Priyanka Agnihotri

National Botanical Research Institute - India | NBRI · Plant Diversity, Systematics and Herbarium

A new species, Bupleurum milamense (Apiaceae) is described from the alpine forest region of the Milam Valley, Uttarakhand, India. The new species is similar to B. gracillimum Klotzsch in the nature of the plant, leaf shape, number of bracts, shorter umbel rays, number, shape and size of bracteoles, bracteoles shorter than the flowers, and number of...

In the present communication, new distribution ranges of three species of the tribe Paniceae (Poaceae) have been recorded from the western Himalayas of India, i.e., Moorochloa eruciformis, Sacciolepis indica and Setaria homonyma for the states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, respectively. In addition, the geographical range...

In the present research work, lectotypes have been designated for the names Urochloa deflexa, and U. lata. The typification of one name, U. deflexa, has been revisited as the earlier indicated type is not in accordance with ICN guidelines. The selection of lectotypes is discussed and images of designated lectotypes have been provided.

The genus Berberis has high significance in Indian and other traditional systems of medicine due to the presence of iso-quinoline alkaloids. This study was conducted to record the metabolic variation in eight Berberis spp. collected from the Western Himalayan region. The RP-HPLC-PDA chromatogram separates the markers jatrorrhizine, palmatine and be...

The names Calamagrostis elatior and C. pseudophragmites var. tartarica are lectotypified. The taxonomic status of C. elatior is clarified and discussed, especially in relation to C. scabrescens-C. lahulensis complex. An amended circumscription of C. elatior is given along with live photograph and microscopic photo plates, and a new distributional r...

Aconitum spp. are important medicinal plants mentioned in Ayurveda as Ativisa or Vatsanabha. The present study aims to evaluate anti‐rheumatic potential in seven Aconitum species and correlation with aconitine and hypaconitine content. Anti‐rheumatic potential was analyzed through in vitro xanthine oxidase inhibition, anti‐inflammatory and ROS scav...

Agrostis clavata (Poaceae, Pooideae) is recorded for the first time from India based on specimens collected from Sikkim Himalaya

Poa sachensis, a new species from the Sach Pass, Western Himalaya, is described and illustrated. It is a member of P. subg. Ochlopoa sect. Alpinae , and closely allied to P. alpina , but differs from the latter by its lower glume one‐nerved, callus scantly hairy, lemma (3.87–) 4.18–4.54 (–4.65) mm long, purplish, surface between nerves glabrous, pa...

During our ongoing revisionary studies in the genus Anemonastrum Holub, we found that three species of Anemonastrum remain surrounded by uncertainty in their typification and here we designate lectotypes for them.

Agrimonia zeylanica Moon ex Hook. f., belonging to the family Rosaceae, has been reported as new distributional record for the flora of Manipur. In India, previously, it was only been known from Sikkim and Nagaland. While the species is only found in Sri Lanka and North-east India.

The present study deals with the systematic documentation of medicinal plants utilized by the indigenous inhabitants of Pangi valley to treat various skin problems. A total of 61 plant species belonging to 56 genera and 30 families have been found to be useful in the treatment of wounds (30 sp.), boils (27 sp.), cuts (24 sp.), burns (17 sp.), itchi...

The present study deals with the systematic documentation of medicinal plants utilized by the indigenous inhabitants of Pangi valley to treat various skin problems. A total of 61 plant species belonging to 56 genera and 30 families have been found to be useful in the treatment of wounds (30 sp.), boils (27 sp.), cuts (24 sp.), burns (17 sp.), i...

The present paper deals with typification for two names in the genus Muhlen-bergia i.e. M. duthieana and M. himalayensis. Furthermore, taxonomy of all Indian species for the same has been provided along with taxonomic key for correct identification.

Elymus nepalensis, which was described from Nepal in the year 1960 and was considered to be endemic to Nepal and known only by the Type collections, has been rediscovered from Dzoukou valley, situated at the border of Manipur and Nagaland, India. The same has been typified with detailed description, illustration, and distribution.

Bromus kashmirensis, a new species of Bromus (Poaceae) from western Himalaya in Baramulla district of Kashmir Himalaya, India, is described and illustrated here. The new species is similar to B. ramosus and B. benekenii but differs in morphological characters of leaf sheath, ligule, lemma and anthers. Data on distribution, habitat and phenology is...

