, 1.5 m wide, ca. 23 pairs of pinnae, a few basal pinnae reduced. Pinna-rachis bearing scales, pinnules broadly cuneate at sub-sessile base, acuminate at apex, about 8 cm long.
Sori : Sori at forks of lateral veinlets, indusial globose, thin membranous, completely enveloping sori from base when young, irregularly falling off at maturity.

Uses : The whole part of the plant is used for graying of hair and also used as general hair tonic. Powder of fronds are used as a sudorific and aphrodisiac. Whole plant used as ornamental. 
Trunk : It is used for orchid cultivation. Pith from the trunks is used as a food production and also stem as food & used in making pots. Trunk fibers used for orchid tissue culture media. The stem can be used in traditional Chinese medicine for eliminating dampness and strengthening muscles and joints. 
Root : Root are used for the preparation of local drink.

Source: 
 B. P. Singh & R. Upadhyay. Ethno-botanical importance of Pteridophytes used by the tribe of Pachmarhi, Central India . J. Med. Plants Res., Jan. 2012,Vol.6(1).PP.14-18. 
 Kumari et al. Some ethno-medicinally important pterydophytes of India. Int. J. Arom. Plants. Vol.1(1),June 2011. PP. 18-22. 
 M. Hegde et.al. (2013). Indian plants in the CITES Appendices – A Check list. 
 Saxena, H.O. & Brahmam, M. (1994). The Flora of Orissa, Vol. IV, pp: 2597-2598. 
 www.iucnredlist.org

Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz. – Midnight horror tree

Botanical Name: Oroxylom indicum (L.) Kurz. Synonyms: Bignonia indica L., Calosanthes indica (L.) Blume. Bignonia pentandra Laur.

 Family : Bignoniaceae

Local Name:  English : Midnight horror tree Hindi : Sagru Oriya : Phanaphana Tamil : Konda Bengali : Sona

Habitat: It is found occasional in mixed deciduous forests, especially in hills.

Distribution:  India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Bhutan, China.

Flowering time: July-August Fruiting time: December-March

Conservation Status: Endangered

Description: 
Habit :- Oroxylum indicum is a small branched tree with 5-10 m high, laxly branched or unbranched.
Leaf :- Leaves opposite, 2-4 pinnately compound. Leaflets triangular-ovate, glabrous, becoming after drying, base sub rounded, oblique, margin entire.
Flower :- Inflorescence racemose, terminal, calyx large, purple, broadly campanulate, fleshy. Corolla purple-red, campanulate, limb slightly bilabiate, tomentose basally, stamen 5, sub equal, style filiform, stigma ligulate, compressed.
Fruit :- Capsule woody, valves with midrib, margin convex. Seed rounded, winged including papery.

Uses: The bark, leaves, root, root bark, fruits, leaves and seeds are used to treat snake bite.
Bark :- The decoction of the bark is taken for curing gastric ulcer and a paste made of the bark applied to cure mouth cancer, scabies and other skin diseases. Juice of the bark is used as a tonic and astringent useful in diarrhea, diaphoretic, rheumatism and dysentery.
Root :- It is used to cure inflammations, leprosy, dropsy, sprains, neuralgia, hiccough, cough, asthma, bronchitis, anorexia, dyspepsia, diarrhea, dysentery. Root Bark :- It is used as astringent, bitter tonic, stomachic, anodyne and sudorific and also useful in diarrhea, dysentery and ottorrhoea.
 Leaf :- Paste of leaves are used externally to treat an enlarged spleen, headache and ulcer, also used as emollient & anodyne.
Fruit :- Tender fruits are prescribed for expectorant, carminative and stomachic and also useful in cough, bronchitis, dyspepsia, flatulence, colic and leucoderma. The mature fruits are to cure acrid, sweet, anthelmintic and stomachic and also useful in sore throat, cardiac disorders, worm infestations, gastric disorders, bronchitis.
Seed :- The seed are used as purgative.

Source 
 Mao, A.A.; Oroxylum indicum Vent.-A potential anticancer Medicinal plant. 
 Saxena, H.O. & Brahmam, M. (1994). The Flora of Orissa, Vol.II, pp: 1300-1301. 
 Sharma P.C.; Yelne M.B.; Dennis T.J.(2005 ).Database on Medicinal Plants used in Ayurveda, Vol.II pp: 490-499. 
 Sharma R. (2003). Medicinal plants of IndiaAn encyclopedia, pp 179-180. 
 Swain B.K & Das S.K. (2007) Visual guide to wild medicinal plants of Orissa, pp 353. 
 www.en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ oroxylum_indicum 

Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz. – Sarpagandha

Botanical Name : Rauvolfia serpentina (L) Benth. ex Kurz. Synonyms: Ophioxylon serpentinum L. Family : Apocynaceae  

Local Name : English : Indian Snakeroot Hindi : Sarpagandha Oriya : Sarpagandha, Patal Garuda Telegu : Patal garud Kannada : Chhedabag 

Habitat :  Widely scattered, mostly found in moist deciduous forests.

Distribution : India, Tropical Himalaya, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Burma, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Bangladesh. 

