Natural dye-yielding plants of tribal Odisha

Plant Lovers' Association, Bhubaneswar

Sabujima, 23: 23-25

Natural dye-yielding plants of tribal Odisha

Sanjeet Kumar and Padan Kumar Jena

Department of Botany, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack-753003, Odisha

sanjeet.biotech@gmail.com

Color is of paramount importance in nature that makes human living more aesthetic and fascinating. It is supposed to be associated with seasons, festivals, human emotions, qualities and passion of life. A dye gives a color. A dye can generally be described as a coloured substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is applied. A dye, which is resistance to light, water and soap. There are two types of dye, natural and synthetics. Natural dyes are dyes or colorants derived from plants, animals, minerals or other natural resources whereas synthetic dyes are synthesised from different chemicals. The majority of natural dyes are obtained from plant parts, such as leaves, flowers, rhizomes, tubers, fruits, bark and seeds.

The art of dyeing is as old as human civilization. From the historical records, it is learnt that natural colorants were available to people during Greco-Roman periods and Neolithic periods. Dyeing with plant parts has been traced back to more than 5,000 years in China. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs contain detail description of the extraction of natural dyes and their application in dyeing. Dyes such as Cochineal and Logwood were brought to Europe by the Spanish treasure fleets, and the dyestuffs of Europe were carried by colonists to America (Barber, 1991). An anonymous researcher has reported that an orange or yellow impermanent dye is made from flowers of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis used for making Buddhist robes in Sri Lanka. The use of natural dyeing materials is evident with the wall paintings of Ajanta, Ellora and Sithannvasal in India. They still demonstrate the efficacy of dyeing craft that had been inherited from ancient times. The knowledge of dyeing was also known to people of Indus Valley Civilisation. This has been substantiated by the findings of coloured garments and traces of madder (Rubia cordifolia) dye in the ruins of the Indus Valley Civilisation at Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.  Traditionally ‘Holi’ was also played with flower petals or with natural colors obtained from different plant parts. Simili and Palasha were widely used for this purpose.

Although dye might have discovered accidentally, but the art of dyeing spread widely as civilisation advanced and today, dyeing has become a complex and specialized science. The increasing market demand for dyes and the dwindling numbers of dye yielding plants forced the emergence of synthetic dyes like aniline, rhodamine, mayhem’s dye etc., which have threatened the total replacement of natural dyes. However, even today, efforts are being made to derive dyes from natural resources. Dye for eye shadows is obtained from Indigo, while a dye for lipstick is still obtained from seed of annato. Yellow dye from turmeric, not only is a dye but a powerful antiseptic that revitalizes the skin. Indigo dye yields a cooling sensation like sandal wood in addition to its colouring effect. Synthetic dyes are suspected to release harmful chemicals that are allergic, carcinogenic and detrimental to human health. Therefore, there is a need for screening and documentation of plant species having dyeing properties. Literature survey has shown that studies are continuously being made to identify dye yielding plants and dyes derived from them throughout the globe. However dye yielding plants have not been properly documented in Odisha. Hence, a study was made to document such plants that are used to yield dye by the tribal communities of Odisha.

Our state Odisha is situated between 17° 49´ to 22° 34´ North latitude and 81° 28´ to 87° 29´ East longitude. The state of West Bengal lies towards its North-East, Jharkhand towards North, Chhattisgarh towards West, Andhra Pradesh towards South and the Bay of Bengal towards East. It has an area of 155707 sq. Kms., which comprises 4.74 % of country’s land mass.  Physio-graphically, Odisha is not homogeneous due to its mountainous terrain, major rivers and their tributaries. It has limited area of lower elevation while about three-fourth of its land surface is hilly and mountainous. State claims to have a prominent position among the states and Union Territories of the country for having the largest ethnic groups (62) including 13 vulnerable tribal communities. It is having the third highest tribal population numbering to about 8 millions, which is about 9.7 % of the country’s total population and 22.13 % of the state’s total population.

