Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2020; Sp 9(5): 867-875
E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 www.phytojournal.com Studies on weed flora of Theog and Kotkhai area JPP 2020; Sp 9(5): 867-875 Received: 23-08-2020 of Himachal Pradesh Accepted: 25-09-2020
Dinesh Kumar Pal Dinesh Kumar Pal, Rajeev Dhiman and Varun Attri Department of Forest Products, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Abstract Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal The present investigation “Studies on weed flora of Theog and Kotkhai area of Himachal Pradesh” was Pradesh, India undertaken to study the plant wealth of the area with main emphasis on weed flora. The study area lies between North latitudes 31º-5´ and 31º-10´ and East longitudes 77º-22´-30´´ and 77º-30´. This area is Rajeev Dhiman mostly situated in the west of Shimla District, from where, a total of 26 weeds were collected which Department of Silviculture and belongs to 19 families. Samples of each species were collected, dried according to the standard Agroforestry, Dr. Y.S. Parmar procedure. For each weed species, common names, distribution, description, habitat, flowering and University of Horticulture and fruiting time was collected following the available literature. The aim of the study was to gather Forestry, Nauni, Solan, knowledge about the different weeds of the area and their habit which can be utilized for future reference Himachal Pradesh, India and further research purposes, so as to make preventive measures to avoid loss from these weeds to existing vegetation. Varun Attri Regional Research Station, Keywords: Weeds, lantana, parthenium, etc. PAU, Ballowal Saunkhri, Balachaur, SBS Nagar, Punjab, India Introduction Weed is a general term which is used for any plant growing where it is not wanted. Ever since humans first attempted the cultivation of plants, they have had to fight the invasion by weeds into areas chosen for crops. Some unwanted plants later were found to have virtues not
originally suspected and so were removed from the category of weeds and taken under cultivation. Other cultivated plants, when transplanted to new climates, escaped cultivation and became weeds or invasive species. The category of weeds thus is ever changing, and the term is a relative one. Weeds compete with crop plants for water, light, and nutrients. Weeds of rangelands and pastures may be unpalatable to animals, or even poisonous; they may cause
injuries, as with lodging of foxtails (Alopecurus species) in horses’ mouths; they may lower values of animal products, as in the cases of cockleburs (Xanthium species) in wool; they may add to the burden of animal care, as when horses graze in sticky tarweeds (Madia species). Many weeds are hosts of plant disease organisms. Examples are prickly lettuce (Lactuca scariola) and sow thistle (Sonchus species) that serve as hosts for downy mildew; wild
mustards (Brassica species) that host clubroot of cabbage; and saltbrush (Atriplex species) and Russian thistle, in which curly top virus overwinters, to be carried to sugar beets by leafhoppers. Many weeds are hosts of insect pests, and a number are invasive species (Anonymous, 2020) [1]. Himachal Pradesh situated in the lap of northwestern Himalayas is one of the richest repositories of plant diversity in India. However, during the past three decades,
because of the increased pace of development and interference of humans through introduction of invasive exotics, the ecology of the state has changed tremendously. Ragweed parthenium, billy goat weed, and lantana-the three exotics from South America-have caused much harm in the state because of their invasive potential. Considered as most invasive exotic weed, Lantana is spreading over more than 2,30,000 hectares of forests in Himachal Pradesh (HP). It
threatens the regeneration of native plant species. Hence, it is necessary to gather information regarding the weeds present in the forests to minimise the damage to existing vegetation.