Flowering & Fruiting time: May-December

Conservation Status : Endangered 

Description :
Habit :- It is an erect perennial shrub with a long, irregularly, nodular, yellowish root stock.
Leaf :- Leaves are whorled, rarely opposite, with glands, axillary buds, narrowly elliptic, apex acute to acuminate & surface glabrous, bright green and shining above. 

Flower :- Inflorescence solitary; flowers are small, white with pink tube, in terminal, peduncle, calyx and corolla red or reddish, corolla white, long hairy inside distal half. Stamens inserted at middle of corolla tube.
Fruit :- Drupe ellipsoid, black in colour when ripped, endocarp a little rugose.

Uses:
The bark, root and leaves are used against snakebite and scorpion poisoning in traditional medicine and also used for high blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety and disorders of the cerebral epilepsy. 
Root :- The root is considered as an antidote to snake venom and scorpion sting. It is widely used for bitter, acrid, laxative, anthelmintic, thermogenic and diuretic and possess powerful sedative properties. It is highly reputed for hypertension and is useful in strangury, fever, wounds, colic, insomnia, epilepsy, giddiness, dyspepsia and vitiated conditioned of severe cold. The decocation of the root is used to increase uterine contractions. Leaf :- The juice of the leaves are used as remedy for the removal of opacities of the cornea and also tender leaves are used for stomach pain.

Source :
 Saxena, H.O. & Brahmam, M. (1994)- The Flora of Orissa,Vol.II, pp: 1067. 
 Sharma R. (2003). Medicinal plants of IndiaAn encyclopedia, pp 211. 
 Swain B.K & Das S.K. (2007) . Visual guide to wild medicinal plants of Orissa, pp 319-320. 
 Vaidyaratnam P S Varier’s Arya Vaidya Sala, Indian medicinal plants a compendium of 500 species. vol.4. pp.409-410. 

• www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ rauvolfia_serpentina

• 

Mesua ferrea L. - Ironwood or Nageswar

Botanical Name : Mesua ferrea L. Synonyms : Mesua ferrea subsp. Thwaitesii, Mesua thwaitesii Plank &Triana, Mesua coromandelina Wight, Mesua pedunculata Wight ,Mesua speciosa Chois
Mesua nagassarium (N.L.Burman) Kostermans.Calophyllum nagassarium N.L.Burman

Family : Clusiaceae
Local Name Odia : Nageswar Hindi : Nagakesara, Nagapushpa,Keshara, Nagkesar, Nagesar
English: Iron wood treeTelugu : Kesaramu,Bengali : Nageswar,Tamil : Nagappu Kannada : Nagakesari

Habitat: Occasional in evergreen forests near streams and rivers.

Distribution: India, Eastern Himalaya, Eastern &Western Peninsula, Malaysia, Myanmar,Sri Lanka. Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia,Bangladesh, China.Tropical Asia

Flowering time: March - July Fruiting time: October—November
Conservation Status: Endangered

Description
Habit : Trees evergreen up to 30 m tall.Trunk upright, buttressed at base, crown conic.
Leaf : Leaves always pendulous; leaf bladereddish yellow when young, becoming dark green and somewhat lucid, lanceolate or narrowly ovate-lanceolate, learthery.
Flower: - Flowers bisexual, solitary, axillary; very variable in size, 1.8-7.5 cm across, fragrant. Sepals orbicular, convex. Petals white obovatecuneate;Stamens with filaments filliform; anthers golden yellow.
Fruit: - Fruit broadlyovoid or laterally depressed globose usually dehiscent by 2 valves.

Uses
The whole plant parts are both economically and medicinally important.
Wood : Wood is very heavy, hard and strong. It is widely used for heavy construction (Bridges, beam poles etc.) and heavy-duty flooring and furniture (railways sleeper, boat building etc.).Bark : It is used as astringent & sudorific Leaves: Leaf having antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties.Flower : The flowers are useful in conditions like asthma, leprosy, cough, fever, vomiting, impotency. Dried flowers are used for bleeding hermorrhoids and dysentery with nausea. Its flower and leaves are used as an antidote to snakebite, and a powder of the flower with butter and sugar is used in bleeding piles and burning of the feet. Fresh flowers are useful in itching, nausea, piles, excessive thirst and sweating. Fruit : Pericarp of the fruit is astringent and stomachic. Seed : The Seed oil is considered for healing purpose as in sores, wounds and rheumatism. Root : It is aromatic and demulcent.

Some facts : Mesua ferrea (Nageswar) is the state flower of Tripura State and also the national tree of S r i L a n k a . In India, it is considered as sacred. It is widely cultivated in Asia as an ornamental due to its graceful shape and fragrant flower. This plant acts as sink for dust pollution.

Source
 Saxsena, H.O. & Brahmam, M.(1994). The Flora of Orissa, Vol. I, pp: 273-274
 Sharma P.C.; Yelne M.B.; DennisT.J. (2005 ). Database on Medicinal Plants Used in Ayurveda,  
     Vol.1,pp: 280-288.
 Sharma R. (2003). Medicinal plantsof India-An encyclopedia, pp 158.
 Swain B.K & Das S.K. (2007).Visual guide to wild medicinal plants of orissa, pp 263.
 www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/mesua ferrea
 www.envis.frlht.org