eChapters

Body condition scoring (BCS), although subjective in nature, is the only practical method of evaluation of body energy stores in dairy cows. The method of body condition scoring, originally proposed by Edmonson et al. (1987) and recommended by the NRC (2001) is described here. This method uses a 5 point scale, with BCS of 1 being extremely thin and a score of 5 being extremely fat. This system includes a combination of both visual appraisal and manual palpation on 8 separate body locations. Figure 1 shows the suggested BCS chart based on these locations. The assessor can score the cows using this chart with a fair accuracy, without much previous experience of scoring the cows. The scoring method is recommended for HF and Holstein crossbred cows.

Loss of BCS is expected during early lactation when a cow is mobilizing body fat in support of energy needs for lactation. Typical observed changes in BCS range from 0.5 to 1.0 condition score units during the first 60 days postpartum. A 1-unit decrease in BCS for a cow weighing 650 kg at calving (BCS 4) would provide 698 MCal of ME.That amount of ME is sufficient to support 564 kg of 4 per cent fat corrected milk.

When dealing with the evaluation of the feeds and calculating the requirements of energy and protein for ruminants, it becomes necessary to inter convert values among different systems and units. Since the accuracy of conversions/equivalents and formulae used for calculating the requirements vary with different systems/constants used, the conversion factors and formulae given here can be used only as guidelines for routine purposes in laboratory or farms in feed formulation.

Synthesis of Zn Oxide Nanoparticle

Aim

To synthesize Zn oxide nanoparticle

Introduction

Zinc oxide nanoparticle are effective anti-bacterial and antiodur agent. They can be synthesized by number of techniques including hydrothermal methods. Their synthesis using solvothermal process is described, (Aneesh et al., 2007).

Aim

To synthesize iron (III) oxide (Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles

Introduction

Iron oxide nanoparticles have a number of applications in catalysis, sensors and high sensitive biomolecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for medical diagnosis and therapeutics. They can be synthesize by the bottom-up approaches including the sol-gel technique.

Aim

To synthesize silver (Ag) nanoparticle.

Introduction

The Ag nanoparticles easily interact with other particles and increases their antibacterial efficiency. The Ag nanoparticles can be synthesized using various methods: biological, chemical electrochemical, γ-radiation, photochemical, laser ablation etc (Udapudi et al., 2012). The most popular preparation of Ag colloids is chemical reduction of Ag salts by sodium borohydride or sodium citrate (Udapudi et al., 2012).

Introduction

Hydrogels are loosely cross-linked, highly hydrophilic, organic polymers. They can absorb and retain aqueous fluids up to 500 times of their own weight (Singh et al., 2011). In the field application, such absorbents exhibited a limited swelling capacity within the soil matrix.

Aim

To synthesize Zero valent (Fe) (nZVIs) iron using tea leaf extract.

Introduction

In this approach extracts of natural products (in most cases green tea leaves) with high antioxidant capacities are used. The compounds present in these extracts react with Fe (III) in solution to form nZVIs (Nadagouda et al., 2010).

In India many medicinal plants traditionally used by tribal and other sources have been recorded by different authors, workers and researchers. Many plants that can cause symptomatic relief for various ailments have also been established. Attempts have been made by different scientists to ascertain the active principles behind the herbal cure of certain diseases. Ayurvedic preparations from plant sources have been developed in our country to certain extent. Many Homeopathic medicines have also been procured from plants and herbs. Scientific conferences in State, National and International levels are being held on Traditional Asian Medicines to ascertain the scientific truth behind them. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, Regional Research Laboratory, Bhubaneswar and many other Institutes of our country are doing creditable work to isolate the composition of medicinal plants. Many useful compounds have been isolated from different medicinal flora and their efficiency has been established scientifically. Good numbers of Allopathic medicines prepared on the basis of herbal cures are flooding in the market in different trade marks. Still the country is to find preventive and curative medicines for Cancer, AIDS, Thalsamia and other such deadly diseases. Recent International Conference on Cancer held at New Delhi came out with a suggestion that certain flora could be explored for the possibility of treating cancer without side effects. When we are starting to realize the importance of flora for a healthy living and scientists are in search of drugs from the vegetation to irradicate diseases deforestation is reampant in our country. Our environment has been contaminated due to various types of pollutants from industries and other anthropogenic sources. At this juncture man has to maintain a balance to achieve harmony of both the factors for our better living. The tribal dweller who is considered as the ‘Maa in the forest’ has to be recognized first so far his knowledge in medicinal plants is concerned. After ascertaining the utility of medicinal plants they are to be protected, propagated both by Government and Public. Scientific experiments are to be carried out to establish the active principles behind the herbal drugs. Herbal gardens are to be instituted at different places by adopting modern biotechnological methods. There is a need to make joint efforts by the workers from the fields of Allopathic, Ayurved and Homeopathic, as a step towards “the irradication of diseases”. Such an inter-disciplinary work on medicinal plants may throw a new light for achieving success, in finding out medicines without side effect. In this context, Pharmacologists have to play a vital role while preparing the doses of drugs from plant sources.