Material and Methods The present study on weeds was carried out for gathering information regarding the weed flora
of Theog Forest Division, located in district Shimla of Himachal Pradesh. The study area is Corresponding Author: situated between North latitudes 31º-5´ and 31º-10´ and East longitudes 77º-22´-30´´ and 77º- Dinesh Kumar Pal 30´. This area is mostly situated in the west of district Shimla and comes under Theog and Department of Forest Products, Kotkhai Sub-divisions. The total geographical area of the division is 64000 ha (512 Km²), out Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of of which 32045.10 ha, i.e. 50.07 per cent of the total geographical area is under tree cover. The Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal altitudinal range of this area lies between about 900 m to 3150 m above mean sea level. The Pradesh, India entire tract is mountainous. The area, on average, receives an annual rainfall of about 1200mm ~ 867 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry http://www.phytojournal.com
The main objectives of the study were collection, nomenclature has been made up to date with the help of identification, classification and documentation of weed flora recent taxonomic literature. of the study area. To achieve these objectives, extensive field surveys were carried out in the entire study area during Results and Discussion flowering/fruiting period to facilitate the process of The area was surveyed for weed flora in the theog and identification, covering all seasons of the years 2009 and Kotkhai region of Himachal Pradesh. There was about 26 2010. The collected specimens were pressed in blotting sheets species of weeds belonging to 19 families were encountered. in the wooden or iron presses and were oven-dried afterwards. The information about them was collected from the available The macroscopic characters were taken into consideration for literature and is discussed as under: the identification and description of plant specimens. The
1. Argemone mexicana Linn. Family : Papaveraceae Local/ Common Name : Prickly Poppy, Mexican Poppy (E.); Bramha-dandi (S.); Bharband (H.) Place of Collection : Near Sainj (along the road to Balag), 1300 m Field Book No. : UHF-12968 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : A native of America, naturalized throughout India as a weed; by roadsides and in fields; ascending upto 1500 m in Western Himalaya. Description : A robust, erect, prickly, glabrous, glaucous, annual herb with yellow latex, upto 1 m. Leaves 5-15 cm long, sessile, stem- clasping, sinuate-pinnatifid, variegated green and white. Flowers bright yellow, 2-5 cm in dia. Sepals 2. Petals 4. Stamens many. Capsule about 2 cm long, bristly, elliptic-oblong, dehiscing at the top by short valves. Seeds many. Flowering/Fruiting : May-September
2. Fumaria indica (Hausskn.) Pugsley Family : Fumariaceae syn. Fumaria parviflora Lamk. subsp. vaillantii Hook. f.; Fumaria vaillantii Loisel var. indica Hausskn. Local/ Common Name : Jhinchra (Vern.); Fumitory (E.); Araka, Kalapanga (S.); Pitpapra, Shahterah (H.) Place of Collection : Saryun (Fagu), 2480 m; Chandni, 1850 m Field Book No. : UHF-12719 & -11267 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : Common in fields as a weed of cultivation in the temperate regions upto 2500 m. Description : A much branched annual herb, often scandent. Leaves pale-green, pinnately divided, leaflets further lobed into very narrow segments, which in turn are further lobed or entire. Flowers minute, white to pinkish or purplish, in numerous short, terminal or leaf-opposed racemes, raceme 2-5 cm long, sepals lanceolate and much smaller than the corolla-tube. Fruit globose, one-seeded, indehiscent. Flowering/Fruiting : April-June
3. Thlaspi arvense Linn. Family : Brassicaceae Local/ Common Name : Common Pennycress, Fan-weed (E.) Place of Collection : Bakhol (Mahasu), 2200 m Field Book No. : UHF-12816 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : A weed of cultivation, sometimes on waste ground; throughout the temperate and sub-alpine Himalaya, between 1000-4000 m. Description : An erect, glabrous, annual herb. Stem 10-25 cm, erect, simple or corymbosely branched above, Radical leaves obovate, petioled, toothed, soon withering; cauline amplexicaul, oblong-lanceolate, usually acute, toothed; auricles sagittate. Flowers white, small, in racemes. Fruiting racemes elongated; pedicels spreading, almost as long as the pods. Pods about 1 cm in dia., laterally much compressed, obovate-orbicular, broadly winged, top notched. Seeds 5-6 in each cell Flowering/Fruiting : April-June
