Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents                                                                      

1. What are the plants possibly / presumed Extinct ?
2. What are the plants indicator for Pollution ?
3. What are the plants indicators for Mineral ?
4. Is there any plant indicator for Ground water ?
5. What are the plants indicator for Humus ?
6. What are the plants indicator for Soil type?
7. Number of plant species belonging to major group expected to occur in India / World ?
8. Number of wild species in different Crop Group ?
9. What are the eight centres of origin of Cultivated Plants ?
10. What are the twelve mega center of Cultivate Plants?
11. What are the mega diversity countries of the world and what is the estimated supply of these Plants ?
12. What are the number of species of major group of plants and micro organism described and estimated ?
13. Dominant plant families and there proportion to the global diversity ?
14. Indian hotspot and number of endemic species of higher plants?
15. what is the estimated endemic species from different group of plants in India 

1.  What are the plants possibly / presumed Extinct ?

             The table below showing list of  Indian plants possibly/presumed extinct :  Source Nayar and Sastry  1987 , 1988 , 1990

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    2.  What are the plants indicator for Pollution ?

Plant are more sensitive to pollution than human and can serve as indicators and resistant species as accumulators which collect large amount of pollutants without being damaged.

  Many chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides and fossil fuels release toxic substances into the environment which are absorbed by the plants from air , water and soil. Atmospheric pollutants produced from automobiles, industrial fumes and strong radiations are dangerous to plants. Harmful substances that reach plants through air are CO2 , SO2, NO2, Hydrocarbons , dust and smoke. Plants growing in water are severely affected by toxic chemicals like cynide , chlorine , hypochlorate , phenol , benzyl derivatives and heavy metal compounds present in sewage .

 The effects of different kinds of pollution can be determined by the nature of pollutants , their and the period of exposure. Under exposure to high concentration, plants suffer acute injuries with externally visible symptoms such as chlorosis , discolouration , necrosis and death of entire plant. Besides morphological changes ,Chemical , biochemical , such as enzymatic parameter, physiological and fine structural changes also occur in the affected plants.

        Mosses, lichens and some fungi are more sensitive to SO2 for long time.

 Mercury concentration in Festuca rubera grass may be due to chloroalkali setup and lead (Pb) in leaves is increased due to automobile exhaust.

     Polygonum, Rheum, Vicia, Phaseolus and Capsella are important pollution indicators.

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    3.   What are the plants indicators for Mineral ?

The plants which indicate the presence of characteristics minerals in the soil are called metallophytes, for example - Vallozia candida grows in the presence of diamond in soil. Equisetum arvensis, Lonicera confusa, Papaver libonticum, Thuja species indicate the presence of gold mineral in the soil. Eriogonum ovafolium indicates the presence of silver mineral in soil. Stellaria setacea grows in mercury rich soil. Astragalus spp. indicate presence of uranium. Viscaria alpina indicates copper minerals. Viola calaminaria, V.lutea are indicators for zinc presence. Salsola nitrata, Euro ceatoides grow in boron rich soil.Dammara ovata, Dacrydium are indicators for iron mineral. Ilex aquifolium grows in aluminium rich soil.

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     4.   Is there any plant indicator for Ground water ?

Certain plant communities indicate the depth of ground water e.g., Euphorbia caducifolia . Capparis decidua , Acacia senegal, Anogeissus pendula, Salvadora persica, Panicum turgidum, Tamarix and Ziziphus spp.

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   5.  What are the plants indicator for Humus ?

Some plats act ac humus indicator. Monotropa ,Neottia and mashrooms indicate thee prence of humas in soil. Strodilanthes and Impatiens indicate the presence of high humus or litter.

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   6.  What are the plants indicator for Soil type?

Many plants indicate the characteristics of soil. For exmaple, Casuarina equisetifolia , Citrullus colocynthis and Tanicum spp. grow in sandy soil. Imperata cylindrica and Vetivria grow on clayey soil. Cotton prefers to grow in black soil. 

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    7.   Number of plant species belonging to major group expected to occur in India / World ?

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     8.  Number of wild species in different Crop Group ?

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   9.  What are the eight centres of origin of Cultivated Plants ?

1.   Chinese-Japanese Region

2.   Hindusthan Region

2a.  Indo-Malayan Region

3.   Central Asian Region

4.   Near Eastern Region

5.   Mediterranean Region

6.  Abyssinian Region

7.   South Mexican and Central American Region

8.   South American Region (Peru,Ecuador,Bolivia)

8a.  Chile

8b.  Brazil and Paraguay

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   10.  What are the twelve mega center of Cultivate Plants?

1. Chinese - Japanese Region

2. Indochinese - Indonesian Region

3. Australian Region

4. Hindusthani Region

5. Central Asian Region

6. Near Eastern Region

7. Mediterranean Region

8. African Region

9. European - Siberian Region

10. South American Region

11. Central Amerian and Mexican Region

12. North American Region.

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   11. What are the mega diversity countries of the world and what is the estimated supply of Flowering Plants ?

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   12.  What are the number of species of major group of plants and micro organism described and estimated ?

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   13.  Dominant plant families and there proportion to the global diversity ?

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   14.  Indian hotspot and number of endemic species of higher plants?

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   15.    What is the estimated endemic species from different group of plants in India ?

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