Agronomy is a branch of applied science deals with the principles and practices of field crops production and management of soil for higher productivity. The term Agronomy is derived from Greek word agros meaning field and nomos meaning to manage.

Norman (1980) defined Agronomy as the science of manipulating the crop environmental complex with dual aims of improving Agricultural productivity and gaining a degree of understanding of the process involved.

In recent times, Agronomy has assumed newer dimensions and can be defined as ‘A branch of Agricultural science that deals with the methods which provide favourable environment to the crops for higher productivity’.

1.1. Soil Resource Evaluation

Soil is the essence of life on the planet Earth. It has sustained humanity and human civilizations through five functions (Karlen et al. 1997) viz., i) sustaining biological activity, diversity and productivity; ii) regulating and partitioning water and solute flow; iii) filtering, buffering, degrading, immobilizing and detoxifying organic and inorganic materials, including industrial and municipal byproducts and atmospheric decomposition; iv) storing and cycling nutrients and other elements within the earth’s biosphere; and v) providing support to socioeconomic structures and protection for archaeological treasures associated with human habitation. Reeling under the pressure of increasing food, fodder, feed, fibre and fuel production, soil has been used as a medium of plant growth with considerable reliance on external supply of major nutrients, irrigation water, plant protection chemicals, etc. Although soil, a product of millions of years of weathering, has supported various forms of terrestrial life, its sustainable management holds the key for meeting the basic requirements of burgeoning population and development commitments. So intense has been the pressure of increasing food, fodder, feed, fibre and fuel production that the soil has been exploited often exceeding its carrying capacity. The soils are increasingly used for agricultural and non-agricultural uses, such as disposal of farm, urban and industrial wastes, ensuring environmental safety etc. This is possible by the judicious use of this resource.

A clear and intimate knowledge of the kinds of soils and their extent of distribution are essential prerequisites in developing rational land use plans for agriculture, forestry, irrigation, drainage, etc. soil resource inventory or mapping provides an insight about their potentials and limitations. It is therefore imperative to prepare an inventory of this resource for developing optimum land use plan and conservation plans.

The defined endocrine glands include the pituitary gland, the pineal gland, the adrenal glands, the thyroid gland and the parathyroid glands. The organs which contain groups of endocrine cells include the pancreas, the testis, ovary and placenta. The Hassall's corpuscles of thymus secrete hormone which contributes to the maturation of T-lymphocytes. Hence the thymus can be considered as having an endocrine function.

Pituitary : Refer to Part II, Chapter 2

Thyroid gland : Refer to Part II, Chapter 2

Pineal gland (Epiphysis cerebri) : Develops as a dorsal neuro epithelial diverticulum of the caudal part of the roof of the diencephalon. After its formation the gland remains attached to the diencephalon by a stalk. The neuroepithelial cells differentiate into pinealocytes and glial cells. The developing gland is surrounded by a thin layer of piamater.

Principle

In this method the estimation of pentose sugar is carried out. Acid hydrolysis of RNA releases ribose (a pentose sugar) which in the presence of strong acid undergoes dehydration to yield furfural. Orcinol, in the presence of ferric chloride as a catalyst, reacts with furfural producing a green colored compound which can be quantitatively estimated at A_{665 nm}. DNA gives a limited positive reaction with Orcinol test.