4. Thlaspi cochleariforme DC. syn. Thlaspi alpestre auct (non Linn.) Hook. f. & T. Anderson Local/ Common Name : Alpine Pennycress (E.) Place of Collection : Saryun (Fagu), 2480 m Field Book No. : UHF-12714 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : A weed of cultivation and waste ground in temperate and sub-alpine Himalaya between 2000- 4000 m. Description : A perennial herb. Stems usually tufted, 10-25 cm, stiff, rarely branched, glabrous, somewhat glaucous, and erect. Rootstock often
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branched and shortly creeping near the surface. Radical leaves oblong or ovate, sometimes almost orbicular, often toothed near the base; cauline leaves oblong or obovate-cordate, stem-clasping with two short obtuse lobes (auricles), 1.0-2.5 cm dia., entire, Flowers white, raceme much elongated when in fruiting; pedicels horizontal, as long as the pods; pods 0.5-0.7 cm long, oblong- ovate, narrowed towards the base; valves compressed, winged. Seeds 4-8 in each cell. Flowering/Fruiting : April-June
5. Stellaria media (Linn.) Vill. Family : Caryophyllaceae syn. Alsine media Linn. Local/ Common Name : Chick weed (E.); Safed phulkee (H.) Place of Collection : Saryun (Fagu), 2480 m; Chambi, 2400 m; Sharmala, 2150 m Field Book No. : UHF-12723, -11248 & -12859 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : A very common and most variable weed; a widely colonized plant in temperate Himalayas ascending upto 4000 m. Description : An annual herb, glabrous or generally pubescent; branches opposite, usually jointed and thickened at the joints. Stems nearly erect or procumbent, 15-60 cm. Leaves opposite, ovate, margin entire, apex acute, 1-2.5 cm, usually cordate and often connate, lower long-petioled, upper sessile and ovate-lanceolate. Flowers white, in axillary or terminal cymes, 0.5-0.8 cm in dia. Sepals sub- acute, hairy. Petals as many as sepals, shorter than the sepals, white. Flowering/Fruiting : April-October
6. Malva rotundifolia Linn. Family: Malvaceae syn. Malva neglecta Wallr. Local/ Common Name : Khubasi (H.) Place of Collection : Theog (near Sabzi Mandi), 2220 m Field Book No. : UHF-12759 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : Common; as weed of cultivation and in wastelands; throughout Northern India, ascending upto 3000 m in N-W Himalaya. Description : A stellately pubescent, much-branched, spreading, decumbent, annual herb. Leaves sub-orbicular, lobed, crenate; petiole 6-12 cm long. Bracteoles oblong-lanceolate, half the length of sepals. Flowers long stalked, in axillary clusters, light pink, bluish-white or white; peduncles 3-4 cm, deflexed after flowering. Corolla about 2 cm in dia.; petals wedge shaped, notched, twice the length of the sepals. Flowering/Fruiting : May-October
7. Oxalis corniculata Linn. Family: Oxalidaceae syn. Oxalis repens Thunb. Local/ Common Name : Khat-maroli (Vern.); Indian Sorrel (E.); Amlika (S.); Amrul-Sak, Chuka-tripati (H.) Place of Collection : Sharmala, 2150 m; Guthan, 2060 m Field Book No. : UHF-12866 & -12853 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : Common weed, abundant in cultivated places and wastelands; throughout the warmer parts of India, ascending the Himalaya to 2500 m. Description : A very variable, diffuse, creeping or procumbent, hairy herb; perennial by root. Stems 4-15 cm, rooting at the nodes. Leaves radical or upper alternate, 3-foliolate, long-petioled; leaflets obcordate; stipules adnate to the petiole. Flowers about 1 cm across, in solitary or few flowered, long-stalked, small umbels. Sepals 5, imbricate, obtuse. Petals 5, yellow, hypogynous, obcordate, notched. Stamens 10, filaments united at the base. Capsule cylindrical, tomentose, 1-2 cm long. Seeds many in each cell, transversely ribbed. Flowering/Fruiting : April-October