Each ethnic tribe possesses its distinct identity as to their language, culture, festival, rituals, religion, socio-cultural features, demographic characteristics and their dependence on natural resources. They collect the leaves, fruits, flowers, roots, tubers, nuts, bark and whole plants for their day to day use.  For painting and dyeing, they use the many plant parts. Our knowledge on dyeing with natural resources in mainly based on the tribal use of natural dye. They have unique skill to isolate the crude dye from floral wealth. At times they use dye for colouring their food too. Many of these dyes used by them are eco-friendly and non-toxic. Present study deals with, 43 plant species belonging to 27 families and 41 genus used as natural dye by the tribal of Odisha.  Among the documented plants, flowers are more frequently used to make dye followed by bark and fruits and the whole plant in least used as source of dye (Fig-1; Table-1).

Table: Most common Dye yielding plants of Odisha

Plant Name	Local name	Family	Parts used	Colour obtained
Abrus precatorius	Kāincho	Fabaceae	Seeds	Black
Acacia catechu	Khairo	Mimosaceae	Bark	Pink
Acacia nilotica	Babul	Mimosaceae	Gum	Black
Aegle marmelos	Bela	Rutaceae	Fruits	Yellow
Barleria prionitis	Kanta Jati	Acanthaceae	Flowers	Yellow
Basella alba	Poi	Basellaceae	Fruits	Blue
Bauhinia purpurea	Kuilari	Casaelpinaceae	Bark	Violet
Bixa orellana	Sundry	Bixaceae	Seeds	Red/ Orange red
Bombax ceiba	Similli	Bombacaceae	Flowers	Red
Butea monosperma	Palasa	Fabaceae	Flower	Yellow / Orange
Butea superba	Lata Palasa	Fabaceae	Flower	Deep yellow
Cassia fistula	Sunari	Casaelpinaceae	Bark	Brown
Cassytha filiformis	Nirmuli	Lauraceae	Stem	Brown
Catharanthus roseus	Sadabihari	Apocynaceae	Flowers	Pink / Red
Clitoria ternatea	Aprajita	Fabaceae	Flower	Blue
Curcuma longa	Haldi	Zingiberaceae	Rhizomes	Yellow
Dioscorea bulbifera	Pita Aalu	Dioscoreaceae	Tuber	Pale yellow
Enhydra fluctuans	Hidmichia	Asteraceae	Leaves	Green
Erythrina suberosa	Paldhua	Fabaceae	Flowers	Pink/ Orange
Indigofera tinctoria	Nilli	Fabaceae	Flowers	Indigo / Blue
Lannea coromandelica	Jia	Anacardiaceae	Bark	Red
Lawsonia inermis	Manjuati	Lythraceae	Leaves	Deep red / Orange
Madhuca longifolia	Mahula	Sapotaceae	Flowers	Red
Mallotus philippensis	Basanto Gundi	Euphorbiaceae	Fruits	Red
Melastoma malabathricum	Karati	Melastomataceae	Fruits	Purple
Michelia champaca	Champa	Magnoliaceae	Flower	Yellow
Mirabilis jalapa	Rangani	Nyctaginaceae	Flowers	Pinkish red
Nyctanthes arbor-tristis	Gangasuali	Oleaceae	Flower	Orange
Nymphaea pubescens	Nalikain	Nymphaeaceae	Rhizome	Blue
Oldenlandia umbellata	Subulli	Rubiaceae	Root	Red
Pithecellobium dulce	Sima Kaian	Mimosaceae	Bark	Pink
Polygonum hydropiper	Bihagani	Polygonaceae	Leaves	Blue
Pterocarpus marsupium	Piasal	Fabaceae	Bark	Red
Pterocarpus santalinus	Rakta Chandan	Fabaceae	Bark	Red
Punica  granatum	Dalimba	Lythraceae	Fruits	Yellow
Rubia cordifolia	Rango Chero	Rubiaceae	Whole plant	Deep red
Semecarpus anacardium	Bhalia	Anacradiaceae	Fruits	Black
Syzygium cumini	Jamu	Myrtaceae	Fruits	Blue
Tagetes erecta	Gendu	Asteraceae	Flowers	Yellow
Tagetes patula	Gendu	Asteraceae	Flowers	Reddish yellow
Tectona grandis	Tiko	Verbenaceae	Leaves	Brick red
Terminalia chebula	Harida	Combrataceae	Bark	Blackish brown
Woodfordia fruticosa	Dhataki	Lythraceae	Flowers	Red