Materials and Reagents

1. Spectrophotometer
2. Boiling water bath
3. 5% chloroform (HClO₄)
4. Standard RNA solution : Dissolve yeast RNA (500ìg/ml) in 5% HClO₄ . make different dilutions to obtain solutions containing 100 – 500ìg RNA/ml with 5% HClO₄ .
5. Orcinol reagent : Dissolve 100mg of ferric chloride (FeCl₃.6H₂O) in 100 ml of concentration HCl and then add 3.5 ml of 6% solution of Orcinol prepared in alcohol.

Particle density of soil is the ratio of mass and volume of soil solids. Particle density of soil is an important physical characteristic because the interrelationships of porosity, bulk density and air space, and rates of sedimentation of particles in fluids depend on particle density.

Principle

The determination of particle density (ρ_p) requires the measurement of mass of the solid and its volume. The mass is obtained by weighing the oven- dry soil sample and volume by calculating from the mass and density of water displaced by the sample in a pycnometer. The pycnometer is a glass flask with a ground glass stopper having a capillary opening. The particle density can be calculated using the following equation:

Bulk density to which a soil can be compacted is dependent on water content and force of compaction. Adsorbed water on soil particles acts as lubricant and every addition of water increases ease of compaction to progressively a greater density. However, this increase in density will occur only to a certain value of water content beyond that it decreases with further addition of water in soil. The moisture content at which maximum dry density is obtained for a limited and fixed effort is called as proctor moisture and the density at that point is known as maximum or proctor density”.

Principle

A soil at varying water contents, compacted with a specific amount of compaction energy, would result in a bulk density-water content relationship. The maximum bulk density obtained at the proctor water content represents 100 % compaction. The test can be performed in laboratory on various soils using Abbot’s compactor

Breaking of soil aggregates and dispersion followed by a rapid drying leads to rearrangement and coherence of soil solids in the form of surface crust. The cohesion exhibited by soil upon drying is directly related to surface crusting and clod formation. The formation of soil crusts and hard clods is a major structural feature of soils. Seedling emergence of cereal crops is generally controlled by point resistance around the shoot tip (Richards, 1953). Penetrometer, which measures the resistance to vertical penetration in soil, is an effective instrument to evaluate the crust strength. A relationship between penetration resistance and seedling emergence would serve as a guide to ensure optimum soil condition for a desired plant density.

Apparatus and Accessories

Penetrometer, moisture box, trowel, electronic balance and oven.

Over most of the wetness range in which plant roots normally function, all the water in soil is controlled by matric forces. A relationship between water content and matric or soil water suction is referred to as water characteristics of the soil. Increase in matric suction is associated with decrease in water content in the soil and the process is known as desorption. On the other hand with decrease in suction soil moisture content increases and this process is known as sorption. The curves showing relationship during progressive intake and withdrawal of water are known as sorption and desorption curves respectively.

Tensiometer is suitable for finding out soil water characteristic at tension values below 2.0 kPa, whereas gas phase pressure is required for higher tensions. A pressure chamber containing a porous membrane or a ceramic plate with all its accessories to provide regulated compressed air is most convenient. A detailed methodology to determine water characteristic curve by pressure plate apparatus is described below.

The ratio of soil air-to-soil water permeability indicates the magnitude of breakdown of structure as a result of wetting. A value of one indicates no change in structure and a value greater than one reflects a deterioration of soil structure.

Principle

The permeability of soil to air can be obtained essentially in the same way as the permeability of soil to water. The measurement of permeability of soil to air involves the preparation and placement of the soil in a suitable container with provision for monitoring pressure differential across the sample and the rate of flow of air through it. For steady state case, this involves measurement of inlet and outlet pressures and the volume flux of air. The suitable form of the Darcy’s equation for calculating permeability of soil to air is:

Particle density determination is based on the measurements of weight of solids and their volume. The weight of solids is obtained by weighing a sample of oven dried soil. The volume of solids is determined is determined by immersion. The method outlined here is “Pycnometer method”.

Principle

A given amount of dry soil when immerses in a definitive volume of water, expels air and results in the displacement of equal volume of water. The volume of soil particles is determined by measuring the volume of water displaced in the pycnometer bottle.