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8. Dodonaea viscosa (Linn.) Jacq. Family: Sapindaceae Local/ Common Name : Nokhi dali, Sanatta (Vern.); Sinatha, Aliar (H.) Place of Collection : Near Sainj, 1300 m Field Book No. : UHF-12983 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : Common on dry open slopes, often gregariously as a weed of grasslands; throughout India, ascending upto 1500 m in hot valleys of Himalaya. Description : An evergreen shrub upto 5 m; wood very hard. Leaves 4-6 cm long, simple, alternate, oblanceolate, entire, bright green, glabrous, leathery, sticky with a shining yellowish resin, sub-sessile, base attenuate. Flowers small, about 4 mm across, greenish-yellow, in short lateral and terminal panicles. Sepals 5, free, oblong-ovate, 3 mm long. Petals none. Stamens 8. Fruit a compressed capsule, about 1.5 cm in dia., glabrous, 2-4- celled, each valve winged; wings sub-orbicular, 2 cm broad, membranous. Flowering/Fruiting : February-November
9. Cassia floribunda Cav. Family: Caesalpiniaceae (Leguminosae in part) syn. Cassia laevigata Willd. Local/ Common Name : Bankola, Shershu (Vern.) Place of Collection : Kuftu (near Satog), 1400 m; Satog, 1200 m Field Book No. : UHF-12210 & -12647 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : Common in wastelands and near cultivated areas, often gregariously as a weed; probably native of tropical America and naturalized in India; ascending upto 1800 m in Himalaya. Description : A shrubby, sub-glabrous, annual herb, upto 2 m; stem erect, succulent, hollow. Leaves even-pinnate, 3-5 pairs, with grooved leaf-stalk, leaflets 3-10 cm long, ovate or ovate-oblong, acuminate, glaucous, entire, glabrous or puberulous, foetid when crushed. Flowers bright-yellow, 1-2 cm in dia., in axillary and terminal corymbose racemes; peduncle 4-6 cm long; pedicels spreading, 2-3 cm long, puberulous. Sepals caducous. Petals 5, sub-orbicular, obtuse. Three stamens characteristically larger than the others with curved filaments. Pod 8-12 cm long, smooth, cylindrical, slightly recurved. Seeds 12-20. Flowering/Fruiting : July-October
10. Bidens pilosa Linn. Family: Asteraceae; Compositae Local/ Common Name : Kumber (Vern.) Place of Collection : Balag 1220m Field Book No. : UHF-12641 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : Common as a weed of cultivated areas and on wastelands, often gregariously; throughout India, ascending upto 2000 m in Himalaya. Description : An erect, annual herb. Leaves 1-pinnate; leaflets 3-5, ovate, toothed. Flower heads about 8 mm in dia., ligules white. Achenes linear, straight, rough, tipped by pappus of 3 bristles. Flowering/Fruiting : August-November
11. Galinsoga parviflora Cav. Place of Collection : Bakhol, 2250 m Field Book No. : UHF-12786 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : A native of America; introduced into India and occurs throughout Himalaya as a weed, between 1200-2500 m. Description : An erect, rough-hairy, annual herb; stems weak, 12-30 cm long. Leaves opposite, ovate, glabrescent, membranous. Flower-heads about 5 mm in dia.; ligules white; disc flowers yellow. Achenes black, viscid-hairy, angled. Flowering/Fruiting : April-October
12. Gnaphalium affine D. Don syn. Gnaphalium luteo-album Linn. var. multiceps Hook. f.; Gnaphalium multiceps Wall. ex DC.; Gnaphalium luteo-album Hook. f. (non Linn.) Local/ Common Name : Nanehi (Vern.); Jersey Cudweed (E.)
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Place of Collection : Sharmala, 2150 m Field Book No. : UHF-12860 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : Common in grazeries and open slopes; throughout India, ascending up to 3000 m. Description : A woolly annual herb with tufted stems. Leaves sessile, spathulate, woolly on both sides. Flowers bright yellow; pappus scanty. Achenes tubercled or with minute curved bristles. Flowering/Fruiting : May-September
13. Parthenium hysterophorus Linn. Local/ Common Name : Congress Grass (E.) Place of Collection : Balag, 1220 m Field Book No. : UHF-12639 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : An obnoxious weed; in cultivated areas, along roadsides and on wasteland; throughout India, ascending upto 1500 m in Himalaya. Description : A profusely flowering annual weed, introduced into India around 1956 alongwith imported food grains. Stem erect, tufted, highly branching, angular, hispid, upto 2 m. Leaves pinnately or bi- pinnately dissected. Flower-heads small, white, discoid, in axillary and terminal, highly branched corymbs. Flowering/Fruiting : July-November
14. Xanthium strumarium Linn. Local/ Common Name : Cocklebur, Bur-weed (E.); Arishta (S.); Banokra, Gokhru, Chhota-gokhru, Chhota-dhatura, Adhasisi (H.) Place of Collection : Maipul, 1250 m Field Book No. : UHF-12969 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : Common on wastelands, near human habitations, and along roadsides; throughout India, ascending upto 2000 m in Himalaya. Description : An erect, coarse, annual herb. Leaves rough, triangular-orbicular, long-stalked, irregularly toothed, base cordate. Flower-heads in axillary or terminal clusters. Flowering/Fruiting : April-November