The study indicates that Odisha is endowed with wealth of natural flora that provides the basic resources for rainbow of natural dyes. Natural dyes are less toxic, non-carcinogenic and less polluting in comparison to synthetic dyes. People of the state are in habit of using synthetic dyes to carter their need as they are easily available in the market on festive occasions either to color the mother earth or to color the statue of God & Goddess, we use synthetic dyes. After the emersion of these statues in the river or in other water bodies, the water gets polluted. This creates a major pollution problem after the festive occasions are over. The easiest solution to such problems is to use dyes derived from natural sources that are non-toxic and non-polluting.

Although tribal Odisha have enough resource of dye yielding plants, but very less of them have been exploited. Due to lack of technical knowledge, coupled with reluctance of young generations towards this tedious task has ultimately resulted in ignorance of these natural wealth. Detail studies and scientific investigations are needed to assess the real potential and availability of natural dye yielding resources in tribal Odisha. As lack of awareness and conservation strategy might lead to depletion of many of these natural resources. It is the right time to document these natural treasures and work on them for their sustainability. Such study will not only help in conservation of phyto-resources of the state but also will add to the progressive development of tribal knowledge available in the state.

BERLIN-DAHLEM BOTANICAL GARDEN

The Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden including the Botanical Museum is a unique botanical garden in Berlin, Germany.  It has an area of 43 hectares and around 22,000 different plant species. It was constructed between 1897 and 1910, under the guidance of architect Adolf Engler, in order to present exotic plants returned from German colonies. The garden is located in the Lichterfelde, earlier it was in Dahlem of Berlin. It is also the part of Free University, Berlin. The botanical museum called “Botanisches Museum” along with a beautiful herbarium (Herbarium Berolinense) is attached to the garden. The garden has a good library too.

            The garden consists of several scientific buildings and Glass houses.  Cactus Pavilion and Pavilion Victoria are eminent among them, with numerous orchids, carnivorous plants and Giant white Lily (Victoria seerosen). The total area of all glass-houses is 6,000 m². The garden's open-air areas, sorted by geographical origin, have a total area of 13 hectares. The garden's arboretum is 14 hectares. The best-known part of the garden is the Great Pavilion (Das Große Tropenhaus). The temperature inside is maintained at 30 °C and air humidity is kept high. Among the many tropical plants it hosts a giant bamboo.

            The history behind this beautiful garden is very interesting. The first pillar was setup by a farm gardener, Desiderius Corbianus in the year 1973 as a kitchen-fruits garden. It was the first botanic garden in old Berlin city. In 1679 at the Potsdamer Street – in place of the present Heinrich-von-Kleist- park – a hop garden was laid out, which was used, as a purpose of the electoral brewery, as a fruits- and kitchen garden. Carl Ludwig Willdenow has reached, that the garden was assigned in 1809 the Berlin University, which developed worldwide to a recognized “Botanic Garden” with a scientific character.        First stimuli to move the Botanic Garden appeared in 1888, given because of the need, to expand the plantings and to set out an arboretum. Besides many of the old greenhouses would have needed a reconstruction. In 1879 the herbarium in the old Botanical garden gained its own building and had now the possibility to present its collectors’ items to the public. In 1907, the museum gained a considerably bigger exhibition space on three floors. These were used for expanding exhibitions about geobotany and paleobotany. In 1910, the Adolf Engler, reconstructed the present garden & museum.