Purpose

The determination of water holding capacity in soils is important as it gives an idea of the capacity of soil to hold water for the use by crops. The light soils which do not hold such water require more frequent irrigations than heavy clay soils; well decomposed organic matter increases the water holding capacity. Exchangeable sodium and type of clay mineral also have a marked effect on water holding capacity. Water holding capacity of soils is useful for selection of soils for irrigability classification. It also helps for comparing other properties of soils.

Soil Organic Matter (SOM) is the seat of nitrogen in soil and its determination is often carried out as an index of nitrogen availability. The top soil (surface soil) range from 0.5% to 3.0% organic carbon for most upland soils and less than 0.5% are limited to desert soils. Soil organic matter averages about 58% carbon, it follows that soils generally range from about 2 to 6 % organic matter (% O.M. = %C x 1.724, The factor 1.724 = 100/58). There is also a close relationship between carbon and nitrogen in soils. Most organic matter average about 5% nitrogen so that the N: C ratio is 1:11.6. Therefore by multiplying the soil organic matter percentage by 0.05 an approximate value for the soil nitrogen, percentage is obtained. In soil the chief source of some of the nutrients essential for plant growth is organic matter, such nutrients are N, S and boron is also largely derived from organic matter.

The total potassium content (K) of a soil varies from 0.05 to 2.5%. The total K is distributed in mineral form (90-98%), fixed non-exchangeable (1-10%) and exchangeable plus water soluble K(1-2). Exchangeable K represents an average of 2-15% of the sum of exchangeable bases and 1-3% of the total capacity of cationic exchange.

Principle

It is based on the principle of the equilibrium of the soils with an exchangeable cation mode of the solution of neutral ammonium acetate, in a given soil:solution ratio. During the equilibrium, ammonium ions exchange with the exchangeable K ions of soil.The K content in the equilibrium solution is estimated with a flame photometer.

Carbonate is a natural constituent of many soils occurring as sparingly soluble, alkaline earth carbonate, chiefly as calcite and dolomite. Most carbonate minerals found in local soils are calcite and account 90% of total soil carbonates. The determination of total carbonate such as CaCO₃in soil is of great interest on account of high useful ess for diagnosing soil status in terms of structure, texture, biological activity or nutrient content. In calcareous soils carbonates exert a major influence on the chemical properties. Also carbonate content is used as a differentiating criterion for some classes at the family level of soil taxonomy.

Principle

A qualitative rapid test for free calcium carbonate is made by adding 10 mL of diluted HCl(1:3) to about 5 g of air dry soil on a watch glass and observing the intensity of effervescence which results from the evolution of CO Based on the . degree of effervescence the amount of calcium carbonate present in the soil can be broadly categorized into “traces or negligible, low, medium, high and very high”. Soils having traces to low amounts of calcium carbonate do not pose any problem. But those showing medium to very high degree of effervescence, a separate quantitative analysis should be carried out using Puri’s rapid titration method.

Principle

Carbonate (CO₃) and bicarbonate(HCO₃) ions are species of the same acid, carbonic acid. Their proportionate content is a function of pH. The CO₃ starts to form as pH rises above 8.4. Carbonate and bicarbonate are generally determined in soil saturation extract by titration with 0.01 N H₂SO₄ to pH 8.3 and 4.5, respectively.

Apparatus Required

Burette, pipette, conical flask and mechanical shaker etc

Soluble chloride (Cl) concentration in the extract is determined by silver nitrate titration. This method quantifies the concentration of Cl (meq/L) in the saturation paste extract. Chloride may be determined using anion selective electrode (potentiometric). Plant tolerance to Cl can be related to its concentration in the soil saturation paste extract. The method detection limit is approximately 0.1 meq/L, dependent on the method of analysis, and is generally reproducible within ± 10 %.

Apparatus Required

Burette, pipette, conical flask and mechanical shaker etc

Principle

Pesticide residues are extracted from soil using a mixture of acetone/water in a soxhlet apparatus for 7-8 hours. This extract can be determined directly by GLC.

Scope: This method is suitable for most OPs, OCs, SPs, and herbicides residue analysis.

Principle

Pesticide residues in milk are derived from the intake of pesticide contaminated feed and fodder.

Scope

This method is suitable for most OPs, OCs, SPs, and herbicides residue analysis.

