What is Biodiversity?

Sanjeet Kumar
Department of Botany
Ravenshaw University
Cuttack,Orissa
sanjeet.biotech@gmail.com

Biodiversity is the variety and differences among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part. This includes genetic diversity within and between species and of ecosystems. Thus, in essence, biodiversity represents all life. Also biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given species, ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions support fewer species. Rapid environmental changes typically cause mass extinctions. One estimate is that less than 1% of the species that have existed on Earth are extant. Since life began on Earth, five major mass extinctions and several minor events have led to large and sudden drops in biodiversity. The Phanerozoic eon (the last 540 million years) marked a rapid growth in biodiversity via the Cambrian explosion—a period during which the majority of multicellular phyla first appeared.The next 400 million years included repeated, massive biodiversity losses classified as mass extinction events. In the Carboniferous, rainforest collapse led to a great loss of plant and animal life. The Permian–Triassic extinction event, 251 million years ago, was the worst; vertebrate recovery took 30 million years. The most recent, the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, occurred 65 million years ago, and has often attracted more attention than others because it resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs.  The period since the emergence of humans has displayed an ongoing biodiversity reduction and an accompanying loss of genetic diversity. Named the Holocene extinction, the reduction is caused primarily by human impacts, particularly habitat destruction. Conversely, biodiversity impacts human health in a number of ways, both positively and negatively.India is one of the mega biodiversity centres in the world and has two of the world's 18 ‘biodiversity hotspots’ located in the Western Ghats and in the Eastern Himalayas (Myers 1999). The forest cover in these areas is very dense and diverse and of pristine beauty, and incredible biodiversity.  According to an MoEF Report (1996), the country is estimated to have over 45,000 plant species and 81,000 animal species representing 7% of the world’s flora and 6.5% of its fauna. The 1999 figures are 49,219 plant species representing 12.5% and 81,251 animal species representing 6.6%. The sacred groves of India are some of the areas in the country where the richness of biodiversity has been well preserved. The Thar desert and the Himalayas are two regions rich in biodiversity in India. There are 89 national parks and 504 wildlife sanctuaries in the country, the Chilika Lake being one of them. This lake is also an important wetland area. Learn more through map on biodiversity in India. Over the last century, a great deal of damage has been done to the biodiversity existing on the earth. Increasing human population, increasing consumption levels, and decreasing efficiency of use of our resources are some of the causes that have led to overexploitation and manipulation of ecosystems. Trade in wildlife, such as rhino horn, has led to the extinction of species. Consequences of biodiversity loss can be great as any disturbance to one species gives rise to imbalance in others. In this the exotic species have a role to play.To prevent such loss, the Government of India is setting up biosphere reserves in different parts of the country. These are multipurpose protected areas to preserve the genetic diversity in different ecosystems. Till 1999, ten biosphere reserves had been set up, namely Nilgiri, Nandadevi, Nakrek, Great Nicobar, Gulf of Mannar, Manas, Sunderbans, Similipal, and Dibru Saikhowa. A number of NGOs are being involved in the programme to create awareness. But legal protection is provided only to national parks and sanctuaries, which cover about 4.5% of India’s land area.

Etymology

The term biological diversity was used first by wildlife scientist and conservationist Raymond F. Dasmann in the 1968 lay book A Different Kind of Country advocating conservation. The term was widely adopted only after more than a decade, when in the 1980s it came into common usage in science and environmental policy. Thomas Lovejoy, in the foreword to the book Conservation Biology, introduced the term to the scientific community. Until then the term "natural diversity" was common, introduced by The Science Division of The Nature Conservancy in an important 1975 study, "The Preservation of Natural Diversity." By the early 1980s TNC's Science program and its head, Robert E. Jenkins, Lovejoy and other leading conservation scientists at the time in America advocated the use of "biological diversity". The term's contracted form biodiversity may have been coined by W.G. Rosen in 1985 while planning the 1986 National Forum on Biological Diversity organized by the National Research Council (NRC). It first appeared in a publication in 1988 when sociobiologist E. O. Wilson used it as the title of the proceedings of that forum. Since this period the term has achieved widespread use among biologists, environmentalists, political leaders, and concerned citizens. A similar term in the United States is "natural heritage." It predates the others and is more accepted by the wider audience interested in conservation. Broader than biodiversity, it includes geology and landforms.

Definitions

The terms biological diversity or biodiversity can have many interpretations. It is most commonly used to replace the more clearly defined and long established terms, species diversity and species richness. Biologists most often define biodiversity as the "totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a region". An advantage of this definition is that it seems to describe most circumstances and presents a unified view of the traditional three levels at which biological variety has been identified:

• species diversity
• ecosystem diversity
• genetic diversity

In 2003 Professor Anthony Campbell at Cardiff University, UK and the Darwin Centre, Pembrokeshire, defined a fourth level: Molecular Diversity.  This multilevel construct is consistent with Dasmann and Lovejoy. An explicit definition consistent with this interpretation was first given in a paper by Bruce A. Wilcox commissioned by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) for the 1982 World National Parks Conference. Wilcox's definition was "Biological diversity is the variety of life forms...at all levels of biological systems (i.e., molecular, organismic, population, species and ecosystem)...". The 1992 United Nations Earth Summit defined "biological diversity" as "the variability among living organisms from all sources, including, 'inter alia', terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems". This definition is used in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.  One textbook's definition is "variation of life at all levels of biological organization". Geneticists define it as the diversity of genes and organisms. They study processes such as mutations, gene transfer, and genome dynamics that generate evolution.  Measuring diversity at one level in a group of organisms may not precisely correspond to diversity at other levels. However, tetrapod taxonomic and ecological diversity shows a very close correlation.

Distribution

Biodiversity is not evenly distributed, rather it varies greatly across the globe as well as within regions. Among other factors, the diversity of all living things (biota) depends on temperature, precipitation, altitude, soils, geography and the presence of other species. The study of the spatial distribution of organisms, species, and ecosystems, is the science of biogeography. Diversity consistently measures higher in the tropics and in other localized regions such as Cape Floristic Province and lower in polar regions generally. In 2006 many species were formally classified as rare or endangered or threatened; moreover, scientists have estimated that millions more species are at risk which have not been formally recognized. About 40 percent of the 40,177 species assessed using the IUCN Red List criteria are now listed as threatened with extinction—a total of 16,119. Terrestrial biodiversity is up to 25 times greater than ocean biodiversity.