In the present work three names within the genus Eragrostis viz, Eragrostis coarctata, E. plana and E. superba have been typified. Lectotypification has been performed for E. coarctata, and Second-step lectotypification has been done for the names E. plana and E. superba. For lectotypification, the rules and recommendations proposed by the Internat...

In the present work 3 names within the genus Eragrostis viz, Eragrostis coarctata, E. plana and E. superba have been typified. Lectotypification has been performed for E. coarctata and Second-step lectotypification has been done for the names E. plana and E. superba. For lectotypification, rules and recommendations proposed by the International Cod...

Calamagrostis nagarum, previously considered to be a poorly known species, has been reassessed taxonomically. It is a member of C. lahulensis-C. scabrescens complex and may be segregated by morphological characters such as the presence of pilose hairs on adaxial surface of leaf blades, spreading panicle branches, filiform awn and nerve prolongation...

An overview of the genus Poa L., (Poaceae, Poeae) from Western Himalayas, India.

The current study focuses on the identification of 76 ethnomedicinally important plant species used by local people in Milam Valley of Kumaon Himalaya, located in upper Gori Ganga river basin in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. Native residents have contributed significant information about the medicinal potential of many species in various ail...

The present study has enabled the compilation of data on threatened and ethnomedicinally important plant species used by the local people in Darma Valley of Pithoragarh district in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The analysis revealed the presence of 22 plant taxa belonging to 19 genera and 15 families under various threatened categories. A total of...

Pindari Valley, a part of the buffer zone of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, is situated in Uttarakhand and covers an area of about 339.36 km2. The genus Berberis L. comprises of ca 622 taxa distributed worldwide, 55 taxa in India out of which 32 taxa are reported from Uttarakhand. Ongoing studies on the floristic diversity of Pindari Valley in Uttar...

Poa pindariensis, a newly discovered species of Poa (family Poaceae) from Pindari Valley, Western Himalaya, is described and illustrated. Within the genus Poa, the new species belongs to P. subg. Stenopoa sect. Pandemos, and morphologically similar to P. trivialis by the sickle shape of lower glume but differs from the latter in characteristic feat...

During survey and collection of voucher specimens of plants from the KWLS area covering all the seasons, we have documented a total of 65 species of grasses falling under 52 genera. A list of all taxa of grasses alongwith their common name, collection number, habit and Phenology is also provided. A generic key for easy identification of taxa of the...

Dioscorea L. is a member of the family Dioscoreaceae having many biological activities viz. anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, hepato-protective, antioxidant and many other activities. In the present study, we evaluated the phytochemical screening, extractive percent yield, total phenolic and flavonoids content, identification of sec...

Trisetopsis pirpanjalensis and Tzveleviochloa yadavii, discovered during fieldwork in Western Himalaya, are described and illustrated here as the two first new species after the segregation of genera from Helictotrichon. Trisetopsis pirpanjalensis is similar to Trisetopsis virescens but differs in circumscription of ligule, panicle and spikelet wh...

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-021-09976-x

Bromus husainii, a new species of Poaceae collected from Valley of Flowers National Park, Uttarakhand, is described and illustrated. The new species is closely related to B. confinis in having similar rhizomatous habit and purple-tinged spikelets but differs by the characters of inflorescence with heteromorphic spikelets and a band of hairs present...

In the present study, lectotypes for three names in the genus Arundinella Raddi are designated. Lectotypification of A. intricata and second-step lectotypification of A. laxiflora and A. mesophylla has been done. Additionally, the geographic distribution of endemic species, A. mesophylla is also provided.

The metabolic variation of berberine and palmatine content in the roots of Berberis lycium was analyzed by HPTLC–UV for the identification of quality raw material (QRM) used in the industry. Ten natural population(s) were mapped, and samples were collected from different parts of Western Himalayas. Pharmacognostical parameters of each collected raw...

A new species of Rottboellia (Poaceae), R. husainii is described from Rakh Jargoh village in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The species is closely allied to R. cochinchinensis in possessing similar habit and inflorescence but differs in certain characters, which are discussed below. A detailed description, photographs and taxonomic ke...