Horticultural plants present a kaleidoscopic scenario from small herbs to very big deep rooted perennial trees. The associated rhizospheres present variable conditions as to supply of nutrients, water and air. The principles governing their physical, chemical and biological properties along with their relationship with plants need to be understood clearly. The plants differ in their requirements at various stages of growth; hence their tissues require constant monitoring of nutrient status for better productivity and quality. As nutrient behavior in soils is governed by soil properties and environmental conditions, measurement of such properties is often required. These include pH, salinity, organic matter, CaCO₃ and texture in drier areas the presence of Na and gypsum (CaSO₄2H₂O) is also of concern.The irrigation water is a source of dissolved salts which are also nutrients and in excess impede water and nutrient relations of soil and plant. It requires a thorough understanding of the principles underlying methods of collection, characterization of water, air and nutrient relations of soil-plant system, monitoring of plant nutrient status, quality of irrigation water and soil and water pollution for effective management of nutrients avoiding pollution.

Soil and plant analysis is a diagnostic instrument for soil fertility and basis for fertilizer recommendation; to know where and where not fertilizer is to be applied. Obtaining accurate and precise values has always being the basis of soil analysis.

The essential plant nutrients, or essential elements, are listed in the Table 41. It enumerates 16 chemical elements of which the essentiality for plant growth and reproduction has been established according to the criteria formulated by D.I. Arnon and P.R. Stout, 1939. This listing has existed since 1954 with chlorine as the latest addition (cited by Hopkins 1999).

These plant nutrients are classified into various groups:

1.    Major elements and trace elements : Of the 16 listed, 9 are major elements or macronutrients and 7 are trace elements or micronutrients. Major elements are those which are needed by plants for their growth and reproduction in relatively large amounts while trace elements are needed in smaller amounts compared to the former. The major elements are further sub classified into structural elements (carbon, oxygen and hydrogen), primary macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), and secondary macronutrients (calcium, sulfur, and magnesium). Micronutrients are Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Mo4 and boron (Table 41).

India has a total geographical area of about 329 million hectares which represents about 2.4% of the world’s total landmass but it harbours a total of 47,513 plant species. Out of about 0.4 million species known in the world, it represent as much as 11.4% of world flora. About 28% of plants that occur in India are endemic to the country. The ecological or ecosystem diversity of the country is enormous, ranging from sea level to the highest mountainous ranges in the world, hot and arid conditions in the northwest to cold arid conditions in the trans-Himalayan region, tropical wet evergreen forests in Northeast India and the Western Ghats and mangroves of Sundarbans.

1. Botanical Name : Allophylus serratus (Roxb.)Kurz

2. Family : Sapindaceae

3. Common Name : Tippani

4. Name in Indian languages: Lavate pan (Kodwa), Tippani (Hindi), Sidisale (Kannada), Mukkanamperu (Malayalam), Memdri (Marathi), Amalai (Tamil), Eravalu (telugu), Trputah (Sanskrit).

5. Description

It is an evergreen, low branching small tree or a large shrub about 3-6m tall. Trunk is straight with open canopy. The outer pulp and some time seeds are consumed in fresh state. It is frequently notice in degraded forest areas in Western Ghats. It is known to possess various therapeutic properties.

1. Botanical Name : Aporosa lindleyana (Wt) Baill.

2. Family : Euphorbiaceae

3. Common Name : Lindley’s Aporosa

4. Name in Indian languages: Yechi pan (Kodwa), Salle mara, Sali, Sarali, Sulla (Kannada), Kodali, Kotili, Ponvetti, Vetti, Vittil (Malayalam), Kodali, Vettikan, Vettil, Vittil, Vitti (Tamil),Valaka (Sanskrit).

5. Description

It is tree, belongs to Euphorbiaceae family which grow up to 15 m height. Tree bark is smooth to shallowly fissured, brownish; blaze pink. Leaves are simple, alternate, oblong-lanceolate, acute, 7.5-17 cm long. Flowers unisexual, dioecious; male flowers in axillary catkins; female flowers in condensed cymes.

1. Botanical name : Ardisia solanacea Roxb.

2. Family : Myrsinaceae

3. Common Name : Shoebutton Ardisia, duck’s eye

4. Name in Indian languages

Bisi (Hindi), Kadna, Katapenga, Bugadi, Dikna, nilbedsi (Marathi), Manipudbam, Kozhikkottai, Narikandam (Tamil), Kaka-njara(Malayalam), Bodhina gida, Shuli, Bode, Sore(Kannada), Banjam(Bengali), Damaai Phal (Nepali), Tinkoli (Oriya).

