A new species of Eriocaulon (Eriocaulaceae) from Ethiopia

Eriocaulon crassiusculum sp. nov. is described from the Kefa province in southwestern Ethiopia. Illustrations are provided for habit as well as details of flowers (including pollen) and seeds. The new species is most closely related to E. transvaalicum , a widespread species in southern and eastern Africa.     

Eriocaulon balakrishnanii (Eriocaulaceae), a new species from the Western Ghats of India

A new species, Eriocaulon balakrishnanii (Eriocaulaceae) from the Western Ghats of Karnataka State in India is described and illustrated. This species is allied to E. robusto-brownianum and E. lanceolatum but differs in a number of characters from both.     

Trichodesma mudgalii (Boraginaceae)—a new species from Madhya Pradesh, India

Trichodesma mudgalii (Boraginaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from Madhya Pradesh (Betul district), India. The species is closely allied to T. indicum var. indicum and T. stocksii but differs from the former in having epidermis (on stem) peeling off in flakes with age, leaves crowded, 2–6 mm broad, strongly revolute and covered on abaxial surface with simple, short, thin hairs intermixed with long, bulbous-based hairs and from the latter in having apices of connectives strongly spirally twisted, ovoid nutlets and emarginate.     

Eriocaulon gopalakrishnanum sp. nov. (Eriocaulaceae) from the Western Ghats,India

Eriocaulon gopalakrishnanum K. Rashmi & G. Krishnakumar sp. nov. is described and illustrated from the low altitude monsoon vegetation in the coastal lateritic plateau of the Western Ghat region of Kerala, India. The new species is distinct in the leaves and spathe being papillose, a character not displayed by any other species from this region.     

Desmids from Pachmarhi,Madhya Pradesh,India

An illustrated account is given of 68 desmids from streams running below Pachmarhi plateau in Madhya Pradesh, India, Two varieties of Euastrum are new to science.     

A new species of Sarcoglyphis (Orchidaceae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India

A new species of Sarcoglyphis, S. arunachalensis, from Arunachal Pradesh, India is described.     

Desmids from Bandhavgarh,Madhya Pradesh,India

An illustrated account of 71 desmids from perennial streams of Bandhavgarh, one of the important national parks of the country, is given. 10 forms marked with an asterix are recorded for the first time from India.     

Conservation biology of a rare plant species,Eriocaulon kornickianum (Eriocaulaceae)

Historical and current ecological and genetic factors were examined in western popultions of Eriocaulon kornickianum to determine the cause and consequence of rarity in this disjunct species and to assess its extinction vulnerability. Reproductive biology was examined, which included an examination of breeding systems, seed set, and pollen viability. Recruitment into and maintenance of the populations was evaluated using seed bank estimates. A disturbance study was conducted that examined the effects of competing vegetation and associated species, and included clipping, burning, and artificial seeding. Enzyme electrophoresis was used to measure genetic variation in an effort to examine gene flow within and among populations. Many factors are contributing to the decline of the western populations of this species and include an annual or weak perennial life history, no vegetative reproduction, low seed set, little seed bank contribution to population growth and maintenance, genetic homogeneity, a restricted habitat, and poor competitive abilities. Continuing studies of genetic variation are being used to examine historical factors that may have resulted in a genetic bottleneck observed in the western populations.     

'Ltvo new species of Cheirostylis (Orchidaceae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India

Two new species of Cheirostylis, C. sessanica and C. munnacampensis are described from Arunachal Pradesh, India.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Eriocaulon belgaumensis</Emphasis>: a new species of Eriocaulaceae from the Western Ghats of India

A new species of Eriocaulon, E. belgaumensis (Eriocaulaceae) is described and illustrated from the Western Ghats, India.     

A genetic survey in the Bhil tribe of Madhya Pradesh,Central India

Examination of blood groups, plasma proteins and red cell enzyme types (23 loci), in a sample of 145 Bhils, a tribal group of Madhya Pradesh, Central India, demonstrates their genetic uniqueness. They differ in a number of systems from the nearby nontribal groups both of Hindus and Muslims. The results suggest that the Bhil frequencies include vestiges of the ancestral genepool of a more widespread aboriginal population whose influence is detectable in the gene frequencies of some other populations in India.     

Molecular genetic diversity in 5 populations of Madhya Pradesh, India

This paper presents data on the distribution of 3 amplified fragment length polymorphisms (D1S80, APOB, and YNZ22) in 5 populations of Central India. Using the polymerase chain reaction technique, 3 caste (Brahmin, Khatri, and Dhimer) and 2 tribal (Gond and Baiga) populations were studied for the 3 loci. The allelic variations observed in the caste populations are compatible with those of many Caucasian populations, but the caste populations showed significant overall and interpopulation variability within the region. D1S80 allele *24 varied from 32% (Dhimers) to 42% (Brahmins). Allele *18 was not observed in Baiga tribal populations, but in caste populations it varied from 11% (Dhimers) to 24% (Brahmins). Both tribal populations showed higher frequencies of allele *31 (17%-18%). For APOB, caste populations again showed bimodal distribution of alleles *35 and *37, but in tribal populations higher allele numbers (*47, *49) were also frequent. For YNZ22, extensive variation was observed for all populations studied. Allele *4 was the most common in caste populations, while alleles *2, *7, and *10 were prominent in tribal populations. The level of gene differentiation is not very high for the 3 systems studied in the 5 populations. Overall, allele frequency distribution, heterozygosity, and genetic diversity analysis show that the genetic diversity observed is socially and geographically structured.     

A new species ofThottea (Aristolochiaceae) from India

Thottea ponmudiana sp. nova from Kerala (India) can readily be distinguished from its closest allyTh. siliquosa and all the other known species of the genus by its yellow flowers with purple eyes, deeply lobed perianth with strongly reflexed margins, uniseriate stamens united in three bundles and strongly 4-angled, green, glabrescent fruits.     

A new species ofLiparis (Orchidaceae) from India

Liparis indiraii spec. nova from India is close toL. alata A. Rich. andL. atropurpurea Lindl.     

A new species of Polyalthia (Annonaceae) from Meghalaya, India

A new species, Polyalthia meghalayensis (Annonaceae) is described with illustrations from the Garo Hills of Meghalaya, India.