The layout of the garden is very beautiful. The largest part of the grounds is covered by the geographical section (12.9 ha) and the arboretum (13.9 ha). The geographical section is situated just west of the main path and surrounds the Italienischer Garten (Italian garden), which lies just opposite the exhibition green houses. The southern and western parts of the gardens are taken up by the arboretum, a comprehensive and methodical collection of native plants. The arboretum borders the ponds. The north western area of the gardens are the place of herbaceous plants and medical plants. East part is the famous for the water and marsh bed. A large water basin was heated for the tropical marsh flora.  Garden has many unique features. Through the years, numerous pieces of art have been erected in the gardens, especially in the Italienischer Schmuckgarten (Italian Decorative Garden). In 1879 the herbarium in the old Botanical garden gained its own building and had now the possibility to present its collectors’ items to the public. A year later an exhibition was introduced. The exhibition’s aim was to teach visitors who were not skilled in this topic. This was the first prequel of the Botanical Museum. There is a small cemetery called Königin-Luise-Platz in the Green house complex of the garden.

Similipal Biosphere Reserve, and Tribal communities: treasure of traditional knowledge from the writing of Sanjeet Kumar

The concepts of Biosphere reserve was initiated by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1970 as a global measure to promote in situ conservation of biological resources human welfare and sustainable development. Representative areas of natural and cultural landscapes, extending over terrestrial and coastal / marine ecosystems, with appropriate zoning pattern, resource base and management mechanisms have been designated as Biosphere Reserve. This approach is an effective mean of protecting the landscape along with its biodiversity. So far, 15 Biosphere Reserve have been established in India across different bio-geographical regions. Similipal in Odisha was notified as the 8^th Biosphere Reserve in June 1994, as the representative ecosystem under the Eastern Ghats. Similipal Biosphere Reserve has a unique assemblage of a number of ecosystems, such as mountains, forests, grasslands and wetlands that congregate into a contiguous patch with a range of diverse vegetation types. Its rich flora and fauna with many indicator species makes the region a unique base for ecological studies. The biosphere reserve has varied topography, geologic formation and rich biodiversity. It is also the habitat of many aboriginals. It is called “the Himalayas of Odisha” as it controls the climatic regime of parts of Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Eastern India. It harbors the largest tropical peninsular Sal zone forming a biological link between northern and southern India.Lying between 21° 10´ to 22° 12´ N latitude and 85° 58´ to 86° 42´ E longitude, ranging between 300 m to 1180 m above sea level, the Similipal Biosphere Reserve is located in central part of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha, close to the interstate boundary with West Bengal in the North-East direction and Jharkhand in the North-West. The reserve is a compact mass of natural forest spreaded over a total area of 5,569 km² with core (845 km²) and buffer zones (2,129 km²) comparing of 16 forest ranges surrounded by a transitional zone (5, 569 Km²). The average elevation is 559.31 meters. The highest point in this group of hills is the Meghasani Hill (Literally meaning, The Seat of Clouds) which rises to a height of  about 1166 meters above sea level. Durdurchampa (1009 meter) and Chahala (775 meter) are the other important hills of the area. The Biosphere has three protected habitats within its precincts, namely Similipal Tiger Reserve, Sanctuary and National Park. The core area is intensively protected and absolutely undisturbed, secured legally and managed scientifically. No biotic interference is permitted in buffer zone that surrounds the core zone. Limited activities of recreation, tourism, grazing and fishing, are permitted in the buffer zone with a view to reduce its effect on the core