Taxonomy is probably the oldest
science which has its bases as principles, rules and procedures. The main aim
is to arrange plants in such a way to provide necessary systematic information.
It is very important to note that the plant’s name is the key of its literature
and grouping is for sake of convenience and communication of ideas with other
branches of biology.
The term taxonomy was first
introduced by A.P. de Candolle in 1813 to the plant science. Traditionally the
taxonomic study was based on gross morphological features of a plant. In
present scientific study this knowledge is used by the branches like anatomy,
genetics, cytology, chemistry, reproductive biology, ecology, physiology,
molecular biology, etc. Now the taxonomic study became very dynamic and
synthetic science and is the basic to all other sciences.
Taxonomy is an ever changing
field of biology and is a complex mixture of biology, philosophy, and
mathematics. In recent study the interdisciplinary aspects of taxonomy deals
with other branches of science as medicine, pharmacology, agriculture,
horticulture, etc. In spite of this important interdisciplinary study taxonomy
is still a neglected branch of biological science in India.
The role of taxonomists has been
misunderstood and even in the proper execution of taxonomic study. This current
scenario is due to lack of adequate trained taxonomists, failure in revival of
interest in the subject in the present generation. At present the appropriate authentic
taxonomic literature and research work needs to be progress through the course
of advance development in botanical research.
At
college and university level the approach regarding taxonomic study is still
remain from traditional point of view. Therefore the reformation of syllabus is
a need of time which incorporate the new challenges of taxonomy and systematic
study of plant taxonomy. The modern methods and recent developed aspect and
techniques should be acquired.
Taxonomic study provides:
1.
Names for organisms.
2.
Keys- one can identify
3.
Classification-to facilitate data retrieval
4.
Phylogenies- importance of other areas of biological sciences.
In
several countries, like other fields of science, taxonomy has continued to
advance in leaps and bounds in procedure. The modern taxonomy has a potential
to reshape a large part of our current biological thoughts.
Classification plants is
generally achieved is focus successive phases as pioneer phase, consolidation
phase, experimental phase and encyclopedic phase. India is in between second
and third phase of taxonomic development.
However in recent years it is
found that the taxonomic research and development in accurate phylogenies as:
1.
The biological diversity is so vast that at present its very difficult
to know the exactly how many species of plants exist in the world. The
estimates is in the range of 5-15 million (According to May, 1992). Systematic
play very important role in this regard.
2.
Taxonomic research leading to medicinally important groups,
economically important plants gives attention towards the progress of
development.
3.
Preservation of plant samples from entire world’s flora provides
valuable insight into the ranges of taxa that have evolved in out planet. Therefore
the concept of Parataxonomists arises where no previous higher education in
biology or taxonomy is required, but basic training related to collection,
preservation, identification provides adequate information.
Plant Science in Ancient India
Ancient Indian had
their own concept of the origin of life. Parasara (250-120 A.D.) in
Vrikshayurveda (the science of plant life) derives the basic concept of the
origin of the Eukaryotes & Prokaryotes. Addition to this it is important to
note that Indian more than 2000 years before Darwin had thought about the
problems of evolution & heredity. The ancient Indians had a good knowledge
of ankurbheda i.e. seed germination and conditions required for this
process. They understood the implication of kshetra-habitat and ritus-seasons
for plant life & also different types of structural modification in plants.
They called branchless stem as sthanu or sanku & stem apex agra
or sikhara. Some Sanskrit name for plant parts such as Dwiparna- Bauhinia,
Triparna- Aegle, Saptaparna-Alstonia, padma-flowers,
pushpadala- petals, Kesara- stamens, renu or paraga-
pollen grains. They also studied different type of fruits and structure &
diversity of seeds. They also knew different methods of propagation: by seeds (Bija
roha), roots (Malija), cuttings (Skundaja) grafting (Skanhe
ropaniya), budding (agrabija) & by leaves (parna yoni).
The
concept of species in ancient India is clear from Carakas correlation as Yonayah.
Ancient Indians also had knowledge of plant anatomy, plant nourishment,
plant diseases, etc. Ancient Indian system of plant nomenclature was based on
several parameters like a) special characters like Atmagupta- fruits
hidden in irritating bristles (Mucuna); Satamuli- hundred roots (Asparagus);
Bahupada- many columnar roots (Ficus). b) Special properties like
Arsoghna- which cures pile (Amorphophalus paeoniifolius); Dadrughna-
which cures ring worm (Cassia fistula). c) locality like Magadha-
indigenous to Magadha in Bihar (Piper longum); Vaidehi-
indigenous to Videha in Bihar (Piper nigrum). d) ecological characters
like pankerukha-grows in mud (Nilumbium speciosum); Kutaja-grows
on mountain peaks (Holarrhena pubescens).
Ancient Indian Plant
classification was based on three major considerations like Udhavida (botanical),
Virechanadi (medicinal), Annapanadi (dietic). Caraka recognized
six groups-vargas, based on their dietic value while Susrutas classification
recognized 15 groups of plants.
