Plant- Biology.docx

BIOLOGY

MY NOTES BY – RAJ SHEKHAR

IMPORTANT PLANT Geinsing:- It is a medicinal plant found in high altitude areas.The plant of Panax family are generally referred to as Geinsing. It is herbal medicine . Ginseng’s anti-allergic, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties work as a defense mechanism against various microbial and bacterial infection. The main active component found in Geinsing plant are ginsenosidesand panaxosides .Diffrent type of ginsenoides are found in the plant.Ginsenoides are found in greater amount in the roots as compared to other parts of the plant. It is used as a tonic and a revitaliser . It helps in improving the atheletics performance . It contains good amount of vitamin A, B 6 and Zinc . It reduces nervous stress and is a good tranqualiser. It improves immunity and maintains the body metabolism . It is also used as aphrodisiac(Improve Sexual perfprmance). It is used to treat Diabetese in the traditional Chinese medicine system. The glucoregulatory properties of ginseng help reduce blood sugar levels in type-2 diabetes patients. Lahaul , Spiti ,Chamba and kinnaur have suitable climate for cultivation of this costly Chinese herb.

BABOOL (Accacianilotica---SR) It is an important dicot plant found in the dry and arid regions of the country .Its local name is babool or keekar .It is a medium sized evergreen tree . It produces yellow flowes between april and june and is adapted for growing in all types of soil. It leaves are an effective forage for goats and sheep.Its root system bind the soil well and therefore its very effective in soil conservation. Its roots conatin nodules which has nitrogen fixing bacteria . The dry leaves can be used as a biofertilizer . Its wood is very strong and is not affected by termites .It produces gum which is called Indian gum Arabica. CHINAR Chinar leaves are green in summer and they become red or yellow during winter .It is the state tree of Jammu and Kashmir .Chinar grows up to a height of 30 m and a girth exceeding 12 m in certain cases. Being a highly valued ornamental tree of Kashmir it is mostly grown for shade in parks and along the roadside as avenues. The wood of the Chinar is easy to saw . A recent ban has been enforced to curb cutting of Chinar trees.. Chinar trees are now ' being registerd and are considered. national property of the state.. Increased awareness means most old Chinars areprotected and looked after . Conscsiousefforts are being made to undertakeplantation drives of this tree another states . The tree has been successfully planted in New Delhi, Chandigarh , Dehradun and Meerut.

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BIOLOGY

MY NOTES BY – RAJ SHEKHAR

Prosopisjuliflora (vilayatikikar) Prosopisjuliflora (vilayatikikar) was planted across the ranges to make them greener in the 90s, but the exercise came at the cost of indigenous species in the Aravalis that could not compete with it. Experts say it’s high time vilayatikikar was replaced with native plants, that naturally complement the ecosystem of the hills in a phased manner, and the state needs to show an urgency to act . During the Nineties, the forest department decided to plant vilayatikikar in the Aravalis in a massive drive that was funded by the European Union. “All over the world — in South Africa and other countries in tropical Africa, in Australia and southeast Asia — this tree is among the banned species that is ruthlessly uprooted and eradicated because of the ecological damage that it has wrought. The Madras High Court, in 2016, passed an interim order clearing removal of these trees as they were depleting the water table in areas already struggling for water. In 2017, the court started monitoring the removal of the kikar.Delhi’s fight against the tree gained ground in the 1990s with court cases, representations to government, and research papers. The transformation of the Yamuna Biodiversity Park in Wazirabad, however, is what gave the forest department faith that the plan could work.

scientists have identified at least seven species of plants, mostly vines that they claim are killing and replacing the kikar. It is a kind of biological control of the kikar, which the researchers have stumbled upon. These climbers, once they reach the top of the kikar, gradually engulf the entire canopy. As a result the kikar doesn’t get sunshine and can’t perform photosynthesis. Eventually they die. The kikar’s leaf contains toxins, which when falls on the ground, inhibits the growth of other plants. That is why several native plants were almost wiped away. But these toxins hardly have any effect on these climbers. POPLAR OF THE COLD DESERTS OF LADAKH Euphrates poplar(Populuseuphratica}, locally known as hotong, is a medium size tree with rarely a straight stem.. species is found in arid and semi-arid regions of Africa, China, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and India. In India this species is found only in theNubravailey, though it is also grown outside its natural habitat as avenue tree in the upper regions of Himachal Pradesh .