1. Botanical Name : Canthium dicoccum var. umbellatum syn. Pelectronia parviflora Gaertn.) Merr

2. Family : Rubiaceae

3. Common Name : Ceylon Boxwood, Malakafe

4. Name in Indian languages

Amme pannu (Kodwa), Hanage (Kannada), Nanyul (Malayalam), Arsul, Tupa (Marathi), Nanjul, Nallamandharam (Tamil), Nalla balasu, Balasu naikinna (Telugu).

1. Botanical name : Corylus jacquemontii Decne

2. Family : Betulaceae

3. Common Name : Indian Hazelnut

4. Name in Indian languages

Bhotiya badam, Kabasi (Hindi), Thangi, Thankoli, Shalodi, Urmuni, Sharoli and Sharod (Himachali).

5. Description

Indian Hazelnut is a wild plant of the mid and high hills of the Himalayas. The tree is small or medium-sized and deciduous. Leaves are ovate or obovate, irregularly lobed or toothed, silky pubescent on nerves beneath. Flowers emerge before the leaves. Male flowers are arranged in drooping spikes while female flowers are cone-like, small, ovoid produced in pairs.

1. Botanical Name : Debregeasia velutina Gaud

2. Family : Urticaceae

3. Common Name : Wild Rhea

4. Name in Indian languages

Syaru (Kumoani), Poonoolmaram, Neeranji, Narambili, (Malayalam), Kaattu, Nochchi, Katunochchi, (Tamil), Sansaru (Hindi), Garuga (Kannada), Tussare (Nepali), Khargul(Marathi), Syaru (Garhwali).

1. Botanical Name : Docynia indica Syn. Docynia hookeriana, Syn. Docynia rufifolia, Syn. Malus docynioides, Syn. Pyrus indica, Syn. Pyrus rufifolia

2. Family : Rosaceae (Pomeae)

3. Common Name : Mehal

4. Name in Indian languages

Sohphoh (Khasi), Mel, Mehal (Nepali), Tong, Thung kakpa (Bhutan).

5. Description

Docynia indica is deciduous tree found in India and South East Asia. The trees are medium to tall in height. It requires a well-drained soil in a sunny position. This species can tolerate temperatures down to about -5 to -10°C. Fruits are acidic and greenish with red tinged. Fruits are eaten as fresh or pickles as well used in jelly preparation. It is also used as rootstock for imparting semi-dwarf in apple.

1. Botanical Name: Elaegnus parviflora Wall. Ex. Royle

2. Family: Elaeagnaceae

3. Common Name: Autumn Olive

4. Name in Indian languages

Giwain, Kankal (Hindi, Kumoani), Heiyai (Manipuri), Guenlee (Nepali).

5. Description

Autumn olive is a small tree or shrub, often spiny. The small white (fading to yellow) flowers have a sickly-sweet aroma.

6. Origin and distribution

Autumn olive is found in the Himalayas, from Kashmir to Bhutan, Assam and western China, at altitudes of 1300-3000 m.

1. Botanical Name : Elaeocarpus munronii (Wt.) mast)

2. Family : Elaeocarpaceae

3. Common Name : Kalarudraksha

4. Name in Indian languages

Idanji pan (Koodwa), Nari Bikki, Kal Bikki (Kannada), Rudraksham (Tamil), Kalarudraksham, Shirukodala (Malayalam).

5. Description

Elaeocarpus munronii is plant in the Elaeocarpaceae family. It is found only in India. It is threatened by habitat loss. Trees grows up to 15 m tall.Trunk is greyish, smooth and blaze cream. Leaves are simple, alternate, 4-9 cm long , ovate Flowers axillary in racemes, white. Fruit is Drupe, elliptic and 2 cm long, smooth with single seed

1. Botanical Name : Elaeocarpus tuberculatus Roxb.

2. Family : Elaeocarpaceae

3. Common Name : Warty Marble Tree

4. Name in Indian languages

Kooge pan (Kodwa), Dandale Mara, Kadambola, Kunge Mara (Kannada), Badraksham, Rudraksham, Pahumban, Kara, Ammakorum, Adraksham, Mukkanni, Vellathaanni, Thodayam (Malayalam), Malampinnai, Pathrachi, Ruthraksham (Tamil).