Calamagrostis nandadeviensis, a new species of Calamagrostis (Poaceae: Agrostidinae) from India (Valley of Flowers National Park of Uttarakhand and Rohtang Pass of Himachal Pradesh) is described and illustrated. C. nandadeviensis is morphologically allied to C. lahulensis and C. scabrescens but differs from them in having deeply bifid palea and f...

The taxonomy of Helictotrichon schmidii is discussed, a lectotype and a detailed description are provided, and its distribution in the Western Himalaya, India is expanded by new data. Detailed micromorphological study revealed that the species is closely allied to the genus Tzveleviochloa by having the lemma tip entire to slightly cleft and 2‐arist...

The genus, Duthiea Hackel (1895: 200) consists of three species, viz. D. brachypodium (P.Candargy 1901: 65) Keng & Keng (1965: 182), D. bromoides Hackel (1895: 200) and D. oligostachya (Munro ex Aitchison 1880: 108) Stapf (1896: sub Pl. 2474), distributed mainly in mountainous zones of Afghanistan to western China (Kellogg 2015). Duthiea is charact...

A newly discovered species of the genus Agrostis from Western Himalaya is here described and illustrated. The new species, Agrostis barikii, is considered as a member of Agrostis pilosula group and morphologically closely allied to Agrostis griffithiana by its palea 2/3 the length of the lemma and well-developed awn. However, they differ from the l...

A phytogeographical assessment of grass family Poaceae in three states namely Himachal Pradesh (HP), Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Uttarakhand (UK) of Western Himalaya found that 5.06% of the taxa found globally have been abundant in the region. Overall, 582 species belonging to 143 genera and 29 tribes of the family were found distributed among the...

A phytogeographical assessment of grass family Poaceae in three states namely Himachal Pradesh (HP), Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Uttarakhand (UK) of Western Himalaya found that 5.06% of the taxa found globally have been abundant in the region. Overall, 582 species belonging to 143 genera and 29 tribes of the family were found distributed among the...

While revising the tribe Andropogoneae (Poaceae) from Western Himalaya, two names in the genus Schizachyrium viz. S. exile (Hochstetter) Pilger and S. delavayi (Hackel) Bor for which lectotypes had not been designated, are lectotypified here.

The present paper depicts an overview and elucidated assessment of published data and herbarium records on the diversity, distribution pattern, endemism and threat status of Dioscorea spp. to get availed with extant stature and design strategies for its effective conservation. Dioscorea nested under family Dioscoreceae is a pantropical genus compri...

Present work deals with the distribution and diversity of endemic species of Poaceae in Western Himalaya. Out of 333 endemic taxa of Poaceae in India, 13 taxa are confined to Western Himalaya. A brief taxonomic description and type locality have been provided along with their altitudinal distribution.

The present study aims to document the ethno-medicinal plants from the Pindari Valley situated in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand. A total of 80 ethno-medicinal plants belonging to 34 families have been enlisted here. Correct nomenclature, local names, families and habit have been assigned to all the species. Herbs (56%) form the major portio...

Swertia angustifolia is lectotypified. Complete synonymies are presented for each of its two recognized varieties: S. angustifolia var. angustifolia and S. angustifolia var. pulchella. Six heterotypic synonyms are lectotypified: Ophelia florida, S. angustifolia var. wallichiana, S. dielsiana, O. pratensis, O. pulchella var. minor, and S. pulchella...

The present paper documents the genus Anemone L. (Ranunculaceae) from India. A total of 26 taxa (which includes 24 species, one subspecies and one variety) has been recorded from Indo Himalayas. Western Himalaya is endowed with 9 taxa, Eastern Himalaya with 8 taxa, while 9 are common to both the flanks. Three species are present in Northeast India...

A new species of Heterostemma, H. barikiana, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to Heterostemma xuansonense in the absent or very reduced peduncle and in the presence of a pubescent staminal corona.

The present work is a critical assessment of published literature, herbarium records and field observations on the diversity, distribution and endemism in the tribe Andropogoneae belonging to the family Poaceae (Grasses) from Western Himalaya. A total of 33 genera with 113 species and one sub-species have been recorded from Western Himalaya. Maximu...