Recognition of Ancient Indian system:
Ancient Indian science had too long
period of hibernation & it was not followed until it was started to
rejuvenate the Sanskrit education.
At the same time scholars of western
countries shown interest in ancient Indian knowledge.
In recent period various scholars of
Indology departments round the world started this study.
Most of the ancient data is still
slumbering (sleeping) in the innumerable palm leaf & the text is awaiting
discovery.
Sanskrit language learned in ancient
India was not accessible to western scientist.
No serious attempt was made to
highlight ancient Indian knowledge by Indian scholars who were familiar with
it.
Modern Period:
Garcia da Orts, the
Portuguese physician, studied Indian medicinal plants & their curative
properties. Then he published Os Colloquios…the first printed
publication on Indian plants in Goa in 1563. Then Henrich van Rheede, the Dutch
Governor published 12-volumes of Hortus Malabaricus (1678-1693). This includes
good illustrations of Malabar plants with their curative properties. Johan
Gerard Koenig (1728-1784), a missionary surgeon, first time started plant
exploration & many foreigners followed plant science research in India.
After independence Indian botanists have done most of the work.
Post Darwinian Systems:
Engler (1844-1930), a
Berlin Professor of Botany and Prantl (1849-1893) published their evolutionary
system of plant classification. In this system Angiosperm families were
arranged in order of increasing complexity of their reproductive structures
while simplest at the base. e.g. Amentiferae (Dicot) & Pandanales (Monocot)
having simplest anemophilous flowers. Charles Edwin Bessey (1845-1945)
considered Angiosperms to be monophyletic & to have originated from
Bennettitalean ancestors. He concluded that the Monocotyledons evolved from
primitive Dicotyledons. He also analyzed several criteria for primitive &
advanced characters.
John
Hutchinson followed Bessey in many ways in his system of Angiosperm
classification. He considered two main lines of flowering plant evolution
differing in habit- arboreal & herbaceous. In his classification
Alismataceae & Butamaceae (Monocot) were considered to be the most
primitive members of the group because of their close resemblance to Ranales.
Armen Takhtajan (1910- ) system of plant classification is based on
phylogenetic characters especially on available evidence.
Contribution towards the progress and
advancement:
Contribution
of BSI:
The Botanical Survey of India is
a government organization which is functional in exploration of plants and
their resources for the country from various bio-geographic areas if India. It
provides accurate and detailed information regarding the occurrence,
distribution, ecology and economic utility of plants in India for the benefit
of science and the people working in universities and other academic
institutions. It collects, identifies and distributes plant material that may
be of service in education and research.
The
BSI was established in 1890 and recognized in 1954 by keeping some objectives
like- 1.To explore the vegetable resources of the Indian Empire, 2. To
co-ordinate the botanical work of others in different parts of India. (For this
the country was divided into 4 botanical regions as East (Calcutta), West
(Bombay & Poona), North (Saharanpur) and South (Madras).
In
this regards the vegetation survey was undertaken in various such places. At
that time Headquarter was in Calcutta with four regional circles based on
Phyto-geographiccal affinities as Eastern (Shilong), Western (Poona), Northern
(Deheradun) and Southern circles (Coimbatore). The National Herbarium has been
established in Calcutta to develop Herbarium of Type Specimens, Botanical
Museum and plants in living conditions in Botanical Garden. Central national
Herbarium (CNH) was established in Howrah which is one of the oldest and
richest herbarium in South-East Asia. About 15,00,000 specimens has been
deposited in various parts of the country. It has 2,583 hand coloured
illustrations forming in Roxburghs Icones.
At
present BSI have 09 regional circles as 1. Northern Circle, Deharadun, 2.
Eastern Circle, Shilong, 3. Southern Circcle, Coimbatore, 4. Wsetrn Circle,
Pune, 5. Central Circle, Allahabad, 6. Arid Zone Circle, Jodhpur, 7. Andaman
& Nicobar Circle, Port Blair, 8. Sikkim-Himalayan Circle- Gangtok and 9.
Arunachal Field Station, Itanagar.
Major Publications: Flora of India; Series-1: National Flora in
form of Fascicles, Series-2: State flora Analysis., Flora of Tamil Nadu, Flora
of Himachal Pradesh, Flora of Karnataka, Flora of Maharashtra, Series-3
District Flora, Records of BSI in form of Flora of Khandala, Flora of Purandar
Fort.
Journals: Bulletin of the Botanical Survey of India (BoBSI).
Current Objectives:
1. Exploration,
inventorisation and documentation of phytodiversity in general and protected
areas, hotspots, fragile ecosystems and sacred groves in particular and
publication of National, State and District Floras.
2. Monitoring
Phytodiversity to evaluate the qualitative changes in species rich and
sensitive areas; ex situ conservation of critically threatened taxa in
botanical gardens.