1. Botanical Name : Flacourtia montana J. Graham

2. Family : Flacourtiaceae

3. Common Name : Mountain Sweet Thorn

4. Name in Indian languages

Raan-tambut (Marathi), Caralvvazham (Malayalam), Attak, Hennu Sampige (Kannada), Atak, Chamfar(Konkani), Attak (Gujarati), Male Kakkade (Kodwa).

1. Botanical name : Fragaria indica Andr.

2. Family : Rosaceae

3. Common Name : Wild strawberry, Indian Strawberry, Mock strawberry

4. Name in Indian languages

Kiphaliya (Hindi), Kaphai (Kumaoni), Kakyen, Khujin, Laba, Linmahu (Manipuri), Sarpe Phool, Bhuin aiselu (Nepali), Bhuinaakhe, Kophal (Himachali).

5. Description

It is small perennial herb. It is found in cool and shady locations in wastelands as well as in the cultivated fields. The fruits are bright-red color, The plant resembles the strawberry to a great extent.

1. Botanical Name : Leptadenia pyrotechnica Forssk. Decne

2. Family : Apocynaceae

3. Common Name : Kheep, Broom bush

4. Name in Indian languages

Kheep (Hindi), Khip(Punjabi), Jivanti (Sanskrit).

5. Description

It is a much branched often leafless erect shrub. The edible part is tender fruit. It can grow up to 3 metres height. A desert plant, it is often utilized by local people within its native range, particularly as a fibre plant and for fuel. It is also planted in soil stabilization in arid areas.

6. Origin and distribution

It is originated from North Africa to desert areas to Western India. It is distributed throughout the arid zone of Rajasthan particularly in Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaiselmer districts of Rajasthan. Kheep is also found gorwing in Pakistan, Iran, Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, Chad, Libya and Algeria.

1. Botanical Name : Prunus persica Batsch

2. Family : Rosaeceae

3. Common Name : Wild peach

4. Name in Indian languages

Kateru, Katakiaru (Himachali), Kathu aru (Kumaoni).

5. Description

The wild peach is closely related to cultivated peach. Many wild forms of peach are found in Himalayan hills. The most distinguishing feature of this form is the very late ripening of its fruits. The fruits of this wild plant ripen at some places as late as October. The fruits are smaller than cultivated varieties and bitter and acidic in taste.

6. Origin and distribution

The peach is native to himalayan region. These wild peaches are found in plenty in the Solan, Sirmur and Simla Districts of Himachal Pradesh. The plants are also found Kumaon and Garhwal divisions of Uttarakhand.

1. Botanical Name : Pyrus pashia L.

2. Family : Rosaceae

3. Common Name : Himalayan pear, Indian wild pear, Wild pear

4. Name in Indian languages

Kainth, Chotia, Kaimh, Shegal (Himachali), Mehal, mol (Hindi), Mehal, mol (Kumaoni), Mayal, Passi (Nepali), Kainth, Shegal (Punjabi), Sohshur (Khasi), Soh ait-syiar (Pnar), Tangi (Kashmiri).

5. Description

Himalayan pear is a small, deciduous tree of rosaceae family. It is common in open field borders and forest margins from 1000-2400m. The tree reaches up to a height of 5-8 m. The stem is greyish brown and rough. The flowering takes place in the month of February-March and the fruits mature in month of October to November. Fruits are globose, brown ultimately becoming black and rough. The fruits are astringent in taste when immature. The ripe fruits are sour -sweet with some astringency. This is widely used as rootstock for pear.

1. Botanical Name : Pyrus serotina Rehd.

2. Family : Pomaceae

3. Common Name : Wild pear (large-fruited type)

4. Name in Indian languages

Bada kainth, Shiara, Zarenth (Himachali), Shiara, Garmehal (Kumaoni).

5. Description

The trees of Pyrus serotina is found throughout the mid-hill region of Himalaya. The population of this species is very less as compare to Pyrus pashia. The fruits of this species are larger and less gritty. It is cold-hardy, tolerate low temperatures when dormant. It also has lower chilling requirements than most other.

