Plant parts such as leaf, stem, and root of Acampe praemorsa (Roxb.) Blatt. & McCann were investigated for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. Anti-inflammatory property was evaluated using heat induced albumin denaturation assay. In methanolic crude extracts, the highest anti-inflammatory activity was 76.87% in stem and the least (44.89%) in the leaf. Amongst the four fractions, the highest anti-inflammatory activity was 88.17% in Dichloromethane (DCM) fractions of leaf and the lowest was 21.77% in n-Hexane fractions of leaf. Antioxidant potentiality was determined using both methanolic crude extract and four fractions i.e. DCM, Butanol-1, nHexane, and Methanol of all the three plant parts i.e. leaf, stem, and root. In crude extract, the highest scavenging activity was 84.32% in leaf at concentration of 250 µgml-1. On the other hand, amongst four fractions, methanolic fraction of root showed the maximum scavenging activity (97.84%) at concentration of 250 µgml-1 and the least antioxidant activity was 46.31% in n-Hexane fraction of root at concentration of 50 µgml-1. To evaluate antibacterial activity, experiment was carried out against four human pathogenic bacteria i.e. gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The highest inhibition activity (17.4 mm) against S. aureus was found in stem extracts at 200 concentration. Inhibition zone of 16.2 mm was observed in stem extracts at concentration 100 against P. aeruginosa. The least inhibition activity (9.8 mm) was showed in stem extracts at 100 concentration against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. The present findings revealed that Acampe praemorsa can be used as a potential source of new drug development in future.

Orchids are an intricate component of forest ecosystems that contribute to a high proportion of plant diversity. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of orchids in the part of Western Ghats i.e. Sirsi. The present study revealed that 27 transects of 8 habitats of Sirsi recorded 29 species of orchids belonging to 22 genera in which most of them are epiphytes and two are terrestrial. Kondagallu region has the highest diversity and species richness. The highest Shannon’s diversity index was observed for Kondagallu and Sirsi, while Dyayagudu recorded the lowest Shannon’s diversity index. Kondagallu recorded the highest Simpson’s diversity index and the least was recorded by Dyayagudu. The highest species evenness was found in Hedge indicating thereby that all the species present in that habitat is more even where the least evenness was found in Sirsians indicating thereby that the number of different orchid species varied spatially.

A new variety, Nervilia simplex var. himachalensis from Himachal Pradesh, NorthWestern Himalayas, India is described and illustrated. The new variety is distinct from the typical Nervilia simplex by its 2 flowered inflorescence with purple-white fringed flowers, leaves with 13 main veins, petiole erect, about 2-6 cm long, presence of ca. 1.3 cm broad sheath at the base of flowers, and 1.5-2.0 cm long capsule

Orchids constitute one of the largest families of flowering plants and are distributed throughout the world. The family Orchidaceae is divided into five subfamilies (Apostasioideae, Cypripedioideae, Vanilloideae, Orchidoideae, and Epidendroideae). The orchids are evergreen or deciduous herbaceous plants and show a wide range of diversity both in vegetative and reproductive characters for climatic and physiological adaptations. The present study was conducted using all vegetatively propagated 12 species and 30 hybrids of commercially grown orchid genus i.e., Cymbidium. Using 62 descriptors, morphological diversity of species and hybrids of Cymbidium was studied based upon the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) guidelines. Amongst different morphological descriptors, their diversity, diversity in shape of pseudobulbs and leaves, inflorescence variations, and floral characteristics were studied in detail.

Orchids are unique and highly evolved group of plants which belong to the family Orchidaceae, one of the most diverse and largest families of flowering plants. Apart from their extensive utility in traditional medicine systems, these plants are famous for their beautiful flowers. Due to over exploitation, habitat degradation, and continuously changing climatic conditions, the natural populations of these species are declining fast. Therefore, the present study was conducted in the district Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, NorthWestern Himalayas so as to assess the orchid diversity, distribution, and their indigenous usage pattern. A total of 20 species of orchids representing 14 genera were recorded. Amongst these species, 13 were native to Himalayan region, 4 were endemic, and 1 was near endemic to Indian Himalayan Region. Most of the orchid species were found to grow in 2400-2900 m altitude. Moist shady forest, alpine meadows, grassy meadows and agricultural field bunds were the major habitats. Fifteen species were reported to be in indigenous usage and were used to cure different ailments; 5 species were in usage as vegetables or tonic. According to IUCN, 3 species i.e., Cypripedium cordigerum, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, and Malaxis muscifera and as per Conservation Assessment and Management Prioritization (CAMP), 4 species i.e., Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Habenaria intermedia, Herminium edgeworthii, and Malaxis muscifera are threatened and require conservation and management efforts.