Hotspots

A biodiversity hotspot is a region with a high level of endemic species. Hotspots were first named in 1988 by Dr. Sabina Virk. Many hotspots have large nearby human populations. While hotspots are spread all over the world, the majority are forest areas and most are located in the tropics. India has about 27% of earth's bird species along with 1.2 Billion people in just over 3 million km². Brazil's Atlantic Forest is considered one such hotspot, containing roughly 20,000 plant species, 1,350 vertebrates, and millions of insects, about half of which occur nowhere else. The island of Madagascar, particularly the unique Madagascar dry deciduous forests and lowland rainforests, possess a high ratio of endemism. Since the island separated from mainland Africa 65 million years ago, many species and ecosystems have evolved independently. Indonesia's 17,000 islands cover 735,355 square miles (1,904,560 km²) contain 10% of the world's flowering plants, 12% of mammals and 17% of reptiles, amphibians and birds—along with nearly 240 million people. Many regions of high biodiversity and/or endemism arise from specialized habitats which require unusual adaptations, for example alpine environments in high mountains, or Northern European peat bogs.Accurately measuring differences in biodiversity can be difficult. Selection bias amongst researchers may contribute to biased empirical research for modern estimates of biodiversity. In 1768 Rev. Gilbert White succinctly observed of his Selborne, Hampshire "all nature is so full, that that district produces the most variety which is the most examined.

The Biological Diversity Act 2002

The Act covers conservation, use of biological resources and associated knowledge occurring in India for commercial or research purposes or for the purposes of bio-survey and bio-utilisation. It provides a framework for access to biological resources and sharing the benefits arising out of such access and use. The Act also includes in its ambit the transfer of research results and application for intellectual property rights (IPRs) relating to Indian biological resources. The Act covers foreigners, non-resident Indians, body corporate, association or organization that is either not incorporated in India or incorporated in India with non-Indian participation in its share capital or management. These individuals or entities require the approval of the National Biodiversity Authority when they use biological resources and associated knowledge occurring in India for commercial or research purposes or for the purposes of bio-survey or bio-utilisation.

Sources :

1.       Wikipedia

2.       http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/life/what.htm

3.       www.nbaindia.org



“Vandana”: A Gift of Emerging Science for Coastal Farmers in Odisha,India

 M. Kumari and S. Kumar. (2012). Vandana: A Gift of Emerging Science for Coastal Farmers in Odisha. Emerging Science. 4(4): 29-30.

Sanjeet Kumar
Department of Biotechnology, Ravenshaw University
Cuttack,India
sanjeet.biotech@gmail.com

Rice has been the principal food crop of Odisha much before the 14th century AD. When Wang-Ta-Yuan, the Chinese writer of the 14th century visited the State it was being grown in abundance. Other historical texts, like the Manasollasa of Somesvara and the Mahabharata of Sarala Das, too point out that paddy cultivation was the mainstay of the people of this region which was endowed with fertile land and had plenty of rivers running through it. The similarity between the name Orissa and the Greek name for rice “Oryza” has led many to speculate that the name of the State derives its name from the crop known as Oryza Sativa. Rice is the seed of the monocot plants as a cereal grain it is the most important staple food for a large part of the India and particularly in Odisha therefore rice is an important part of the Mahaprasad that is offered to Lord Jagannath every day .It grown by the farmers in all geographical parts of Odisha but in coastal part the farmers face different type of problems. Coastal part of Odisha frequently faces cyclone particularly in late rainy season and first winter which damage the wet season’s rice. In the end of October 1999, the super cyclone devastated the coastal districts of Odisha, especially Ersama block of Jagatsinghpur district causing total damage of field crops. In such unpredictable, adverse situation, the growing of contingent field crops before cyclone will be an appropriate approach for providing food and nutritional security to the farm families. Keeping this in view the CRRI made a history as “Vandana” with eight other cooperating centers under a project entitled “Management of Coastal agro-ecosystem in super cyclone affected areas in Odisha” funding from NATP. Vandana help to farmers for escaping the bad effects of a possible cyclone in the months of September to November, which occur frequently in Odisha. ‘Vandana’ is a good quantity of rice within a short period of 90 days.  The cultivation of ‘Vandana’ and similar varieties with early duration will facilitate in the built up of enough reserve food before cyclone occurs in the months of September-November and also can reduce the malnutrition and famine among the rural people of coastal areas of Odisha. It is the indication of new arrival and research for the creation of other biotic and abiotic tolerant crops using new biological technology for human beings.

References:

1. News Letter and success stories of CRRI, Cuttack.
2. www.wikipedia.com

www.living-farms.org/site/index.php/articles/rice-in-orissa
Sanjeet Kumar

Major Wild Tuber Crops of Simlipal Biosphere Reserve Forest, Orissa, India by Sanjeet Kumar

Sanjeet Kumar

Department of Botany
Ravenshaw University,Cuttack,India

sanjeet.biotech@gmail.com

Dioscorea puber Bl. Enum.

Common name(s) in SBR: Kukai Sanga, Chekka alu

Botanical name: Dioscorea puber Bl. Enum.

Family: Dioscoreaceae

Synonym (s): Dioscorea anguina Roxb.

Flowering: Sept to Nov.                                  Fruiting: Dec. to Jan.

Vernacular name (s)

Oriya – Kosa alu

Hindi- Desia alu 

Bengoli- Kasa alu

Botany

It is a bulbiferous climbing stout. Leaves pubscent, very broadly ovate-cordate or suborbicular, base cordate, costae 7, pubescent on the nerves beneath. Stem woody with right-twining, densely pubescent or tomentose. Bulbils axillary, greenish or brownish grey without conspicuous eyes. Male spikes less pubescent than female. Outer perianth broadly - oblong or ovate-oblong. Inner ovate, membranous. Stamens 6 perfect, small, adnate to the inner perianth-lobes. Ovary densely pubescent or tomentose. Capsule broadly subcordate, quite glabrous. Seed winged. Tubers are cylindrical or randomly winged form, covered with rootlets, mostly light yellow and inner parts are deep yellowish.