15. Cynoglossum glochidiatum Wall. ex Benth. Family: Boraginaceae syn. Cynoglossum wallichii G. Don; Cynoglossum denticulatum DC. Place of Collection : Fagu, 2350 m Field Book No. : UHF-12206 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : A common weed near cultivated areas, in grazeries and wasteland; 1200-3000 m. Description : An erect, coarsely hairy, annual herb; stem and leaves rough with mostly tubercled white hairs. Leaves alternate, 2-8 cm long, almost entire or minutely erosed, ovate, or oblong-lanceolate, acute, base narrowed into the petiole; upper leaves sessile, lower leaves long- stalked; all the radical leaves perish till the time of flowering; tubercled hairs more conspicuous on upper surface. Flowers bluish, about 0.5 cm in dia., in simple or forked one-sided racemes; bracts none; calyx deeply 5-lobed, persistent and spreading in fruit; corolla-tube as long as the calyx, 5-lobed; lobes spreading, obtuse. Stamens 5, included in the corolla. Nutlets 4, bristly on the margins. Flowering/Fruiting : August-October
16. Datura stramonium Linn. Family: Solanaceae Local/ Common Name : Dhatura, Safed dhatura (Vern.); Thorn Apple, Mad Apple, Stink Weed (E.); Dhattura, Unmatta, Kanaka, Shivapriya (S.); Dhatura (H.) Place of Collection : Dharech, 2000 m; Naina, 1150 m Field Book No. : UHF-12266 & -12992 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : Common on wastelands, along roadsides and near cultivated areas; a native of tropical America, naturalised in the Himalayas; 500-2500 m. Description : An erect, glabrous, annual herb, up to 1 m. Leaves stalked, obovate, irregularly lobed. Flowers white, solitary on an axillary stalk; corolla funnel-shaped, 6-15 cm long. Fruit a capsule, ovoid, covered with rigid sharp prickles. Flowering/Fruiting : April-October
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17. Veronica persica Poiret. Family: Scrophulariaceae Place of Collection : Saryun (Fagu), 2480 m Field Book No. : UHF-12746 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : A common weed in fields between 1500-2800 m. Description : A slender spreading annual herb; stems procumbent, 15-50 cm long, branched only near the base, not much branched above tips often ascending, pubescent. Leaves 0.8-2.0 cm, alternate, shortly petioled, broadly ovate, coarsely serrate-dentate, obtuse, base rounded or cordate, each bearing a single flower in its axil (except a few basal ones), pubescent. Pedicels slender, much longer than the leaves, recurved at fruiting stage, pubescent. Calyx 4-parted, lobes about 0.6 cm long, much longer than the capsule at fruiting stage, obtuse or acute. Corolla 0.8-1.2 cm in dia., bright-blue. Capsule 0.6-1.0 cm across, with two widely divergent lobes, much broader than long, flattened, valves reticulated, 8-12 seeds per capsule. Seeds boat-shaped, deeply-pitted. Flowering/Fruiting : April-June
18. Lantana camara L. var. aculeata (L.) Moldenke Family: Verbenaceae syn. Lantana aculeata L. Local/ Common Name : Phool-lakri (Vern.); Lantana, Wild Sage (E.) Place of Collection : Satog, 1350 m; Satog, 1300 m Field Book No. : UHF-12285 & -12674 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : A native of tropical America; widely naturalized in India, as a highly invasive and obnoxious weed in forests, shrubberies and cultivated areas; ascending upto 1500 m. Description : A hispid, rambling, evergreen shrub; branches 4-angled, covered with numerous recurved prickles. Leaves opposite, shortly stalked, ovate, toothed. Flowers orange-yellow, in head-like or ovate spikes. Flowering/Fruiting : May-November
19. Boerhavia diffusa Linn. Family: Nyctaginaceae syn. Boerhavia repens Linn. Local/ Common Name : Punarnava, Rakta punarnava (S.); Sant (H.); Spreading Hog-weed (E.) Place of Collection : Balag, 1220 m Field Book No. : UHF-12960 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : Seldom found; in shrubberies and open slopes; throughout India, ascending up to 1800 m. Description : A prostate, diffusely branched, perennial herb; branches strict, slender; rootstock woody, extensive. Leaves ovate, cordate, obtuse, entire, shortly stalked, 1-3 cm long. Flowers minute, reddish, crowded in small heads at the end of axillary stalks, forming loose terminal panicles. Flowering/Fruiting : April-October
