Tariq Husain

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in sacred groves of Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE International organizations recognize the importance of sacred groves and place them into the context of sustainable development and also emphasize to conserve biodiversity through protection of sacred groves and sties. The significance of medicinal plants from Himalayan region is well known to the world. Therefore, present study was conducted in identified sacred groves of Kumaon Himalaya to investigate and document the utilization of medicinal plants by various local communities and tribal people. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted during 2008-2011 in four seasons of the year. Information was collected from 70 locals from different sacred groves by using free listing interviews with randomly selected informants and semi-structured questionnaires; plant specimens were collected, identified and deposited at the CSIR-NBRI herbarium (LWG), Lucknow, India. RESULTS Seven sacred groves viz., Dhwaj, Haat Kali, Hokra, Malay Nath, Nakuleshwar, Narayan Swami Ashram and Patal Bhuvneshwar were identified from the Pithoragarh district of Kumaon Himalaya. 89 medicinal plants belonging to 52 families and 77 genera of which, 2 are lichens, 4 are pteridophytes, 3 are gymnosperms and remaining 80 plant species are angiosperms. 6 plant species are reported with new therapeutic uses for the first time in this paper. Highest informant׳s consensus factor value was found in liver disorder (0.55) and least by body pains (0.23). 55 ethnomedicinal plants are showing 100% fidelity level against various diseases. CONCLUSION Sacred groves in Kumaon region of Indian Himalaya are rich sources and best repository of ethno-medicinally important plants with many rare, endangered and threatened species. It is an excellent example of unique traditional way of in situ conservation of different plant species.

Role of Traditional Knowledge in Conserving Biodiversity: A Case Study from Patal Bhuvneshwar Sacred Grove, Kumaon Himalaya, India

Role of Traditional Knowledge in Conserving Biodiversity: A Case Study from Patal Bhuvneshwar Sacred Grove, Kumaon Himalaya, India The paper deals with the inventory of sacred groves and its phytodiversity from Kumaon Himalaya. These groves are well recognized in the world in terms of biodiversity conservation. Kumaon Himalayan region comprises many sacred groves, different ethnic cultures, traditional way of conserving biota. Realizing the importance, the study was conducted in Patal Bhuvneshwar sacred grove conserved by Rawal, Bhandari and Guro local communities. This grove provide excellent micro-climatic habitat for the luxuriant growth of flowering and non-flowering taxa and covered by dense forest of Cedrus deodara. Total 65 species under 61 genera and 47 families of both flowering and non-flowering plants were recorded. In which, lichens are represented by 13 species, bryophytes (8 species), pteridophyte (7 species) and gymnosperm (1 species). 43 species belonging to 38 genera and 28 families are ethnobotanically used by local communities for various purposes. Although the grove is conserved on religious beliefs, but facing several threats such as anthropogenic pressure and socio-economic pressure.

A REVISION OF PEDICULARIS SERIES CURVIPES (PRAIN) HURUS. ( OROBANCHACEAE )

Pedicularis L. series Curvipes (Prain) Hurus. (= Pedicularis [unranked] Curvipes Prain) in the Orobanchaceae (often included in the Scrophulariaceae s.l.) is revised. It is demonstrated that the correct name for the series is Pedicularis ser. Curvipes , not Pedicularis ser. Curvipedes as used by at least two previous authors. Arguments are presented for the retention of the three existing species, Pedicularis curvipes Prain, Pedicularis nagaensis H.L.Li and Pedicularis amplicollis T.Yamaz., and the taxonomic history of each is summarized. Pedicularis curvipes from Sikkim and Pedicularis nagaensis from NE India are very similar but can be distinguished on corolla and seed characters. Flowering material of Pedicularis curvipes collected from cultivated material of uncertain origin in 1900 is positively identified as that species for the first time. The known geographical range of Pedicularis nagaensis , which was previously believed to be endemic to a restricted area of Nagaland in NE India, is extended to include Manipur. Pedicularis amplicollis from Bhutan is distinct from both the other two and easily separable by its woolly, 4-lobed calyx. A key to the series and formal taxonomic accounts of each species are provided. The relationships of the series with related series, particularly Pedicularis ser. Furfuraceae , are discussed.