Distribution

It is common throughout Odisha. All forest divisions of Simlipal Biosphere Reserve forest particularly in Kasipani, Kolha, Gurguria, Ghatkumari. Very frequent in Bangriposi Ghati. Himalayan division, Nepal, Assam, Jharkhand, Bihar, Upper Gangetic plain, Myanmar, Malaysia.

Common use(s)

Tubers are edible mostly in off agricultural season among the tribal community of SBR. They have been eaten as an energy supplement. Many informants such as Sahu Bari, Jambira Bari (Sanoski village), Gunjeram Badra and Sarma alda (Kolha village) of Kolhoo tribal community, Charan Lohar (Ratuda village) of Lohar community  told us that this tuber is eaten once in morning than there is no need of other food till night. It indicate that it has some unknown ingredients has ability to give more energy, which could be future supplement food to eradicate malnutrition and food security crisis.

Medicinal value(s)

According to Budhi Ram Lohar, an herbal practicenr (Vedh) of Sanoski village of Gurgria range of SBR, tubers are eaten as tonic for health but not good in cough.

Phytochemicals constituent(s)s

Tubers are rich with Oxalic acid, Tannin and Saponnin.

Economic importance(s)

It is sold in weekly market (Haat) of SBR at the rate of Rs.  20 to Rs. 25 per kilogram.

Dioscorea bulbifera L.

Common name(s) in SBR: Pita aalu, Pita Kanda

Botanical name: Dioscorea bulbifera

Family: Dioscoreaceae

Synonym (s): D. sativa Thunb.; D. anthropophagum Chev.

Flowering: Aug. to Sept.                                             Fruiting: Nov. to Dec.

Vernacular name (s)

Oriya: Pita alu

English: Air potato

Hindi:  Pita Kanda

Hawaiian:  Ho 

Telgu: Nookala gadda 

Bengoli: Meta alu

Botany

Stem twining to the left, smooth, sometimes subalate; tuber not deep, usually single, subglobose, without defined stalk. Bulbils common, axillary, roundish, up to 3 cm across, warted. Leaves alternate, rarely opposite,suborbicular or broadly ovate, 5-25 × 3-20 cm, acuminate or caudate, 7-11-ribbed,with very distinct scalariform cross-nervules,usually deeply cordate,sinus usually very wide; petiole as long as or usually much shorter than the blade. Male flowers green or purplish, 1.5-2.5 mm long or more pendulous, in numerous long, very slender axillary and panicled spikes, 5.5-10 cm long ;bracts half to three-fourths as long as the flower with filiform acumen. Perianth-lobes linear, inner narrower than the outer. Stamens very small, 6 perfect, not one-fourth as long as the inner perianth. Female spikes slender, droop-ing, several fascicled at each axil. Perianth as in male. Capsule quadrately oblong, 1.5-2 × 1-1.2 cm, reflexed. Seeds partially winged.

Distribution

It is throughout in SBR and Odisha.Widely distributed in Asia and Africa and naturalized in the tropics and subtropics, including Central and South America. It is cultivated in East Africa to Polynesia.Kumaon region, Western Himalayas.

Common use(s)

The tubers and bulbils are edible as vegetables during off agricultural season (s). the tubers are acrid, but tribal community of SBR used it during famine after much preparation.

Medicinal value(s)

The aqueous extract of tubers is used against different types of skin infections among tribal group of SBR.

Phytochemicals constituent(s)

It contains a steroid Diosgenin, which is the principal constitute of Birth-control pills.

Economic Value(s)

It is not traded in SBR or peripheral area of SBR but the tribal people conserve it for famine and off agricultural season, therefore they exchange it for other local vegetables and crops.

Dioscorea oppositifolia L.

Common name(s) in SBR: Pani alu

Botanical name: Dioscorea oppositifolia L.

Family: Dioscoreaceae

Synonym (s)…

Flowering: Aug. to Sept.                                             Fruiting: Nov. to Dec.

Vernacular name (s):

Oriya – Pani alu

Chinise – Huai shan,

Japanese- Yamaimo,

Korean- ma,

Vietnam- khoi

Botany

It is a right twining climber. Stems often purple, swollen at the nodes, unarmed, fleshy below and ending a few inches below the surface in a very small stock and a fascicle of tubers, ends of shoots pubescent. Leaves green and shining both sides, oblong to broadly elliptic, all opposite, 3-5-nerved, margin thinly cartilaginous. Petiole half as long as blade or much less. Fruit capsule with depressed base.tubers proceeding direct from the fleshy end of the rootstock, several, with a narrow neck.

Distribution

It is found throughout SBR, frequent in Gurguria forest division, Orissa, China, Japan, Korea Vietnam.

Common use(s)

The tubers are eaten as vegetables, and this is most esteemed tuber among the tribal community of SBR. Tuber (s) is used as herbal tonic.

Medicinal value(s)

Tuber (s) stimulates the stomach and spleen. Tuber (s) is eaten for the treatment of poor appetite, asthma and cough. It has anti-ulcer activity (Rani et al., 2010). The leaves, flowers, tender shoots. are used for cooling and demulcent. Leaf paste is used to cure leprosy.The leaves are antiseptic; the paste is applied on ulcers and abscesses. The whole plant is used in application for oedematous tumours and the ash extract of flowering twigs along with tender leaves cure cancer. The whole plant extract is used for secondary syphilis and Psorasis.

Phytochemicals constituent(s)

Tuber (s) has different type of bioactive compounds such as steroids, triterpene, sugar, tannin and amino acid. Felex et al., 2009 reported in Methanol extracts shows the presence of sugar, alkaloid, phenolic group, flavone, catachin, tannin and amino acid and Benzene and chloroform extracts show the presence of steroid, sugar and steroid, triterpene, sugar respectively. In distilled water extract shows the presence of steroid, triterpene, sugar and tannin.

Economic Value(s)

 It is traded at the rate of 6 to 15 rupee (s) per kilogram (Weekly Haat of Nahana in SBR)

Dioscorea pentaphylla L.

Common name(s) in SBR: Biom-Sanga, Panja Sanga

Botanical name: Dioscorea pentaphylla L.