20. Alternanthera sessilis (Linn.) R. Br. ex DC. Family: Amaranthaceae Local/ Common Name : Giojihra (S.); Kanchari (H.) Place of Collection : Satog, 1300 m; Balag, 1200 m Field Book No. : UHF-12687 & -12981 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : Common in moist areas and along water channels; a weed throughout the warmer parts of India; ascending upto 1500 m. Description : A prostrate, perennial herb. Leaves opposite, sub-sessile, oblong- ovate, obtuse, 2-3 cm long. Flowers minute, white, crowded in shining, short, head-like, sessile, axillary spikes. Perianth 5-partite, scarious. Flowering/Fruiting : July-October 21. Amaranthus blitum Linn. var. oleraceus Hook. f. Local/ Common Name : Chaulai (Vern.); Bashpaka, Marisha (S.); Chaulai, Marsa (H.) Place of Collection : Maipul, 1250 m Field Book No. : UHF-12613 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : Common on wasteland and near cultivated areas; throughout the tropical and temperate parts of India, as a weed.
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Description : An erect or decumbent, glabrous, succulent, annual herb. Leaves ovate-oblong, obtuse or retuse, base acute, long-petioled. Flowers minute, in clusters all axillary or the upper in a dense or lax spike. Flowering/Fruiting : April-June
22. Amaranthus spinosus Linn. Local/ Common Name : Prickly Amaranth (E.); Tanduliya (S.); Kataili Chaulai (H.) Place of Collection : Fagu, 2400 m; Gaseevan, 1600 m Field Book No. : UHF-12192 & -12217 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : A field weed throughout India; ascending upto 1800 m altitude in Western Himalaya. Description : An erect, glabrous, annual herb; stems hard, terete. Leaves 2-8 cm long, alternate, simple, entire, ovate, obtuse, cuneate, long-stalked; petiole slender, equalling the leaf-blade or shorter. Flowers unisexual, minute, about 1 mm long, in axillary clusters, in leafy erect densely flowered spikes; bracts setaceous, generally exceeding the sepals; sepals 5, acuminate in male, obtuse in female. Seeds about 1 mm in dia., shiny-black, sub-globose. Flowering/Fruiting : July-October
23.Chenopodium opulifolium Schrad. Family: Chenopodiaceae Local/ Common Name : Shanathu (Vern.); Bethu sag (H.) Place of Collection : Saryun (Fagu), 2480 m Field Book No. : UHF-12739 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : Common in waste places and fields as a weed, between 2000-3000 m. Description : An erect or ascending annual herb with a mealy-white covering; very closely allied to Chenopodium album Linn. in habit, distinguished in vegetative phase by its broad openly sinuate obtuse leaves. Stem and leaves often purple tinged as in C. album. Leaves are longer stalked, broadly rhombic or triangular, obtuse or acute, sinuate or irregularly lobed, upper leaves similar to the lower as in contrast to C. album. Flowers are minute, in lax axillary cymes; cymes usually shorter than the leaves. Fruit an utricle, only partially covered by the persistent perianth as in contrast to C. album where it is entirely covered. Seeds minutely dotted. Flowering/Fruiting : May-October
24. Euphorbia maddeni Boiss. Family: Euphorbiaceae Place of Collection : Saryun (Fagu), 2480 m Field Book No. : UHF-12689 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : A weed in cultivated areas; Western Himalaya, 1500-2800 m. Description : An erect, leafy, glabrous, annual herb. Involucres solitary in the forks of the branches or sometimes in umbels. Glands greenish- yellow, crescent-shaped. Flowering/Fruiting : May-September
25. Cyperus michelianus (Linn.) Link Family: Cyperaceae syn. Scirpus michelianus Linn. Place of Collection : Satog, 1300 m Field Book No. : UHF-12659 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : Common as a weed in fields, near villages, along roadsides and in wastelands, especially in moist shady areas; throughout India, ascending upto 1500 m in Himalayas. Description : A glabrous annual herb. Stems 8-20 cm, tufted or solitary, 3- angled. Leaves almost equal to the stem. Spikelets small, numerous, densely compound-capitate, in a single head, rachilla of the spikelets marked spirally by the scars after shedding of glumes; bracts many, long, leaf-like. Style 3-fid, persistent on the tip of nut, about as long as nut. Nut obovoid, smooth, light brown. Flowering/Fruiting : June-November