zone. The core and buffer zones of the biosphere Reserve are under the administrative control of three forest divisions: Karanjia, Baripada and Rairangpur, which comprise of sixteen forest ranges. The transitional zone is the outermost part of the reserve encircling a belt of 10 km width around the buffer. This is the zone of collaboration where conservation knowledge and management skills are applied to foster alternative livelihood and reduce dependence on forest products. Most of the areas of this zone are under cultivation of field crops practised by local rural and tribal communities. With their innumerable crests and valleys clad with rich forests, interspersed with countless streams and rivers, the hills exhibit a great degree of topographic variations. A large number of streams flowing out in all directions drain the water of area. As has been confirmed by recent satellite survey, the geological formation of SBR is unique. It consists of three impervious huge quartzite bowls, concentrically placed with their interspaces, the innermost one filled with pervious volcanic rocks. Laterite capping is very common on the hill top of SBR. The red soil is found throughout the SBR which indicate the sound growth of Sal forest in this region. The tropical monsoon climate with three distinct seasons i.e. summer, monsoon and winter prevail over SBR. SBR enjoys warm and humid climate. The Southern flank of Similipal adjoining Devasthali, Upper Barhakamuda, Bhanjabasa and Nawana valley experiences frost during winter. The topography and direction of the prevailing winds results in a general decrease of rainfall from South-West to North-East. The average rainfall of the SBR is 173 mm with a maximum of 225 mm. On the whole, the rainfall is not well distributed throughout the year, most of it falling during the rainy seasons. The average maximum temperature during May is 43 °C and the average minimum temperature is 4 °C during December. High relative humidity prevails throughout the year which goes up to 90 % during rainy season. There is precipitation of heavy dew in the central high-lands and in the forest clad areas in South-West. Frost occurs in winter in the West valleys of SBR.The flora of SBR exhibits a rich assemblage of species owing to its diversified hilly topography with lofty mountain crests, innumerable deep valley, abundant springs, and specialized geological formations. The terrain and topography offer a congenial environment for the growth of plants including the rare / endangered which are mostly restricted to this phyto-geographic region. Since the reserve is located at the junction of four biotic provinces, it forms the agro-ecological link among the geographical regions such as Eastern Ghats, Deccan Plateau, Lower Gangetic plain and East Coastal zone. Thus, it has a unique biodiversity harboring a number of endemic, threatened, medicinal and economically important plants and it is the centre of origin and diversification for a significant number of crop plants and their wild relatives. The floral composition shows affinities to the flora of Northern and Southern India, and Central table land. It may be due to the formation of transition bridge by migration of species from North to South or vice versa. Diverse vegetation types prevailing in different landscapes and microclimates are found in Similipal. SBR exhibits a mixed type of vegetations such as Orissa semi evergreen forest, tropical moist broadleaf forest, tropical moist deciduous forest, dry deciduous hill forest, high level Sal forest with grasslands and Savanna. The credit of first attempt to identify the flora of SBR is given to Forester H.H. Haines (1921-1925) who conducted many exploration trip to Similipal area of Mayurbhanj state, including Meghasini hills.  Panigrahi et al. (1964) undertook an exploration tour to Similipal during February 1958 and reported collection of 613 field numbers, belonging to 347 species.  