Thalictrum nainitalense (Ranunculaceae), a new species from the Uttarakhand Himalaya, India

The genus Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae), commonly known as meadow rue, comprises 200 species throughout the world and there are 25 taxa growing in India. While revising the genus in India, we came across a new species collected in Nainital in the Uttarakhand Himalaya. The new species, Thalictrum nainitalense, is differentiated from its closely allied species T. punduanum in its habitat preference for moist shaded stands in Rhododendron arboreum and Quercus oblongata forests, creamy-white flowers, the size of the sepals and stamens, and fusiform, stipitate, hairy achenes. A line drawing, colour plates and a key to the species found in the Uttarakhand Himalaya are provided to aid identification. The status of Thalictrum nainitalense as a species new to science is supported by morphological and molecular data.

High-performance thin-layer chromatographic determination of three therapeutic phenolic components in Leucas species

This study was designed to develop a simple, sensitive, selective, and precise high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprint and quantitative estimation method for the analysis of three phenolic compounds from nine Leucas species. The developed HPTLC method was validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. The method permits reliable quantification of one important phenolic acid (gallic acid) and two hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic and ferulic acids) in 50% hydroethanolic extracts on silica gel with toluene—ethyl acetate—formic acid 8:2:1 (v/v) as the mobile phase. The system showed good resolution and separation of caffeic, ferulic, and gallic acids (at RF values 0.48, 0.60, and 0.30, respectively) from the other constituents of the extract. Densitometric scanning was done at 300 nm in absorbance mode. All the results obtained by the developed method were statistically compared for validation parameters, for accuracy and good precision. Caffeic, ferulic, and gallic acids were estimated in all the aforesaid nine Leucas species, but the quantity varied from species to species. Further, these phenolics were reported from the aforesaid Leucas species for the first time, except for Leucas lanata and Leucas urticifolia. However, Leucas biflora, Leucas decemdentata, and Leucas stricta were documented for their chemical constituents for the first time. The proposed HPTLC method can be used for routine quality testing of Leucas species.

206) Proposal to add a new paragraph to Recommendation 9A

Type specimens are the most valuable asset in any herbarium and their value multiplies as years elapse. The importance of type specimens can be felt by their singularity and the need for taxonomists to return again and again to these definitive reference materials to address nomenclatural and classificatory questions. Since type specimens are irreplaceable, any annotations concerning latest identifications, taxonomic updates or categorisation of types (into syntype, isotype, lectotype, etc.) should neither be written directly on herbarium sheets nor on previous annotations or original labels. A serious and common issue in recent taxonomic studies all over the globe, especially concerning nomenclature and typification, where taxonomists are trying to connect a species name with a type specimen, is that the name of a person who annotated a type specimen and the date of the annotation is not indicated, thereby limiting the use of such annotations for addressing taxonomic issues. Despite standard procedures that exist for annotating herbarium specimens, taxonomists follow inconsistent practices. It is this concern that prompted the authors to propose an additional Recommendation to the Code:

Notes on the typification of four Himalayan aconites

SummaryIn the present study, four Aconitum taxa, namely, A. hookeri, A. heterophylloides var. leucanthum, A. nagarum and A. spicatum are lectotypified.

An Assessment of Diversity of Genus Geranium L.(Geraniaceae) in India with Special Emphasis on Indian Himalayan Region

An Assessment of Diversity of Genus Geranium L. (Geraniaceae) in India with Special Emphasis on Indian Himalayan Region An account of all the species of Geranium L. (Geraniaceae) available in India is presented. Based on all available information 26 species are reported falling under 2 subgenera and 8 sections following Aedo et al.’s classification. The maximum number of the species (18) belongs to subgenus Geranium. Each species is provided with correct nomenclature with first citation followed by selected references, if any, synonym(s), if any, habit, growth form, altitude and flowering- fruiting time and distribution in India as well as in world. Maximum diversity in Indian Geranium is exhibited in W. Himalaya where as many as 20 species out of total 26 are found, followed by E. Himalaya (14 species). Nine species are common in both flanks of the Himalaya.

A new subspecies of Pedicularis zeylanica (Scrophulariaceae) from the Western Ghats of south India

Abstract Pedicularis zeylanica subsp. anamallyensis T. Husain & A. Garg, a new subspecies of Nilgiri lousewort from the Western Ghats of south India, is described and illustrated.