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BIOLOGY

MY NOTES BY – RAJ SHEKHAR

Myristica swamps Myristica swamps are a type of freshwater swamp forest predominantly composed of species of Myristica, the mostprimitive of the flowering plants on earth. These are found in two localities in India, the Uttara Kannada district of the Stateof Karnataka and in the Southern parts of the State of Kerala. These swamps received attention in 1988 when Rodgers andPanwar described them as the most endangered forest ecosystem in India (Rodgers and Pawar 1988). The swamps are home to some of the wild relatives of cultivated plants such as Myristicafatua, Piper nigrum, Piper hookeri, Garcinia spp.,Cinnamomum spp. and Zingiber spp. Myristica swamps are 'live museums' of ancient tree species and the home of protoangiosperms. Through the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), large-scale production of seedlings and restoration of 45 species, over 10,000 seedlings have been raised. Restoration is being carried out in three corridors,namely, Kathlekan, Torme and Hasolli in Uttara Kannada. Cycads Cycads are the remnants of the most ancient seed plants. These plants date to the late Carboniferousperiod (300-325 million years ago). They are flagship species for conservation biology due to their unusual life histories, distribution in special habitats and the globally threatened status of many species. In India, cycads are represented by a single genus, Cycas, of the family Cycadaceae, with seven species distributed in the Southern Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats, Bihar, North-eastern States and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Cycads are used extensively for medicinal and other subsistence purposes. Cycads in India are now receiving much-needed attention for conservation through both ex situ and in situ measures Rhododendron State tree of Sikkim .. Besides Rhododendron is the state flower of Himachal Pradesh , Jammu and Kashmir and Nagaland. It is a 'keystone element' in the Himalayan context. The Eastern Himalayan region is particularly rich,being represented by 75 species. The hills of North-easternIndia account for about 10 species, of which six areendemic. Many species have ethno-botanicalsignificance and are used for medicinal purposes. They are also used for fuel wood. Anthropogenic pressures such asthe rising population, an increase in the number ofdomesticated animals and construction of roads and hydelpower stations and allied works have resulted inpopulations of Rhododendron species dwindling. The State Government of Sikkim has speciallydeclared two PAs as Rhododendron Sanctuaries, Shingbaand Barsey. Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary, KyongnoslaAlpine Sanctuary and Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary are theother PAs in Sikkim that are known for Rhododendronconservation .. Living Root Bridges People of Meghalaya have formany years been designing a naturalliving bridge utilising the roots of theFicuselasticatree, commonly knownas the rubber tree. These bridges aredubbed "Living Root Bridges".

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BIOLOGY

MY NOTES BY – RAJ SHEKHAR

The inhabitants of Meghalaya have wovenan intricate arrangementof living bridges, some of which arethought to be more than 500 years old.On the slopes of the southern Khasi and Jaintia hills, a species ofIndian rubber tree with an incrediblysolid twisting root frameworkflourishes . Villagers in the Meghalayaregion have devised a brilliantsolution to facilitate people to crossthe swollen waterways by weaving the rubber tree roots into robust livingroot bridges. The living rootbridges serve as an alternative towooden bridges. Living root bridges, which demonstrate a unique relationship with their ecology . have been fashioned by the Khasi tribes of Meghalaya over a time period of 15 to30 years. In ideal conditions these bridges last for many hundreds of years.

OAK FOREST Oak forests (dominated by Quercusspp.) in the central Himalayan region are socially valued, and are a set of ecologically valued keystone species, as a source of organic residue for soil fertility management through the high quality litter . This apart, their dense root systems helps in conserving water in the soil profile .The bark of oak is rough and is usually covered with plenty of mosses and lichens . Selective harvesting of these forests by timber extractors from outside the region, and their replacement with pine plantations by local foresters was detrimental from the point of view of Socio -ecological system integrity.Their wood is hard and durable . Oak timber was used in Europe for shipbuilding before the advent of modern ships . Oaks are now in short supply, as is evident from the extensive pruning that is done in more accessible areas, though the still survive as dense strand in remotely placed locations . Oak litter is a highly valued resource which is used to maintain soil fertilit in traditional settled agricutural systems; this organ jc litter fmm these keystone species has always been the mainstay for the sustainability of agriculture in the mid-elevations of Garhwal region. With extensive deforestation of mixed Oak forests and their replacement by pine plantations, sustaining soil fertility and water in the soil profile became a major problem.

BAMBOO (GREEN GOLD) Bamboos are evergreen, woody grasses that have Iong , life span. They are also referred to as 'green gold' or ‘giantgrass 'and are put to a number of uses. Bamboos are important natural resourcesfound in forest as well as non-forest area in thecountry. They show enormous diversity. Bamboo are among the fastest growing plant in the world . India is the second largest producer of this important gen tic resource. Species diversity of this particular plant is also very high in lndia. It is roughly estimaated that 130 species belonging to 20 genera are found in the tropical forests of India. . Thirteen percent of the , total forest area is under bamboo cultivation. Some of the common species that have been studied for theirwood anatomy are Bambusabambos, BarnbusatuIda, Dendrocalamusbrandisii, Dendrocalamushamiltonii.