6. Origin and distribution

It is native of central and East Asia form . It found in North Western Himalayan region.

1. Botanical Name : Rourea minor (Gaertn.) Alston

2. Family : Connaraceae

3. Common Name : Cow Vine, Big-leaved Rourea

4. Name in Indian languages

Cheriyamarikunni, Kuriel (Malayalam), Puli pan (Kodwa), Hulimajge hannu (Kannada).

5. Description

It is a large woody climbing shrubs of family Connaraceae. Stem is black. Leaves are compound with 3-7 leaflets. Flowers in axillary panicled cymes.The fruits ripe in June –August. Whole fruit expect the rind and seed is consumed at ripe stage. It is rarely found. Rourea minor is a vigorous climbing shrub producing stems up to 25 metres long that climb into the surrounding vegetation.Although poisonous, the plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use in traditional medicine.

1. Botanical Name : Rubus paniculatus Smith

2. Family : Rosaceae

3. Common Name : Heart-Leaf Raspberry

4. Name in Indian languages: Kothalu, Kala hinsar (Hindi/Garhwali)

5. Description

Heart-leaf raspberry is a rambling climber, distinguished by its large ovate-heart-shaped, finely toothed leaves. It is a deciduous shrub, producing each year a cluster of scrambling, minutely-prickly, biennial stems up to 300 cm tall. The stems only produce leaves, and do not flower, in their first year of growth; forming flowering branches in their second year and then dying after fruiting. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, and sometimes also as a medicine.

6. Origin and distribution

It is native of Himalayas and found in the higher hills in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. It is also found in Nepal, Bhutan and China. The plants are at elevations from 1,500 - 2,900 metres msl. It is found in damp shady ravines to 1800 metres in Jaunsar and Tehri-Garhwal of Uttarakhand.

1. Botanical Name : Salacia chinensis L.

2. Family : Celastraceae

3. Common Name : Chinese salacia

4. Name in Indian languages

Chourondi (Malayalam), Saptachakra (Sanskrit), Chuntan, Karukkuvai (Tamil).

5. Description

It is a usually climbing plant, though is sometimes a scrambling shrub and occasionally becomes more tree-like. It can grow from 3 - 10 metres tall with a stem up to 16cm in diameter. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.

6. Origin and distribution

It is originated in coastal India, China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines. It is distributed in the Indian subcontinent, including the semi-evergreen forests of the Coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu.

1. Botanical Name : Securina leucopyrus syn. Flueggea leucopyrus

2. Family : Euphorbiaceae.

3. Common Name : Bushweed, Indian snow berry, White honey shrub

4. Name in Indian languages

Katupila, Shinar (Hindi), Pandharphali (Marathi), Mulluppulatti (Tamil), Cerimklaav (Malayalam), Pulugudu (Telugu), Bilchuli (Kannada), Parpo (Konkani), Humri (Gujarati), Shwetakambuja(Sanskrit), More pan (Kodwa).

5. Description

Bush weed is an erect shrub of family Euphorbiaceae. The plant grows up to 4 m tall with branches cylindrical or obtusely angular. Leaf is elliptic, obovate, or round papery to thinly leathery. Flower cymes arise in leaf axils or at leafless nodes. Flowers are tiny and yellowish. Fruit is a nearly spherical berry, about 4 mm in diameter, whitish when ripe.

1. Botanical Name : Tamilnadia uliginosa (Retz.) Tirveng. & Sastre

2. Family : Rubiaceae

3. Common Name : Divine Jasmine, Tamilnadia

4. Name in Indian languages

Kalaphendra (Marathi), Wagatta, Kalikarai (Tamil), Pindichakka (Malayalam), Kuka-elka (Telugu), Pidaar(Nepali).

5. Description

Divine jasmine is a very rigid, ramous, small tree, armed with numerous strong thorns. This found in bogs, swamps, banks of rivers and other moist places. It flowers in the beginning of the hot season. The flowers of this species, are known for beauty. It is good shrub for flower garden. It is an important medicinal plant because each and every part of it can be used for medicinal purposes. Sometimes leaves of the plant are used to make chutney.

6. Origin and distribution

It is native of India. It is distributed in India, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Thailand, Vietnam. In India, this species is found in moist deciduous forests.