Family: Dioscoreaceae

Synonym(s): Dioscorea

Flowering: Aug. to Sept.                                             Fruiting: Nov. to Dec.

Vernacular name (s)

Oriya – Kanta alu

Marathi- Chai

Kumaon – Takuli

Rajasthani- Kanta alu

Hawaiian- Pia

Telgu-Yeleru tiga

Botany

It is left twining much more slender climber, more or less prickly below. 3-5 foliolate leaves. Leaves are glabrous or pubescent beneath. Leaflets of lower leaves rarely larger, centre ones obovate or elliptic or acuminate. Costae -1, lateral leaflets sometimes 3-costate, but the lateral costae from the midrib. Capsule large oblong. Elongate obpyriform bulbils. Tubers are oblong or clavate, proceeding direct from the base of the aerial stem and thickening downwards.

Distribution

Throughout SBR, Frequent in Ghatkumari range, Odisha,Deccan, Western Himalayas, Rajasthan, Nasik, Hawaiian,

Common use(s)

Sliced tuber are soaked in running water, and used as a common vegetable in SBR. It is most important tuber crops used in famine. It is frequently present in Kasipani (22º 04’ 13” N, 86º 18’ 25” E) of Bisoi range of SBR

Medicinal value(s)

Leaves are used for poor appetite.It is also helpful in case of indigestion. Tubers have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial activity (Prakash and Hosetti, 2010).

Phytochemicals constituent(s)

Differenet types of alkaloids and tannins. Prakash and Hosetti , 2010 reported that in tuber extract indicate presence of phenols/polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, alkaloids and saponins.Maridsaa,2010 reported that saponins were invariably present in all the solvent extracts.

Economic Value(s)

Exchange with other cereals or crops due to its high yielding capacity. Tribal people of Ghatkumari are exchange it with vegetables.

Dioscorea wallichii Hook.f.

Common name(s): Suta-alu, Meramtua-sanga

Botanical name: Dioscorea wallichii Hook.f.

Family: Dioscoreaceae

Synonym(s): D.aculeata L.

Flowering: Aug. to Sept.                                             Fruiting: Nov. to Dec.

Vernacular name (s)

Oriya – Suta-alu,

Myanmar: Kadat,

China: ying jiang shu yu

Sakai : Yarex

Botany

It is a right twining climber. Stems very stout and woody, often throny below and characterized by the hard thick bases of the articulate petioles which are also frequently thorny. Leaves all alternate or some opposite, rather coriaceous and shiny or dull, large, suborbicular or broadly ovate with a large broad basal sinus, usually cuspidate or caudate, nerves between the costae rarely somewhat scalariform, petiole long. Capsules have obconic base, depressed at the apex. Seeds are winged all round. Tubers attached directly to the base of the stem without the intervention of long fibers or roots.

Distribution

It is throughout SBR, Odisha,Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia. Thailand,China

Common use(s)

Tubers are eaten during July to October after large number of successive boiling to remove acrid principle.

Medicinal value(s)

The tubers are used to treat stomach pain and used as herbal health tonic among Mankidias tribal group of SBR.

Phytochemicals constituent(s)

Different types of Polyphenols and saponnin are presents with calcium oxalate in tubers.

Economic Value(s)

It is traded at the rate of 4 to 10 rupee (s) per kilogram

Dioscorea glabra Roxb.

Common name(s) in SBR: Konta-alu

Botanical name: Dioscorea glabra Roxb.

Family: Dioscoreaceae

Synonym(s): D.nummularia Lamk.

Flowering: Sept.- Nov                                     Fruiting: Nov.- March.

Vernacular name (s):

Oriya : Konta alu

Kolho: Piska Sanga

Sakai: Luntak

Botany

Stem twining to the right, quite glabrous,often with numerous prickles,sometimes quite unarmed;swollen at the nodes and with swollen petiole-bases(but these are not much hardened and aculeate as in D.wallichii) rhizomes woody superficial from which proceed long,stout,fleshy fibres ending in  tubers;tubers more or less cylindric. 12.5-30(75) × 2.5-(7.5) cm. leaves opposite or lower alternate,variously shaped,commonly ovate,ovate-oblong,ovate-hastate,sometimes suborbicular,glabrous, glaucousbeneath,5-9-ribbed,secondary nerve not scalariform between the costae , base cordate,those towards the inflorescence with base straight,rounded,sagittate or truncate-subcordate;petiole from half as long as to as the blade. Male spikes dense or lax, 1.2-3.2 cm long,opposite or finally whorled on axillary rachises, 2.5-8.7 cm long or in long terminal more or less leafless panicles;rachis always quite glabrous;bracts lanceolate , acuminate , about half as long as the perianth,base not decurrent on rachis;bracteole much shorter than the bract. Buds somewhat oblong-globose,with very broad, often pulvinate base. Flowers yellowish, subglobose or oblong, 1.5 mm long. Outer perianth-lobes ovate-oblong,obtuse,gibbous at the base,inner obovate or oblanceolate,very thick.stamens 6 perfect. Pistillode very minute. Flowers rachis quite glabrous . perianth quite sessile on ovary, 1 mm long. Capsules glabrous,subquadrate or obcordate,1.5-2.2 cm long and 2.5-3.7 cm wide,depressed at apex,with short stout beak. Seeds winged all round.

Distribution

Fairly common in open forests. South of Ganges in the moister parts, the Himalayas from China, Nepal eastwards, the plains of Bengal and Assam; Bihar. SE. Asia.

Common use(s)

The tubers are largely eaten by tribal community at Barhaipani, Ghatkumari and Kasipani.

Medicinal value(s)

The leaves are used against different types of skin infections.

Phytochemicals constituent(s)

Different types of Polyphenols and saponnin.

Economic Value(s)

It is traded at the rate of 2 to 5 rupee (s) per kilogram

Dioscorea hamiltonii Hook.

Common name(s) in SBR: Suta alu, Tarenga

Botanical name: Dioscorea hamiltonii Hook.

Family: Dioscoreaceae

Synonyms: Dioscorea

Flowering: Sept- Oct                           Fruiting: Dec.- Feb.