Misra (1989, 1997 a, b) enumerated 94 species of orchids, of which 10 species were new record to the flora of Orissa. Saxena and Brahmam (1989) made an exhaustive study on the flora of Similipal and recorded 1, 012 species of vascular plants besides 64 species of cultivated taxa. Bal (1942) and Yoganarsimhn and Dutta (1972) have published an account of the useful plants and medicinal plants of Mayurbhanj district and Similipal forest, respectively. Later, Misra (1997 a) provided an account of 52 species of rare and endangered plants of Similipal Biosphere reserve based on field observation and refrence of literature. Very little has been added thereafter regarding ethnobotany, flora of lower plants and other floristic aspects of the region. Recent reports indicate SBR has 1,254 species of vascular plants which represents 46 % of the flora of Odisha and 7 % that of India including 94 species of Orchids, 52 species of rare / endangered plants. The extensive and densely forested hilly tracts of Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) are the home of many tribal communities such as Ho, Kolha, Santal, Bathudi, Bhumija, Mahali, Saunti, Munda, Gonda and Pauri Bhuiyan including two primitive groups Hill-Kharia and Mankirdia. There are 61 villages inside the core and buffer zone and about 1,200 villages in the transitional zone having a total population of about 4.5 lakh out of which the scheduled tribes constitute 73.44 % of total population of Similipal. These poor tribals practise primitive culture, traditions and rituals and have no or little acquired skills. Their main occupation is food gathering, hunting, collection of forest products and traditional farming or agriculture. In the present study, the Ho, Bathudi, Mankirdia, Kolho, Munda and Santhal were selected for detail study on their traditional knowledge on Dioscorea species. The “Ho” is a Kolarian belonging to the same stock of Munda and Kol. They mainly cultivate rice, maize and millets along with seasonal vegetables. They also collect the different types of wild plants from forest and store them. They usually collect tubers and rhizome including starchy tuber of Dioscorea species. They use tubers as food and medicine. They are very habitual to collect the Dioscorea puber during rainy seasons. Mankirdia, a primitive tribe constitutes a semi-nomadic section of the Birhor tribe. They are primarily a hunting and food gathering community. Present study observed they wander from Similipal to Hazaribagh National Park (Jharkhand) and returne after a year to Similipal again (Source: Token Mankirdia, interviewed near the Kalikaparsad gate, transitional zone of SBR). During movements in forest, they collect various types of medicinal plants to cure common diseases. They collect tuber of Dioscorea bulbifera and Dioscorea pentaphylla for curing skin infections, abdominal pain and for birth control. They also collect tubers during early winter and store them for consuming in the summer and rainy seasons. The Hill-Kharia, locally known as “Pahari Kharia” is a highland tribal group. They are expert in collection of honey, resin and arrowroot. They are primarily a forager community in the SBR. They do major seasonal collection along with agricultural labor in agricultural season. During the rainy season, most of the Hill-Kharia faces rice scarcity and they principally depend on other food stuffs, like maize, edible roots and tubers of Dioscorea species and corms. The Santal, one of the most populace tribal communities of India, are mainly found in the districts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Balasore in the State of Odisha. They collect minor forest products like tuber, root, fruits, green leaves, honey, mahua flower etc. that sustain them for 3-4 months in a year. Bathudi is a very common tribal community in SBR. They are very simple and shy in nature. They are excellent in agriculture, in gathering of forest products and medicinal plants. They have very good skills in traditional medicines. They do agriculture in a limited land and do not get enough cereals for a year, therefore they go to forest and collect roots, fruits, tubers and leafy vegetables for food and some medicinal plants for therapeutic medicine. They sell the forest products for purchase of other daily requirements in local weekly markets. They mostly drink rice beer and occasionally they hunt small animals for food. In present study, Bathudi of Hatibadi villages are selected for the questioner about medicinal plants and tuber crops including Dioscorea species. 