Contents 1. Taxonomic studies on the genus Delphinium L. (Ranunculaceae) from India (Priyanka Agnihotri & Danish Husain) 2. New insights into the enigmatic genus Hemiphragma Wall. (Prashant K. Pusalkar & D.K. Singh) 3. The genus Hoya R. Brown (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) in India (Jibankumar Singh Khuraijam, Dinabandhu Sahoo & Priyanka Agnihotr...

We collected Gentiana capitata subsp. harwanensis for the first time from Suru valley in Kargil district of Ladakh region, India, and thus extend this subspecies’ geographic distribution to the Trans-Himalayan biogeographic region. This subspecies is endemic to India and so far recorded from the North-west and Western Himalaya of India.

A new species, Gentiana pringlei (Gentianaceae) has been collected from Suru valley in Kargil district of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir. The new species shows morphological resemblance to G. loureiroi and G. napulifera, but differs from both in annual habit, absence of stolons, stem branched from base as well as from middle, three distinct veins on all...

Pedicularis series Curvipes, of the family Orobanchaceae consisting of three species, is mainly distributed in eastern Himalaya, P. curvipes and P. nagaensis are found distributed from Sikkim to Manipur and P. amplicollis is reported from Bhutan. In the present study, a new taxon, closely related to P. amplicollis, is described from Dzükou valley,...

Gentiana aperta belonging to the section Chondrophyllae under the genus Gentiana (Gentianaceae) forms a new record to India from the Ladakh Himalaya. A detailed morphological account, photo plate and other relevant information are provided to facilitate easy identification.

We show that the prior designation of two plates from Rheede’s Hortus Malabaricus as the type of Dillenia indica does not constitute valid lectotypification. Therefore, one of the two illustrations published by Rheede is designated as the lectotype. © 2018, International Association for Plant Taxonomy. All rights reserved.

A new species of the genus Gentianella, G. tumailica sp. nov. from Tumail in Kargil district of Ladakh, northwest Himalaya, India is described and illustrated. It is closely related to G. stoliczka in morphological appearance, inflorescence pattern, calyx and corolla shapes, sagitate anthers, more or less rounded seeds and same distributional range...

The chapter deals with bio-cultural diversity of Kargil district in Jammu & Kashmir, traditional practices of the inhabitants of the area and the plants used by them for their daily sustenance.

The genus Hoya is reviewed for India. Thirty-six taxa are enumerated. Description, distribution maps and conservation status of the taxa in India are provided. Previous recordings of Hoya in India are discussed.

In the present study a new combination in the genus Gentianella, G. microsperma has been proposed which has been transferred from Jaeschkea microsperma on the basis of relevant morphological characters.

Gentiana aperta belonging to the section Chondrophyllae under the genus Gentiana (Gentianaceae) forms a new record to India from the Ladakh Himalaya. A detailed morphological account, photo plate and other relevant information are provided to facilitate easy identification.

Hoya pandurata Tsiang (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) is reported as a new plant record for the flora of India from the state of Manipur. Description and photographs of the species are given for easy identification.

In their monumental work Flora Indica, Hooker and Thomson (1855) described two new species under the genus Delphinium Linnaeus (1753: 530), namely D. viscosum Hooker f. & Thomson (1855: 52) and D. glaciale Hooker f. & Thomson (1855: 53) from the Sikkim Himalaya. In due course of revisionary studies in the genus Delphinium from India, the taxonomic...

During our ongoing revisionary studies of the genus Gentiana in India, we found that no lectotypes for the names G. elwesii C.B. Clarke, G. gilvostriata C. Marquand and G. listeri Burkill have been designated, which are here proposed.

Present work is an overview and critical assessment of published data and herbarium records on the diversity, endemism and distribution of the genus Gentiana L. (Gentianaceae) in India. Out of the recognized 73 taxa, 27 are confined to the Western Himalayan region, while Eastern Himalaya is enriched with 31 taxa; 14 taxa are common to both the Hima...

As broad-scale distributions of plants are shaped by climatic conditions, changes of climate necessarily result in shifts of distributional limits. These shifts are closely coupled with changes in plant ecophysiology, growth and productivity. Among environments subjected to the highest increase in temperature in the last decade and the greatest exp...

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 gu...