Vernacular name (s)

Oriya- Suta alu

Santhal of SBR- Piska  sanga

Munda- Burujharia

Botany

Stem twining to the right,reddish when dry,angled, sometimes subacute, unarmed and often twisted;tubers long-stalked, deep under ground. Bulbils 0. Leaves closely resembling those of D.belophylla but less blue green and when dry the cross nervules are less scalariform,opposite or subopposit,ovate, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate,base cordate,subcordate-truncate or sagittate,9-18 × 5-11 cm, acuminate, 7-9-nerved with 5 nerves reaching the apex and decurrent on petiole,secondary nerves close,rather regular and subparallel, upper leaves smaller and narrower;petiole 2.5-6.2 cm long. Male spikes short, 1-4-nate or  subverticillate on slender axillary branchlets, 1.2-2.2 cm long,with markedly zigzag rachis with a flower at each angle. Flowers yellow, 1.2 mm long;buds globose. Outer perianth-lobes ovate-oblong, rounded,concave,obscurely keeled, inner smaller,oblong,not thick. Stamens about as long, 6 perfect. Female spikes axillary, 3.7-22.2 cm long. Flowers much larger than in D.belophulla. Outer perianth-lobes very thick,crescentic,concave inside and with a very thick keel outside,attaining 2.5 mm length, inner lobes thick,oblong,only half to three-fourths as long. Capsule glabrous, 2- 2.8 × 2.5-4 cm, retuse, wings distinctly margined. Seeds winged all round.

Distribution

Similiphar, frequent in forests: Batipathar, Gandhmardan, NE. India. Laos, Tenasserim.

Common use(s)

The tubers are very testy and used as vegetables and desserts.

Medicinal value(s)

Tubers are good for health due to presence of antioxidant compounds and used as health tonic.

Phytochemicals constituent(s)

Different types of Polyphenols and saponnin.

Economic Value(s)

It is traded at the rate of 7 to 10 rupee (s) per kilogram

Dioscorea hispida Dennst.

Common name(s) in SBR: Bainya alu, Banya alu

Botanical name: Dioscorea hispida Dennst.

Family: Dioscoreaceae

Synonym(s): Dioscorea daemona Roxb, D. mollissima Blume.

Flowering: Aug. to Sept.                                             Fruiting: Nov. to Dec.

Vernacular name(s)

English: Asiatic Bitter Yam                             

Malaysian: Ubi Gadong

Bengoli- Ban alu

Burmese- Kywe

Thailand : Kloi

Botany

It is as strong climbing plant with glaborous leaves ;stem twining to the left, with few small, weak prickles young  tomentose;tubers subglobose or irregular., covered with root-fibers. Leaves 3-foliolate; petiole 5-30 cm, sometimes prickly, glabrous or finely pubescent; the central one elliptic or obovate,caudate-acuminate, 3-5-costate, more or less permanently pubescent on the nerves, base tapering, those on the flowering branches small with rounded, suddenly apiculate apex, lateral leaflets very oblique, sometimes shortly 2-lobed,sometimes gibbous and broader than long;petiolule 2.5-18 mm long. Male flowers in very dense,short,oblong or cylindric spikes, 6.2-7.5 mm long, in long,narrow,axillary,pubescent panicles, 15-20 cm long; rachis pubescent or villous, more or less prickly; bracts under the flowers very small, orbicular with broad base, 1.2-1.5 mm diam.,concave,pubescent. Inner perianth lobes oblong-obovate,incurved,1-1.2 mm long and about twice as long as the rounded membranous outer perianth-lobes.Anther 6 perfect, minute,globose-oblong;filaments hardly any . Female spikes usually 2-nate, simple, pubescent or tomentose, 20-30 cm long; bracts lanceolate, 2.5-3 cm long. Ovary oblong, 3.7 mm, tomentose. Capsule quadrately oblong, 3.7-5 × 1.8- 2.5 cm, ends truncately rounded, smooth. Seeds winged at the base only.

Distribution

It grows under shaded areas or near streams. Throughout the SBR, India, Malaysia,

Common use(s)

Tubers are nauseous even after boiling but often said to be edible after boiling and repeated washing. It serves as a fasten food for a tribal community of SBR and millions of people in tropical and subtropical countries (Udensi, 2008).

Medicinal value(s)

Tubers are used to birth-control among women.

Phytochemicals constituent(s)

Different types of Polyphenols and saponnin. Tubers contain dioscorine a lactonic alkaloids which is used to manufacture birth-control pills.

Economic Value(s)

It is not traded among the tribal community.

Amorphophallus campanulatus Blume.

Common name(s) in SBR: Ola, Ban Ola

Botanical name: Amorphophallus campanulatus  Blume.

Family: Araceae

Synonym(s): A.Paeoniifolius Nicolson.

Flowering: April. To June.                                          Fruiting: Nov. to Dec.

Vernacular name(s):

Oriya: Oluo

Hindi: Suran

Rajasthan: Jamikand

English: Elephant foot yam

Tamil: Senai kizhangu

Kannada: Suvarna gedde

Malayalam: Chena

Botany

It is a aroid, stout herb. Leaves 3-partite with the lateral segments 2-furcate, pinnatifid with oblong lobes.petiole long mottled dark and light green, very stout, rough with small tubercles. Peduncle much shorter than the spathe. Spathe with a campanulate tube suddenly widening into an irregular spreading plicate and undulate recurved limb. Spadix very stout. Male inflorescence subturbinate. Fruit red obovoid berries with 2-3 seeds. Tubers depressed hemispherical with diameter 6 to 15 inch.

Distribution

Throughout SBR.In India it is grown mostly in West Bengal, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Orissa,Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and other South-East Asian Countries.

Common use(s)

The tuber(s) is eaten as vegetables and very popular in south part of SBR. It is good for liver; therefore they use it as liver tonic.

Medicinal values

It is used in gastric troubles and in rheumatic pain; tubers are used to treat piles. It is reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-protease and anthelmintic activity.

Phytochemicals constituents

Dey and Ghosh, 2010, reported, the tubers have rich quantity of Alkaloids and steroids.

Economic Values

The cultivated tuber of this species is traded in peripheral area of SBR and the tribal people of SBR are utilizing it.

Amarphophallus bulbifera (Roxb.)

Common name(s) in SBR: Amla-bela

Botanical name: Amorphophallus bulbifera  Roxb.