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26. Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn var. wightianum (Ag.) Tryon Family: Pteridiaceae Local/ Common Name : Bracken fern (E); Kakhash (H.) Place of Collection : Sharmala, 2150 m; Shilaru, 2350 m Field Book No. : UHF-12875 & -12143 (Dinesh K. Pal) Distribution & Habitat : Fairly common in temperate areas on the forest floor or as a weed in orchards. The fern being very plastic morphologically the overall appearance of the plant is affected by humidity, shade, available moisture, soil types, etc. Description : Rhizome long-creeping, thick, hairy; hairs pale-brown, acicular, straight. Stipes 40cm or longer, upto 0.6cm in dia., hairy to almost glabrous higher up; rachis sparsely hairy, later becoming glabrous. Lamina bi-pinnate to tri-pinnate, large, 60-150cm long, 30-50cm broad, texture sub-coriaceous, hairy, hairs whitish; pinnae 8-12 pairs, alternate, distal pinnae sub-opposite, lower pinnae larger, 30cm or longer, 10-15cm broad; pinnules 6-12cm long, 2-3 cm broad, lanceolate, in mature leaves margin of pinnules lobed into numerous short lobes; lobes 0.5-1.5 cm long, falcate, apex obtuse, margin entire or lobed in the middle of the pinnae; veins free, simple or forked, hairy; costae and costules grooved on the upper surface, densely hairy, more on dorsal side. Sori marginal, continuous; indusia double, inner rudimentary, membranaceous. Spores brown, exine almost smooth.
Sarin (2003) [6] has done an appraisal of resources of puberty are spared. Though Parthenium plant is not palatable medicinal plant raw materials for Indian drug and to livestock due to its aroma, disagreeable taste and presence pharmaceutical industry. According to him the number of of trichomes, yet accidental or willful intake for want of green plant species yielding raw materials used by the industry on a fodder may cause severe disease syndrome in milch cattle regular basis and/or in substantially large quantities is put at grazing in the infested area. The toxin ‘Parthenin’ was approximately 340. Among these, 145 species occur wild in detected in the milk of cattle grazing in areas infested with forests or other forms of natural vegetation, 54 grow as weed, Parthenium (Rana et al. 2015) [3]. 70 are grown as cash crop for other plant based products, 30 Weed flora in forest nurseries differ from those found in are cultivated as medicinal crop and around 40 are imported forest plantations and forest stands. Given the extent of care from other countries. measures applied, weeds in forest nurseries are very similar to In low and mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh, lantana has those found in cultivated crops (Konstantinović, 1999) [2]. covered almost all the uncultivated lands whether forests, They are mostly annual and perennial herbaceous weedy pastures, roadsides or grazing lands. Initially, Lantana was species. The most common grass weed species present in the confined to marshy foothills but due to its capability to forest nurseries include: Sorghum halepense, Cynodon withstand the adverse climatic conditions, it has now gone up dactylon, Alopecurus myosuroides, Digitaria sanquinalis, to the height of 6000 feet and can be seed almost everywhere. Echinochloa crus-galli, Poa annua, and Setaria spp. Besides, the vast deforested slopes and arable lands which Dominant broadleaf species include: Amaranthus retroflexus, used to produce crops, this weed has covered many hectares Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Chenopodium album, Cirsium of pasture lands too, which are in close vicinity of the arvense, Convolvulus arvensis, Erigeron canadensis, Datura villages. Now the thickets of Lantana are forcing people to stramonium, Galium aparine, Solanum nigrum, Sinapis depend on other forest trees to meet their fodder requirements arvensis, and Poligonum spp.. Control of weediness in forest due to shrinkage of grazing and grasslands. Environmental nurseries is very important and quality planting material is the biology of Lantana camara under north-western Himalayan basic prerequisite for success in forest stand establishment. conditions has been studied by Singh and Angiras 2011 [7]. Since weeds are one of the most limiting factors for the Use of Lantana twigs as mulch and compost has been found success of nursery production, their control should be useful (Rana et