3. Identification
of species with traditional economic uses and preparation of protocols for
their conservation and sustainable utilization.
4. To
complete a National database of plant species, herbarium specimens, live
specimens, illustrations, relatives of cultivated species and economically
important species.
Herbarium maintenance: Different
circles/units of BSI mounted 4,536 herbarium specimens of which 685 were
remounted. Stitching, labeling, pasting, etc of 2,917 specimens completed.
1,907 specimens were identified and 2,668 specimens were incorporated in
different herbaria of BSI. 1356 specimens were sent on loan and 220 specimens
received on exchange. One hundred twenty six type photographs were received
from Kew.
Documentation of Phytodiversity
National Flora: Manuscripts
of family Bromiliaceae, Cannaceae, Menyanthaceae, Buddlejaceae, have been
completed. Families Urticaceae, Polygonaceae, Orchidaceae, Solanaceae,
Ebenaceae, Cactaceae, Podostomaceae, Lauraceae, Acanthaceae, Basellaceae and
Aspleniaceae are in different stages of progress. Fifty three species were
studied for the National Flora under the families Urticaceae (06 species),
Orchidaceae (10 species), Solanaceae (04 species), Smilacaceae (01 species),
Ebenaceae (08 species), Cactaceae (10 species), Lauraceae (05 species),
Acanthaceae (02 species) and Aspleniaceae (07 species)
State Flora/Regional Flora: Work on Flora of Uttar Pradesh initiated and
a checklist of 90 families from Ranunculaceae to Apiaceae containing 260 genera
and 820 species was prepared. 321 species have been completed for Flora of Cold
Desert Vol. II (Dicot) and Flora of Kerala. Identification keys to 23 tribes,
105 genera, 217 species, seven varieties updating of their nomenclature of the
family Poaceae for Flora of Nagaland Vol. IV have been completed. Key to
species of 10 genera under Asteraceae of Flora of Jammu & Kashmir Vol. II
was completed. Species reference cards were prepared for 55 and 28 genera of
families Poaceae and Asteraceae respectively for Flora of Uttaranchal. 300
species have been finalized for Flora of Karnataka and manuscripts prepared for
families Asteraceae (25 species), Lauraceae (25 species), Fabaceae (60 species)
and Cesalpinaceae (40 species). 29 species belonging to families Saxifragaceae,
Eriocaulaceae, Marantaceae, Convolvulaceae and Zingiberaceae were completed.
Manuscripts of Acanthaceae was finalized for Flora of West Bengal.
District Flora : One hundred and ninty species have been
completed under Flora of Pune district.
Wetlands : In connection with studies on ecology and
floristic diversity of eight different wetlands of the state of Maharashtra,
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal, 159 species including
macrophytes and phytoplankton were identified. Works on angiospermic flora of
Adisoi, Ashidab & Barbila Wetlands of West Bengal were completed and submitted.
Protected Areas : Botanical Survey of India is surveying 21
protected areas in the states of Orissa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Nagaland,
Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Andaman &
Nicobar Islands which include 13 Wildlife Sanctuaries, Six National Parks, one
Biosphere Reserve and one Reserve Forest. The flora of Bandhabgarh National
Park was completed. The Survey has given special emphasis on lower groups of
plants. Northern Circle, Dehradun & Central Circle, Allahabad were declared
as centres for Bryophytes and Lichens respectively.
New Discoveries : Seven species and two varieties have been
described as new to science:
- Combretum
sanjappae Chakrab. & G. S. Lakra
- Cryptocarya
praetervisa Gang., Chakrab. & Chauhan
- Antidesma
bhargavae Chrakrab. & Balakr
- Glochidion
jarawae Chrakrab. & Balakr
- Glochidion
zeylanicum Trimen var. paucicarpum Chrakrab. & Balakr
Conservation
Germplasm of
65 species of rare, endangered, wild relatives of ornamentals, medicinally
important plants has been conserved, multiplied and maintained in different
gardens of Botanical Survey of India. 180 species of orchids have been
maintained in Experimental Garden and National Orchidarium, Yercaud. Another
304 species collected for ex-situ conservation and maintained. Out of
these, 18 species of rare/threatened, 74 medicinally or economic important
species and 85 ornamental plant species are introduced.
BSI
provides services not only to various scientific and academic institutions but
also to students, teachers, scientists and general public.
- Four hundred and sixty six books, 403 Indian Journals, 91
foreign journals, 71 departmental and 46 non-departmental reports, newsletters,
and brochures have been added to the libraries of Botanical Survey of India.
- A large number of BSI scientists attended various
conferences/symposia/ workshops/training in the country.
- BSI & its associated circles participated in many
exhibitions.
- Essay writing, debates, painting competitions, sit
& draw competitions, quiz contests, film shows and exhibition for school
children and general public were organized on World Environment Day,
International Biodiversity Day, Wild Life week and Van-mahotsav.
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