Family: Araceae

Synonym(s): Arum bulbiferum Roxb.

Flowering: May to July.                                             

Vernacular name(s):

Oriya:

English: Devil’s Tongue

Bengoli: Dadunga

Tripuri: Ul Hugo

Jainta: Jaihynrew

Bangla Desh: Chung Muru

Botany

It is a stout herb. Leaves usually with a large bulbil above the petiole at the fork, leaflets obovate or lanceolate. Peduncle mottled.  Spate erect, ovate-cymbiform, greenish or yellowish mottled pink without, pink or salmon deepening to scarlet. Spadix long, female portion scarlet, style very short. Broad tubers having diameter 6- 12 cm.

Distribution

Throughout SBR, Odisha, Bengal, Sikkim, Tripura Khasia Hills, Bihar, Jharkhand, Bangladesh, Myanmar.

Common use(s)

Fresh petiole, bulbils and tubers are edible among the tribal community of SBR.

Medicinal values

Bulbils and rhizome is used as vegetables against muscular rheumatism and joint pain. It is used as antidote in animal bite.

Phytochemicals constituents

Different types of poly phenols and Alkaloids are present in the tubers.

Remusatia vivipara Schott.

Common name(s) in SBR:

Botanical name: Amorphophallus campanulatus  Blume.

Family: Araceae

Synonym(s): Arum viviparum Roxb.

                                               

Vernacular name(s):

Oriya:

Marathi: Lalkand

Australia- Hitchhiker Elephant Ear

China: Yan Yu

Bengoli: Banj ka pindalu

Botany

It is a commonly known as Hitchhiker Elephant Ear. Leaves broadly ovate, usually solitary but sometimes 2, cordate with rounded lobes at base, obtuse and shortly acuminate, distinctly peltate; lamina ca. 20 cm long with a 15-25 cm long petiole, erect. Bulbiferous shoots at first stole like, ultimately erect or inclined and bearing clusters of scaly bulbils, scales with hooked awns. It  has erect, simple stolons and the inflorescence appearing before the leaf. Spathe 7-11 cm long; tube ovoid, 2-4 cm long and strongly constricted above; blade subcircular, 6-8 cm long, cream coloured, reflexed. Spadix 3-4.5 cm long; basal female region ca. 2 cm long; middle sterile region ca. 1-1.1 cm long and the upper male region 1-1.2 cm long, club-shaped, without sterile tip.

Distribution

It extends from Africa, Madagascar, south-eastern Arabian Peninsula, and the Himalaya to southern China, and tropical Asia to Malaysia, northern Australia, and the Pacific islands. Northern Queensland and the Northern Territory. Usually occurs in primary or secondary rainforest on rocks or trees, or as a terrestrial. Altitudinal range recorded from 50 to 400 m.

Common use(s)

Tubers are edible as vegetables. It has high amount of antioxidant components. The tubers of are used to treat mastitis, traumatic injuries, abscesses, and swellings

Medicinal value(s)

It is found throughout in hilly regions and used in folk medicine to treat whooping cough and used for wound to dispel any worms and germs.  Leaves are used as folk medicine for treating inflammation and arthritis. Leaves were used as analgesic, on the wound to dispel any worms and germs, for disinfecting genitourinary tract and for promoting conception(Bhurat et al.,2011).

Phytochemicals constituent(s)

Tubers are rich in Lactin.This plant will be a good candidature in a Neurological treatment. It also has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. It belongs to the "monocot mannose-binding" lectin family, which consists of proteins of high sequence and structural similarity

Pueraria tuberosa DC.

Common name(s) in SBR: Bhui Kokharu

Botanical name:Pueraria tuberose DC.

Family: Fabaceae

Synonym(s):

Flowering: Feb. to April                                              Fruiting: May to June.

Vernacular name(s):

Santhal:Patal Kokharu

Oriya:Bhui Kokharu

Hindi:Ban Kohda, Vidarikanda

Bengoli:Handiphuta

English: Indian Kudzu

Marathi: Bhui Kohla

Telgu : Nela Gumadi

Botany

It is very large woody climber with tuberculated stem, flowering when leafless and then very handsome. Leaflet large, roundish or, more usually, the terminal one rhomboid longer than broad and the lateral very obliquely ovate, easily recognized from other similar woody climbers in the biosphere. Flower bisexual, blue-purple ternate on the nodes of racemes. Calyx purple or green, silky. Stamens usually diadelphous. The fruit pods are linear, about 2–5 cm (0.79–2.0 in) long and constricted densely between the seeds. They have silky, bristly reddish-brown hair. Seeds vary from 3 to 6 in number. Tubers attached to the base of the stem by stout lateral roots and again ending in roots, globose or pot-like, about 28 cm across and the insides are white, starchy and mildly sweet. The tubers sometimes attain an enormous size.

Distribution

It is native to India.Throughout SBR, but very rare, most frequently in Kasipani division, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Nepal, Pakistan.

Common use(s)

Tubers are used as vegetables. It is used as strong herbal tonic.

Medicinal value(s)

Fruit is used as appetizer among the tribal community. Tanwar et al., 2008 reported the hypolipidemic effects of the tuber. In Ayurveda system the flowers are used as cooling agent and as aphrodisiac, while roots act as a demulcent and refrigerant in fevers. The root tuber is sweet, oily, cooling, tonic, and effectively used in aphrodisiac, galacatagogue and diuretic. It is also used to cure leprosy, diseases of blood and urinary discharges. It is employed as an emetic, tonic and also believed to be a lactagogue (Kirtikar and Basu, 1933). the root tuber is applied for blood purification and to improve sperm production. The shade dried root powder controls overgrowth in stomach. The consumption of raw root for one month leads to sterilization in women (Venkata Ratnam, 2006).

Phytochemicals constituent(s)

Isoflavonoids such as puerarin, daidzein, tuberosin, genistein and genistin are present in the tubers.

Economic Value(s)

Kudzu is facing extinction in the wild because of herb hunters who trade the tubers illegally to agents of pharmaceutical or Ayurvedic companies. In the black market, the red variety kudzu tuber of about 10 kg is believed to be very expensive ranging up to lakhs of rupees. The tubers are not disturbed from the plant, but the agents draw the juice of the tuber using syringes.