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

Members of the genus Omphalogramma Franchet (1898: 178) are perennial herbs with stout woody rhizomes bearing zygomorphic, solitary flowers. Confined to the Eastern Himalayas, approximately 13 species are known in the genus, of which nine are found in China (Hu and Kelso 1996). During perusal of literature, it was found that the names Omphalogramma...

(305.307) Three more proposals on typification and the definition of a gathering Danish Husain,* Pushpendra Katiyar,* Priyanka Agnihotri & Tariq Husain Plant Diversity, Systematics and Herbarium Division, National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226001, India Author for correspondence: Tariq Husain, hustar_2000@yahoo.co.uk *...

The present paper deals with the enumeration of 63 ethnobotanically important plant species used by local inhabitants of Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS). Located in the Terai region of Indo-Nepal border, KWLS harbours rich biodiversity. All the species have been provided the correct nomenclature, local names, habit and their uses against variou...

The paper highlights the complex nature of Delphinium viscosum Hook. f. & Thoms. in the Himalaya and enumerates two subspecies and two varieties. Critical appraisal of the morphological and distributional data revealed that subsp. viscosum and subsp. gigantobracteum having two varieties var. gigantobracteum and chrysotrichum are distinct. Delphiniu...

Aconitum naviculare was first described by Brühl in Brühl & King (1896) as a variety of Aconitum ferox Wall. ex Ser. i.e. Aconitum ferox var. navicularis. Later on, Stapf (1905) published the new combination, citing Brühl’s var. navicularis as the basionym. This taxon is distributed in the alpine zones of India, China, Nepal and Bhutan. During revi...

Present work is an overview and critical assessment of published data and herbarium records on the diversity, endemism and distribution of the genus Aconitum in India. Out of total 32 taxa (27 species and 5 varieties), 16 are confined to the Eastern Himalaya, 12 to the Western Himalaya and 4 taxa are common to both the flanks. Genus forms the group...

Leucas lanata Wall. ex Benth. (Lamiaceae) is an important plant commonly known as Biskapra or Gumma and used to treat many ailments by traditional healers and local peoples. This study was designed to evaluate wound healing potential of Leucas lanata through the excision wound model and functional changes in biochemical indicators of antioxidant pa...

A new species of Delphinium (Ranunculaceace) is described and illustrated from Lahul valley of Himachal Pradesh, India. Its affinities with the allied species D. viscosum and D. cashmerianum are discussed. It differs from closely allied species in having bracteoles with hooked apex, shape of spur that resembles parrot's beak, staminode with dense h...

The importance of medicinal plants in traditional healthcare practices is now well established and traditional medicines are often the only affordable and accessible form of healthcare for ethnic communities. The present study briefly reviews the botany and medicinal potential of such an important and undocumented ethnobotanical genus Geranium Linn...

International organisations 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 i...

Genus Leucas R.Br. (Lamiaceae) comprises 50 taxa in India and has 30 endemic taxa which are mainly distributed in southern parts of India and it is medicinally important as a whole and almost every species has unique medicinal value and are widely used by traditional healers in India as well as in other countries. In the present study we have compi...

Cytological studies with special reference to karyotaxonomy have been made in two taxa of Berberis i.e., B.asiatica and B. lycium . Although both the species have a chromosome number of 2n = 28, they could be differentiated by their karyotype formula and quantitative parameters of the karyotypes. Phenetic distance and principal component analysis s...

The Parliament has recently passed a bill regarding constitution of an Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) 1 . The first few doubts that would enter the mind of the common man are whether the Council of Scien-tific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is to have a new name, whether it is to be abolished, or whether AcSIR is to func-tion...

from 1300 m asl to 6323 m asl, i.e., from subtropical , sub-temperate, temperate to high alpine meadows, therefore, areas like Taluka, Olsa, Har-Ki-Doon, Kedarkatha, Jakhole, Baincha, Tiguni, etc., represent important and unique flora of the region. Wide range of altitudinal gradients provide a unique physiognomy and climate to the area which suppo...

The present study was carried out in Malay Nath sacred grove of Kumaon Himalaya, India, in appreciation of its role in biodiversity conservation. The whole grove is dedicated to the local deity "Malay Nath", and showing semi-temperate type vegetation of the region. Rituals and cultural beliefs of the local peoples of Kumaon are plays significant ro...