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BIOLOGY

MY NOTES BY – RAJ SHEKHAR

PALASH (BUTEA MONOSPERMA)(FLAME OF THE FOREST)(State flower –Jharkhand) Buteamonosperma is a species of Butea native to tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia . The leaf fall down in the month of march and april and the entire tree is covered with red coloured flowers . In some of the tree white and yellow flowers can also be seen . The flower of this tree is used for making colour and dye . The leaf of this tree is used f or making plates . Palash tree has religious significance . It can survive in adverse weather condition . Gum or resin: A red exudate is obtained from the bark, hardening into a gum known as ‘butea gum’ or ‘Bengal kino’. It can be used as a dye and as tannin. Tannin or dyestuff: A bright yellow to deep orangered dye, known as butein, prepared from the flowers is used especially for dyeing silk and sometimes for cotton. This dye is used by Hindus to mark the forehead. The bark is used for tanning . SANDALWOOD (Santalum album) –State tree of Karnataka A medium-sized, evergreen tree, a semi root-parasitic . Sandal wood tree is probably native to peninsular India. The principal naturaltracts of sandal trees are confined to parts of Mysore in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Sandal wood is the second most expensive wood in the world. The aromatic heartwood is one of the finest natural materials for carving. Sandal wood oil is used in perfumes, cosmetics, aromatherapy and pharmaceuticals. The wood is converted into chips and steam-distilled to produce oil containing santanol, a polythenol that gives aroma. The sapwood which is also called “white wood” is used for producing ‘agarbattis’ . sandal oil used as a flavouring substance in foodproducts, such as frozen dairy desserts, candy, pan masala, baked food, gelatin, puddingsand also in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Many Ayurvedic, as well as other natural products use sandalwood as a key beauty ingredient. Medicinal Uses: Sandal wood and the oil have long been employed in medicine. The sandal wood paste is used in treating inflammation, boils, pimples, Santalum album has been categorised as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN. Teak (Tectonagrandis) one of the most important timber trees of India and South-east Asia. The species is indigenous to India and the South-east Asian region. The most important teak forests are found in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala besides Uttar Pradesh (small extent), Gujarat, Orissa, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Manipur. Teak is recognized as the best timber for the manufacture of door, window frames and shutters,wagon and carriage, furniture, cabinets, ships, agricultural implements, decorative flooring and wallpanelling because of its moderate weight, appropriate strength, dimensional stability and durability,easy workability and finishing qualities and most appealing grain, texture, colour and figure. Teak timber is impregnated by large amount of resinous matter which fills up every pore of the wood . Therefore it resists the action of water and is not attacked by termites or white ant Sal (Shorearobusta )-State tree-Jharkhand&Chattisgarh Deciduous trees, to 40 m tall with a spreading crown.Sal timber is hard and is of great durability. It was supplied for sleepers for railways . The wood is resistant to white ant and so is highly vajued for construction work .

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BIOLOGY

MY NOTES BY – RAJ SHEKHAR

Tree yields an oleoresin called “Sal Dammar” or “Bengal Dammar” (Dhup, Guggal, LaldhunaRal) used as incense and also employed in paints and varnishes, and for caulking boats. It is also employed for hardening softer waxes for use in shoe-polishes .

HOLLONG (STATE TREE-Arunachal Pradesh & Assam ) Large tree, to 45 m tall.Range of Distribution: India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam . The timber is used in construction of house, especially for planking.Wood used for plywood, internal construction work and also used as railway sleepers. It can be easily recognised from a distant by its towering over the heads of nearly all its associates. The tree is fire-sensitive. SHEESAM (DALBERGIA SISSO) (STATE TREE –PUNJAB) Shisham is found in many parts of India up to 900 m in the sub-Himalayan tract and occasionally ascending to 1500 m. A medium sized deciduous tree, 10-30 m tall, trunk 2-4 m in girth at base. Leaf fall takes place generally in November-December, and new leaves appear between January and February. Young flower buds appear along with new leaves. Because of its strength, elasticity, durability and colour, grain attractive surface, the shisham wood is highly valued for furniture, constructional and general utility purposes. SEABUCKTHORN(Himalayan gold) Seabuckthron it is plant and is also called ladakh Gold, Wonder plant ,Golden bush of Himalaya or Himalayan gold.It is considered a pioneer specieswhich has the potential to colonize open sites like infertile waste lands, slopes and rocky land.It is a natural in habitat of ladakh and Tibet. Almost entire plant is useful.More than 190 bioactive substances are found in this plant. Fruit pulp is used for treat of cold, cough and fever. Bark used for healing and regeneration of skin.Fruit contain large amount of vitamin-A, C, E and K’-china is the largest producer of sea buckthorn and its products. MOEFCC and DRDO has launched a major natural initiative for Sea buckthorn cultivation in the high altitude cold desert ecosystem, they aim to bring 1million hectare under its cultivation by 2020.

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