Sources : Literature and self field study 

Dioscorea species : Important non timber forest products (NTFPs)

Dioscorea species : Important non timber forest products (NTFPs) among the aboriginals of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, India. They use them as famine food and as therapeutic medicine against different microbial infections and other diseases & disorders.

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs), also special, non-wood, minor, alternative and secondary forest products, are useful substances, materials and/or commodities obtained from forests which do not require harvesting (logging) trees. They include game animals, fur-bearers, nuts, seeds, berries, mushrooms, oils, foliage, medicinal plants, peat, fuelwood.

Research on NTFPs have focused on their commodifiability for rural incomes and markets, as an expression of traditional knowledge or as a livelihood option for rural household needs, and, as a key component of sustainable forest management and conservation strategies. All research promote forest products as valuable commodities and tools that can promote the conservation of forests.

Dioscorea bulbifera

D. bulbifera , the air potato, is a true yam species in the Dioscoreaceae, or true yam family. It is known as varahi in Sanskrit, kaachil in Malayalam and dukkar kand in Marathi. It is native to Africa, southern Asia (India, China, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, etc.) and northern Australia. It is widely cultivated and has escaped to become naturalized in many regions (Latin America, the West Indies, the southeastern United States, and various oceanic islands)

ARMEN LEONOVICH TAKHTAJAN: Man of phylogenetic relationships of flowering plants

Sanjeet Kumar
Regional Plant Resource Centre
Bhubaneswar

Armen Leonovich Takhtajan was an Armenian botanist who made significant contribution to the studies of plant evolution, systematic and biogeography. He was the man of phylogenetic relationships of flowering plants and on of the greatest authorities in the world on the evolution of plants. He was born in Shusha, Southern Caucasus in 10 June 1910 as son of an Armenian intellectual family. He graduated from the Institute of Subtropical Cultivation in Tbilisi, Georgia in 1932 and received his PhD in 1938 from Leningrad State University, Gerogia. He received D.Sc. in 1943 from Yerevan State University, Armenia. In1938, he has joint the Yerevan State University. In 1944-48 he did excellent work as the Director of the Botanical Institute of the Academy of Sciences, Armenia became Professor at Leningrad State University. He joint Komarov Botanical Institute as Director in 1976.

            He worked hard at the Komarov Botanical Institute in Leningrad, where he developed the classification scheme for flowering plants, which emphasized phylogenetic relationships. In 1950 he published the Phylogenetic system of higher plants. Flowering plants: origin and dispersal followed 1954 in Russian, and later was published in English (1969), in German (1973), and in Danish (1976).
            His system did not become known to botanists in the West until after 1950, and in the late 1950s he began a correspondence and collaboration with prominent American botanist Arthur Cronquist, whose plant classification scheme was heavily influenced by his collaboration with Takhatajan and other botanists at Komarov. The “Takhatajan system” of flowering plant classification treats flowering plants as a division, Magnoliophyta, with two classes, Magnoliopsida (dicots) and Liliopsida (monocots). These two classes are subdivided into sublasses, and then superorders, order and families. The Takhtajan system is similar to the Cronquist system, but with somewhat greater complexity at the higher levels. He favors smaller orders and families, to allow character and evolutionary relationship to be more easily grasped. However, Takhtajan uses the Superorder as the basic unit of the Subclass and this pattern of organization is also used in the Thorne System of flowering plant classification. He published “Systema magnoliophytorum in 1987, which counts 533 families and published “Evolutionary Trends in Flowering Plants in 1991 and “Diversity and Classification of flowering plants in 1997 containing 592 families.

Worldwide he is recognised as a pioneer in plant systematic, but not to all specialists he is also familiar as a palaeobotanist. It was an event, during a journey to Petersburg, he met to famous palaeobotanists I.V. Palibin and he turned into research in paleobotany too.

He founded the Department of Evolutionary Morphology and Palaeobotany at the Botanical Institute of Armenian Academy of Sciences in Yerevan. This was the beginning of systematic palaeobotanical research in Armenia. He published more than 300 botanical and palaeobotanical papers and 20 books.  Armen Takhtajan described numerous new fossil plants species and several new species have been named on honor of him. “Takht.” is used to indicate the author in citing a botanical name. Though, Prof.  Takhtajan reached the age of 99 and died in Saint Petersburg, Russia and his long dream to write a book on the “System of fossil flowering plants” remained unfulfilled.

CHRONOLOGICAL BIOGRAPHY......................

Armen L. Takhtajan

(1910-2009)

1910:             June 10, born in Shusha, Russia

1932:             Graduate from the Soviet Institute of Subtropical Crops, Georgia

1938:             PhD from Leningrad State University, Georgia

1943:             D.Sc. from Yerevan State University, Armenia

1944:             Director, Botanical Institute of the Academy of Sciences, Armenia

1948:             Professor, Leningrad State University, Georgia

1950:             Published the Phylogenetic system of higher plants.

1976:             Director, Komarov Botanical Institute,

2009:             Died, November 13 (Aged 99), in Saint Petersburg, Russia