al. 2015) [3]. The use of green Lantana twigs approached very seriously (Vasic & Konstantinovic, 2008) [8]. directly in puddle rice fields not only helps in saving nitrogen Weeds in forest plantations and forest stands differ from those to the tune of 40 kg/ha but also helps in suppression of weeds in forest nurseries, because, in addition to different care like Cyperus through its allelopathic effects (Singh and measures applied in plantations and stands, the conditions in Angiras 2011) [7]. It has also been noticed that Parthenium is habitats also differ. Apart from ferns, herbaceous annual and also responsible for the development of a bitter taste in the perennial weeds, woody weeds such as shrubs, bushes, and milk if the cattle is fed on grass mixed with this weed. shoots from the stumps of different tree types may also be However, the incidence of the disease may be directly present in forest plantations and stands. Woody weeds are proportional to the period of exposure to the weed or the very hardy and have a great power of regeneration; it is extent and duration of the infestation of this weed. It has also practically impossible to destroy them completely by been observed that persons suffering from the ill effects can mechanical means. The most common weed species present be cured if moved to a weed free area. The weed is invading in forest plantations and stands are: Ambrosia artemisiifolia, crop lands and grazing areas. The infestation in grasslands Amorpha fruticosa, Asclepias syriaca, Erigeron canadensis, reduces forage production by 100% besides making the land Solidago gigantea, Sorghum halepense, Sambucus nigra, less fertile. It easily invades field crops and vegetables. Stenactis annua, Pteridium aquilinum, Rubus caesius and etc It has been reported that semi clad individuals are more prone (Verica 2012) [9]. to ill effects of Parthenium; whereas the children before
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Conclusion The weeds are known to have adverse effects on the native vegetation and also on the health of animals. It is necessary to know the presence, extent of spread and effects of any weed so as to make the preventive measures to control or eliminate it from the area. In our study, we encountered 26 weeds and this information can be utilized for future reference and research purposes. The harmful one should be targeted first so as to minimize the future damage which would be caused by them. The problem of forestry weeds came to the fore in recent years as more and more attention has been paid to establishing and restoring forests. In afforested areas, luxuriate development of weed vegetation, can affect the survival and development of young seedlings.
References 1. Anonymous. Weed. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica 2020. 2. Konstantinovic B. Recognizing and weed control. University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad 1999. 3. Rana SS, Badiyala D, Sharma N, Kumar R. Major weeds in the non-cropped lands of Himachal Pradesh. All India Coordinated Research Project on Weed Management Department of Agronomy, Forages and Grassland Management College of Agriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur - 176062 (India) 2015. 4. Rana SS, Kumar R, Sharma N, Badiyala D. Effect of continuous use of herbicides on weed shifts in rice-wheat system: Techical Bulletin No-1. Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, HP, India 2015. 5. Ravinder K, Kohli Kuldip S, Dogra Daizy R, Batish, Harminder Pal Singh. Impact of Invasive Plants on the Structure and Composition of Natural Vegetation of Northwestern Indian Himalayas. Weed Technology. Invasive Weed Symposium 2004;18:1296-1300. 6. Sarin YK. Medicinal plant raw materials for Indian drug and pharmaceutical industry-I: an appraisal of resources. Indian Forester 2003;129(1):3-24. 7. Singh KP, Angiras NN. Environmental biology of Lantana camara L under northwestern Himalayas. Annals of Plant Physiology 2011;25(2):115-118. 8. Vasic V, Konstantinovic B. Weed control in poplar nurseries using herbicides. Acta herbologica 2008;17(2):145-154. 9. Verica Vasic, Branko Konstantinovic, Sasa Orlovic. Weeds in Forestry and Possibilities of Their Control 1University of Novi Sad, Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, Novi Sad, 2University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Serbia 2012.
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