A new species of the genus Physalis, P. himachalensis K.S. Dogra, K. Ambrish, Ritesh K. Singh V. Ranjan, belonging to the family Solanaceae, is described from the hilly terrain of Himachal Pradesh, a Western Himalayan region in India. The present paper includes a comparison table of distinct morphological characters with allied species, a key to all species occurring in India, a detailed description, illustrations, a photo plate, and an image of the holotype specimen to facilitate its identification and location in other parts of the world.

Premna herbacea Roxb. (Lamiaceae) commonly known as Bharangi is rediscovered from Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh, India after 90 years. P. herbacea was previously collected by Walter Koletz from Bhadwar, tehsil Nurpur, district Kangra (H.P.) in 1933. Presently, this is also a new addition to the flora of Himachal Pradesh. The representative specimens are catalogued in Botanical Survey Solan (BSS) herbarium (Botanical Survey Solan Herbarium) for future reference.

This communication deals with the addition of Alternanthera pungens to the Flora of Himachal Pradesh from Nauni, Solan District. Field photographs and detailed description are provided for easy identification.

Dinetus malabaricus (C.B.Clarke) Staples (Convolvulaceae), an Indian endemic species known only from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, is reported for the first time from Nauni, Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, as a new distributional record to Himalaya. Recent collection of this taxon from Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry campus shows its extended distribution in Himalaya (Himachal Pradesh, India). Detailed description with notes on its identity and differences with its closely allied species Dinetus racemosus (Roxb.) Sweet and color photo plate are provided to facilitate its identification.

This paper deals with collection of Senna septemtrionalis (Viv.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby from the Pine forests near Gonda village on Giripul to Chail Road, District Solan, Himachal Pradesh.

The present paper provides scientific information about some valuable threatened plants of economic importance as per the CAMP, 2003/IUCN, 2021 status found in Great Himalayan National Park, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, a “UNESCO” declared World heritage site of Western Himalaya. A total number of 37 plant species belonging to 28 genera under 24 families, that are medicinally important have been recorded and documented in different threat categories as per CAMP, 2003 and IUCN, 2021 status. The study strongly recommends the conservation of these valuable medicinally important threatened plants from the region and encourages their cultivation. An updated list (Table 1) with current nomenclature and current threat status of these species along with some photos (Plate 1) is provided.

The present study is mainly concerned with the flowering plants and provides a comprehensive information on the vegetation and floristic composition on local flora of the Dr. Y.S.P. University Campus area, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. Floristic analysis through intensive plant collection revealed that, it is composed of 113 families (Dicot- 96 and Monocot-17), 402 genera (Dicot-351 and Monocot-51) and 628 species (Dicot-553 and Monocot-75), including infraspecific taxa, ornamental and cultivated species, introduced plant species/weeds among the angiosperms. The proportion of the dicots and monocots is 7.3: 1, where, Asteraceae stands as largest family having 36 genera with 57 species, followed by Fabaceae with 29 genera and 56 species.

The present floristic account of Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary (NWS) is mainly concerned with flowering plants and provides first hand comprehensive information. Statistical analysis of the floristic diversity of Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary through intensive plant collection revealed that, it is composed of 112 families (Dicots-92 and Monocots-20), 662 species (Dicots-516 and Monocots-146), including infra-specific taxa and also some cultivated species of the angiosperms. The proportion of the dicots and monocots is 3.6: 1, where, Poaceae stands as largest family having 48 genera with 71 spp., followed by Fabaceae with 34 genera and 62 spp. Genus Cyperus with 13 spp. in monocots and Crotalaria with 8 spp. in dicots stand as largest genera in the sanctuary.

Euonymus tingens Wall is a temperate dendriform plant species, collected from Great Himalayan National Park, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. It is found that this plant is related with the local people daily needs and now a day it is also demanded by the some industries. This plant is used by the local as timber, dye, fuel and fodder. So number of plant individuals decreases or there is decline in the populations of plant in the area.