Solena amplexicaulis Lam

Common name(s) in SBR: Ban Kundri, Makrila

Botanical name. Solena amplexicaulis Lam

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Synonym(s): Melothria heterophylla Lour, Zehneria umbellate Thw.

Flowering: April-Oct                                       Fruiting: May to Jan.

Vernacular name(s):

Oriya: Ban Kundri

Kolho: Karakia

Sanskrit:Chengor

Bengoli: Ban Kundri

Botany

Prostrate or climber herb; stem angled, smooth; root tuberous. Leaves polymorphic, ovate,3-5-angled or lobed, cordate, hastate or sagitate at base , denticulate, usually 5-nerved and pale beneath ,upper surface punctate, rough or hispid; petiole short, sometimes pubescent; tendril simple. Male flowers; Articulate, Calyx tube-greenish. Corolla compaunulate, white; petals5, small, triangular. Stamens 3, inserted at the base of calyx-tube; connective papillose on the top. Female flowers: solitary, short-peduncled from the same axil as the males. Ovary narrow. Fruit ellipsoid, scarlet with red pulp, apically beaked, smooth; fruiting peduncles stout. Seeds 12- 20, ellipsoid, slightly compressed, white, and smooth, sometimes with a corrugated margin. Tubers are mostly fusiform.

Distribution

Common in hedges, thickets and also in forests.Throughout India. Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Indo-China, SW, China, Taiwan, Malesia, Australia.

Common use(s)

Tubers are edible due to sweetness taste. Tender leaves are edible in Kasipani range of SBR.

Medicinal value(s)

The tubers, leaves and seeds of the plant are extensively used in traditional system for various ailments like hepatosplenomegaly, spermatorrhoea, thermogenic, appetizer, cardiotonic, diuretics, haemorrhoids and invigorating . Tubers have hepatoprotective effect. Solena amplexicaulis used to treat gonorrhea, dyspepsia, asthma, constipation and spermatorrhea. The leaves of solena amplexicaulis have good anti-inflammatory activity.

Phytochemicals constituent(s)

β-sitosterol and different types of anti-oxidant compounds.

Lasia spinosa Thwaites.

Common name(s) in SBR: Kanta Saru

Botanical name: Lasia spinosa Thwaites.

Family: Araceae

Synonym(s): Dracontium spinosum L.

Flowering: Dec to Jan.                                                Fruiting:  Jan. to Feb.

Vernacular name(s)

Oriya: Gola Kanta

Thai: Phak naam

Tripura: Pachak

Malay: Geli-geli

Bangladesh: Kalo- Kata

Botany

Lasia spinosa is a very prickly stout perennial herb with thick rhizome and hastate, pinnatifid leaves. Petiole erect prickly. Peduncle prickly, about as long as the petioles, with a deep purple thick and rather brittle twisted spathe. Flowers with pink imbricate lobes hooded over the stamens. Inflorescence in elongated spadix. Stigma orange, sessile. Heads of fruits oblong with spongy axis, berries more or less 4-sided, muricate. Seeds large in a coriaceous testa.

(It is a semi-shade plant with creeping along the stream of small mountain river)

Distribution

It is found along the muddy streams and frequently near the Gurguria in SBR, Sambalpur, Jharkhand, Thailand, Bhutan, Nepal, Southern China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malayasia, Papua New Guina.

Uses

The tender leaves and rhizomes are used as a vegetable in SBR and other parts of India and world as different types of dishes. The roots are boiled with water used to bath new born babies. Suthikrai et al., (2007), reported that powder of whole plant is very effective in the growth of domestic cattle.

Medicinal values

Yadav and Temjenmongla (2011) reported that leaves juice has excellent anthelminthic activity.

Fruits and rhizomes are used to treat sore or swollen throat. Stem is used as  antitussive and expectorant. Stem boil with water and used to bathe to relieve itching from roseolar infantum, measles, rubella and other skin diseases. Leaf juice is used to relief abdominal pain.  Leaves are used to treat cough and various muscular pains.

Phytochemicals constituents

Shefana and Ekanayake (2009) reported tubers contain wide range of antioxidant compounds and Maisuthisakul (2008) reported that tubers are rich with Polyphenolic compounds. Hydrogen cyanide, poisonous compound, was found in fresh leaf and petiole. Calcium oxalate is in abundant quantity in tubers.

Specific information:

Lasia has been believed to be a monotypic genus until 1997 when a wild species, Lasia concinna, was discovered in a paddy field in west Kalimantan in Indonesia.

Costus speciosus Smith.

Common name(s) in SBR:

Botanical name:  Costus speciosus Smith.

Family: Costaceae

Synonym(s):

Flowering: July to Sept.                                              Fruiting: Nov. to Dec.

Vernacular name(s):

Oriya:

Bengoli: Kemuk

Hindi: Keu Kand

Sanskrit: Pushkarmula

Tamil: Kostam

Botany

It is an ornamental cum medicinal plant with 2-7 ft height. Stem usually spiral so that the distichous leaf arrangement is no longer apparent. Leaves elliptic-oblong. Flowers white, clustered in very dense spikes with a short corolla tube and are characterized by large and brown and red bracts. Fruits globose or ovoid capsule with obovoid or sub globose seed (Khanna et al., 1977). Root stock is tuberous and the stem is sub woody at the base.

Distribution

Throughout SBR and Odisha, Jharkhand, Native to south East Asia, Greater Sunda Islands of Indonesia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hawaii.

Common Use(s)

Rootstock is edible in SBR and other place of the state. Leaves are used as curry.

Medicinal value(s)

Rhizome is used to treat intestinal worms and increase sexual attractiveness. Verma and Khosa (2009) reported the whole plant has antistress activity. Leaf powder with cow’s milk is used to treat Diabetes. Rhizome is used as expectorant and is used in asthma and its juice is used to cure leprosy with turmeric. Juice is also used in urinary complain.

Phytochemicals constituent(s)

Pandey et al., (2011), reported that Tubers and roots contain diosgenin, sitosterol, dioscin, prosapogenins A and B of diosceins, gracillin, and quinines. Various saponins, many new aliphatic esters and acids are reported from its rhizomes, seeds and roots. Rhizomes yield diosgenin (2.12%) and tigogenin. Essential oil from rhizome show anti microbial activity (Asolkar et al., 1992).

