Taxonomic study of the familyElaphoglossaceae consisting of the generaElaphoglossum, Microstaphyla, Peltapteris is done. Only the former genus exists in India. Twenty species including ten which are new to science and two which are new to India are described and their distributions are indicated.

A majority ofAdenanthos species possess diffuse sclereids. They are classified into major types. Their presence or absence is listed in Nelson’s revised scheme of classification on this genus to indicate the overall perspective of their use in taxonomy. Further taxonomic problems alluded to by Nelson are illuminated here by sclereid typology.

The chemotaxonomy of twelve species ofBauhinia is presented. From the quantified data on the distribution pattern of different chemical constituents, including the free aminoacids, it is inferred that the taxa are closely related and do not warrant splitting of the genus. However, the division of the genus based on certain selected phenolic constituents does not conform to the one on morphological grounds.

Foliar epidermis of nineteen species of Amaryllidaceae, has been studied. Epidermal cells on both the surfaces are polygonal with oblique or straight anticlinal walls in all species except inHaemanthus andEucharis where these have sinuous or undulate walls. Subsidiaries are indistinct and are of C-type. With the exception ofEucharis (hypostomatic) leaves are amphistomatic in all the species. The stomata are anomocytic. Various types of stomatal abnormalitiesviz contiguous stomata, interstomatal cytoplasmic connections etc., are observed in the different species.

Male plants ofCarica papaya L were induced to bear female flowers and yield a good fruit crop by the application of ethrel and chlorflurenol at various concentrations. During conversion of male flowers into female flowers, some intersexual flowers with transition were observed. The female flowers produced by ethrel were similar to the control female flowers whereas those produced by chlorflurenol were abnormal.

Calophyllum inophyllum Linn is one of the important Ayurvedic drug plants of which practically all parts are used medicinally. Among these flowers and stamens are often used as a substitute for ‘Nagkesara’. This paper deals with a detailed pharmacognosy of the flower ofC. inophyllum. Physico-chemical constants, preliminary phytochemical studies, fluorescence analysis, behaviour of powdered drug with differnt chemical reagents and thin layer chromatography were also carried out.

Shoots originating from nodal stem explants ofSalix babylonica showed maximum proliferation through axillary branching on a modified Murashige-Skoog medium supplemented with 1 mg/l of benzylaminopurine. Incorporation of naphthaleneacetic acid or gibberellic acid did not enhance shoot proliferation in the presence of benzylaminopurine. Shoots were grown to a suitable length on a medium with low concentration of benzylaminopurine. Subsequently they were excised and allowed to root on a basal medium, with or without a short pre-treatment with naphthaleneacetic acid. Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots and maintained under high humidity conditions to prevent their desiccation. The high humidity conditions were gradually withdrawn and the plantlets established as independently growing saplings.

The various forms/varieties ofDatura metel have so far been distinguished mainly on their morphological charactersviz flower colour and number of corolla tubes. This paper deals with morphometric analysis of four forms ofD. metel considering all sorts of possible morphological characters. The results clearly indicate large variations among the four forms deserving individual taxonomic identity.