A survey for documenting traditional medicinal knowledge was conducted in district Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India. Intensive exploratory surveys were carried out in the villages and data was collected on use of plants as folk medicines by local communities as enlisted in the paper. The information on 103 plant species belonging to 93 genera and 52 families along with their botanical names, local names, and traditional medicinal formulations for the treatment of various diseases has been documented during the present study. This paper will provide an insight on the associated traditional knowledge of the medicinal plant species used by the rural communities in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh.

A field survey was conducted in the Shilli Conservation Reserve, Solan, Himachal Pradesh to collect and document the medicinally important plant species. Further intensive surveys were conducted in the villages around the conservation reserve to collect the information on their traditional medicinal uses by the local inhabitants. The paper enumerates the traditional medicinal uses of 45 plant species belonging to 33 families along with their botanical names, local names, habit and part used for the treatment of various ailments by the local communities around the Shilli Conservation Reserve in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh.

The present paper is an attempt to document the data on invasive alien species occurring in Col. Sher Jung National Park, Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh along with their implications in conservation perspective. A total of 39 species belonging to 19 angiospermic families are enlisted as invasive alien species from the national park. The purpose of introduction of alien species also discussed along with their nativity.

Indian Western Himalaya has a rich plant diversity/ bio-resources due to the large variations in the altitude (300 to 6000 ms) and climatic conditions from tropical, temperate to alpine. The paper sheds light on the issues and challenges of climate change in the Western Himalaya; its impact on the plant diversity (wild plants, crops, fruits); loss of plant diversity and livelihood of the local communities; impact on the phenology of plant species; possible mitigation strategies to combat the impact of climate change. The Western Himalayan region has a rich diversity of plant diversity or bio resources. These bio resources (wild plants, crops, fruits) have been used by the local communities in the form of traditional medicines and foods from pre-historic periods or since the settlement of human communities in this region. These communities used these bio-resources as a source of income by their cultivation and selling in the markets. They are also involved in the traditional agriculture and horticulture practices and for that dependent on the climatic conditions (rate of precipitation, temperature, humidity) throughout the year. Hence stable environment conditions a pre requisite for better production and productivity. But in the last 100 years an increased in the temperature on earth brought large variation in the climate of Himalayan region too. The extreme climatic conditions will make Himalayan ecosystem more fragile, less productive and more prone towards disasters or natural calamities. Long term planning is required to understand the impact of climate change in the Western Himalaya along with some new strategies to mitigate its impact.

Three species viz., Parmotrema saccatilobum (Taylor) Hale, Pyxine cocoes (Sw.) Nyl and Ramalina inflata (Hook.f. & Taylor) Hook.f. & Taylor are reported new to lichens of Himachal Pradesh. They are described here with diagnostic characters, ecology and photographs to facilitate their identification.

Pittosporum eriocarpum Banks. ex Gaertn. (Pittosporaceae) is an endemic and threatened species of the North-West Himalaya and locally known as Agni. In this study the seed viability, seed germination and storage behavior of seeds was studied stored at different temperature. Maximum viability was reported in fresh seeds (98.21%) while the maximum germination percentage (87.11%) was observed in 6-months old seeds stored in refrigerator (polythene). Application of Gibberellic acid has improved the seed germination (54.13%) and to overcome the morpho-physiological dormancy of the seed to an extent.

Floristic diversity of Valley of Flowers National Park, Uttarakhand, a world heritage site in Indian Himalayan Region has been documented. A total of 614 taxa (609 species, 3 subspecies and 2 varieties) belonging to 277 genera and 70 families have been recorded. Among these, 31 plant species are under different threat categories, 05 endemic and one plant namely Cuscuta europaea recorded as invasive. The paper, for the first time, records 72 plant species as additions to flora of Valley of Flowers National Park. Importance of floristic diversity and conservation needs are also discussed.