Economic Value(s)

Curcuma aromatica Salisb.

Common name(s) in SBR: Palo, Ban haldi

Botanical name: Curcuma aromatic Salisb.

Family: Zingiberaceae

Synonym(s):  Curcuma zedoaria Roxb.

Flowering: May to June                                             

Vernacular name(s):

Oriya: Banhaldi

Hindi: Jangli Haldi

Sanskrit: Aranyaharidra

Botany

Leaves not mature at the time of flowering, mature lower ovate, upper elongated to oblong with the base passing gradually into the winged petiole. Flowering stems distinct with a stem or peduncle. Flowers 2 inch reaching about level with the mouth of their bracts. Ovary and calyx hairy. Corolla white, upper lobe pubescent truncate emarginated with a short horn or cusp from the sinus. Rhizomes horizontal branched, with aromatic ginger smell, dirty white or yellowish inside, lateral tubers sessile.

Distribution

Very frequent in SBR, Hilly regions of Mayurbhanj, Parasnath Hills ranges, India and S. E. Asia. The plant grows wild in the Eastern Himalayas and in moist deciduous forests of coastal tract of Kanara and Kerala

Common use(s)

Arrowroot is prepared from the tubers which is edible. Particularly Khadia tribal group of Gurguria range is collected it and make arrowroot. It comes under Non Timber Forest Product (NTFP) among tribal community.

Medicinal value(s)

Aqueous extract of rhizome is taken as juice orally in empty stomach to cure dysentery and pain due to food poisoning. Raw rhizome is taken to cure constipation. Panda et al., 2011, reported that paste of rhizome is used to treat skin infections and naval infections in new-born babies and rhizome paste with Leaf of  Datura metal (Durdura) is externally applied to reduce breast swelling among tribal women.

Chemical compound(s)

Himaja  et al, 2010  reported that tubers have terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides and tannins. It has also anti-microbial activity. Essential oil from rhizomes contains a-pinene, d-camphene, cineole, d-camphor etc (Husain et al, 1992). The novel sesquiterpenoids which have been isolated and characterised are cuzerenone, epi-cuzerenone, iso-furanogermerene, curcumadiol, curcumol, curcumenol,iso-curcumenol, procurcumenol, dehydrocurdione (Hikino et al, 1968, 1971, 1972) Insecticidal constituents were identified by Pandji et al (1993). The root extracts are tested at against Entamoeba histolytica (Ansari, 1993) was good.

Economic Values

The arrowroot is very costly (Approximately 350 rupee per kilogram) in the weekly market of SBR

Colocasia esculenta L.

Common name (s) in SBR: Bansaru

Botanical name: Colocasia esculenta L.

Family: Araceae

Synonym(s): Arum esculentum L, Colocasia antiquorum Schott.

Flowering: Aug. to Oct.                                            

Vernacular name (s):

Oriya: Ban Saru

Kondha: Gowsingo

Bhunia : Kanchi-Kanda

Hindi: Ban Kanda, Kacchu

Sanskrit:Alookam

English: Elephant Ear

Botany

It is perennial aroid with thick shoots from a large corm, slender stolons also often produced, along with offshoot corms. Leaves ovate, sub-triangular or sub-orbicular, cordate. Petioles large, succulent, often purplish near top. Inflorescence on a fleshy stalk shorter than leaf petioles; part of fleshy stalk enveloped by a long yellow bract .Spathe peduncled, yellow. Spathe  peduncled, yellow, mostly over 11 inch long convolute, never widely open. Spadix much shorter than the spathe, rather slender, appendix much shorter than the inflorescence. Stigma discoid. Flowers tiny, densely crowded on upper part of fleshy stalk, with female flowers below and male flowers above. Fruit a small berry, in clusters on the fleshy stalk.

Distribution

Throughout SBR and Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, throughout the hotter parts of India up to 2200 meter on the Himalaya. Great diversity in North-eastern and south region of India. subtropical and tropical regions of the world. South Africa.

Common use(s)

Different cultivars are cultivated for the edible tubers. Corm is used as vegetables. Leaves are used to cook some vegetables cakes.

Medicinal value(s)

Rhizomes are used in Diabetes mellitus in SBR and Edison et al., 2006 reported juice of petiole is used as a stimulant and corm juice is used against Scorpion sting.

Phytochemicals constituent(s)

The main constitutes is oxalic acid which produce itching activity. Eddy, 2009 reported that aqueous extract of rhizome is rich of saponins and tannins. It has different types of toxins such as Hydrogen Cyanide, Steroid saponin and different types of inhibitors.

Economic Value(s)

It is sold and grown in many villages of Simlipal Biosphere Reserve Forest.

Alocasia macrorrhizos Roxb.

Common name(s) in SBR: Maan saru

Botanical name: Alocasia macrorrhiza Roxb.

Family: Araceae

Synonym(s): Alocasia odora Koch., Arum odorum Roxb.                                       

Vernacular name(s):

Oriya: Man kanda, Maan Saru

English: Giant Taro

Manipuri: Hongoo

Vietnam: Ray rung

Botany

It is largest aroids, forming a considerable aerial stem. Robust herb, more or less clothed with aerial roots. Leaves broadly ovate-sagittate, triangular-sagittate or ovate-cordate, peltate or not, repand, acute or rounded with a deflexed cusp, basal lobes shortly connate or not, ovate or semiovate, rounded. Fruit berry red.

Distribution

It is native to tropical Southeast Asia, India, and Sri Lanka. It is commonly found in tropical Himalayas, Malaysia, Queensland, Hawaiian, Australia.

Uses

Tuber and leaf are edible in SBR as vegetables along potato, and throughout India and abroad. It is a popular food during famine.

Medicinal values

Jaanne Packer et al.,( 2012) reported that the tubers used in various skin infections. Stem juice is effective against scorpion sting, leaves paste are used to cure joint pain. Root juice used as ant-malarial herbal drugs.

Phytochemicals constituents

Alocasin present in the plant has antifungal activity. The sap and the rhizome are very acrid, enriched with raphides which are Ca-oxalate crystals.