Studies on the Phytodiversity of a Sacred Grove and its Traditional Uses in Karaikal District, U.T. Puducherry

India is a land of diverse natural resources with the strong traditions of nature conservation practices. The sacred groves are the representatives of climax vegetation and exhibit the diversity of species such as trees, climbers, epiphytes and other shade loving herbs. Well-preserved sacred groves are storehouses of valuable medicinal and other plants having high economic value and serve as a refuge to threatened species. The present paper deals with floristic composition of angiosperms grown in a sacred grove located in Karaikal district and to document its traditional medicinal uses. The present work also elucidates the species composition of 59 plants species of flowering plants which spreads in 55 genera and 30 families. Many rural people in the district were using the plants from the sacred grove to cure many common diseases. This kind of degraded sacred groves should be immediately restored or regenerated using appropriate technologies and by raising awareness among the rural people regarding the importance of sacred grove and its conservation

Effects of solar eclipse on photosynthesis of Portulaca oleracea and Phyla nodiflora in coastal wild conditions

The total solar eclipse provided a unique opportunity to understand the effects of solar radiation on the biosphere. The present study attempts to record meteorological parameters and to compare chlorophyll contents of Portulaca oleracea and Phyla nodiflora in coastal wild conditions during total solar eclipse on July 22, 2009.  Changes in meteorological parameters such as temperature by 0.5ËšC, relative humidity by 4% and light intensity around 100 lux were set to be low during eclipse day when compared to that of corresponding week. Minor changes were also observed in the wind speed and direction during solar eclipse day.  Mature leaves of Portulaca oleracea and Phyla nodiflora from coastal wild conditions were collected and analysed for total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotinoid contents at various time intervals during solar eclipse day and previous days. Chlorophyll levels were decreased slightly during solar eclipse day, whereas carotinoid levels were increased marginally in both the plant species.  Solar radiation and its photochemical phases during eclipse day are responsible for the observed reduction in photosynthetic rates of wild plants

Rediscovery and lectotypification of Lepidagathis diffusa (Acanthaceae), an endemic species from southern India

International audienceLepidagathis diffusa C.B. Clarke, a species endemic to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states in southern India, has been rediscovered after a century from Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu and also the name is lectotypified here

A new distribution record for the Critically Endangered Madura Swampweed Hygrophila madurensis (N.P. Balakr. & Subr.) Karthik. & Moorthy (Acanthaceae)

Hygrophila madurensis (N.P. Balakr. &amp; Subr.) Karthik &amp; Moorthy is a critically endangered herb, has restricted distribution in Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India. For the first time it is being reported near the Coromandel Coast, adjacent to type locality. Detailed description and images are providing for better identification. </p

Sida ravii Sivad. & Anil Kumar (Malvaceae) a new record from Tamilnadu, India

Sida ravii Sivad. &amp; Anil Kumar, (Malvaceae) is an undershrub is reported first time for Tamil Nadu from the Pachchaimalai hills of Eastern Ghats, India. A detailed description and illustration of the species are provided here for the easy identification.  </div