Island ecosystems, especially in tropical regions, are often underexplored and are rich in species vulnerable to extinction due to isolation. This study presents an updated checklist of plant species on Great Nicobar Island (GNI), documenting 911 taxa, including 830 angiosperms, 78 pteridophytes, and 3 gymnosperms. Arborescent species make up 64% of the flora, while herbs constitute 36%; trees account for 44% of arborescent plants. Endemic species comprise roughly 10% of the flora, totaling 94 species. This updated account of GNI’s vascular plants provides a vital baseline for conserving its distinctive lowland wet tropical forests, among the most significant within the Indian subcontinent.

The southern Western Ghats host abundant but fragmented grasslands, challenging to map due to rugged terrain and frequent cloud weather. This study utilized Sentinel-2A/B multi-spectral, Sentinel-1 radar, and Global DSM data on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to produce an 88%-accurate thematic map of grassland distribution. Kerala’s forest divisions were found to contain 1131.09 km² of grassland in 2024, with the Munnar division having the largest area. Historical data showed grasslands covering 469.95 km² in 1985 and 462.88 km² in 2005, followed by growth attributed to improved remote sensing and land-use changes. The Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department used the results for strategic planning. Accurate mapping is key to managing and sustaining these vital ecosystems.

Aeschynanthus mannii Kurz ex C.B.Clarke (Gesneriaceae) is recorded for the first time from Arunachal Pradesh state of India. Detailed description, phenology, distribution, and colored photographs are provided to facilitate easy identification in the field.

Forest tree species play a crucial role in climate change mitigation, with biomass serving as a key parameter for estimating carbon storage in individual trees. Among various influencing factors, tree age significantly affects biomass and carbon accumulation. The present study assessed the growth of Albizia procera trees across nine girth classes (G1 to G9) to determine girth-wise volume, biomass, and carbon storage. Biometric parameters varied significantly among classes, with trees in the smallest girth class (G1:10–25 cm) storing 18 kg biomass and 7.48 kg carbon, while those in the largest class (G9:150–175 cm) stored 1226 kg biomass and 509 kg carbon per tree. The generated data will aid foresters, farmers, wood merchants, and stakeholders in estimating carbon stocks of A. procera across diverse land-use systems.

Asystasia intrusa (Forssk.) Blume (Acanthaceae) is reported here as a new distributional record for the Eastern Ghats of India, based on collections from Balasore district of Odisha. A detailed morphological description, notes on phenology, ecology, distribution, and photographic evidence are provided to facilitate field identification of the taxon.

Terrestrial ferns are a diverse group of vascular plants that emerged millions of years ago and tropics have played a crucial role in the evolution and diversification of ferns. Terrestrial fern richness and diversity in Ranni Forest Division (RFD) of South Western Ghats, was assessed using qualitative and quantitative diversity indexing methods. The study area showed the presence of 59 terrestrial fern species, belonging to 15 families, spread in three forest ranges, viz., Vadasserikkara (VFR), Ranni (RFR) and Goodrical (GFR). Fern Family Pteridaceae and Genus Pteris were well represented in the study area. The phytosociological studies were carried out to understand the relative frequency, density and abundance of terrestrial ferns by transect-walk method. A total of 200 belt transects were laid covering various forest vegetation types, altitudes and geo-coordinates. Based on the primary ecological data, various indices such as Importance Value Index (IVI), Diversity Index, Dominance Index, Similarity Index, Species Richness and Evenness were computed. The IVI of the Ranni Forest Division revealed that Adiantum latifolium Lam. in RFR and Bolbitis semicordata (Bak.) Ching in VFR and GFR possessed highest values. The occurrence of vulnerable, near threatened, endemic, exotic species and invasive species remind the need for formulating better conservation strategies.

Populations of rare, endangered, and endemic plant species are declining under changing climatic conditions, largely due to poor germination and lack of effective propagation techniques. The present study focuses on Piliostigma foveolatum, a rare and endemic species of the Western Ghats, India, with a restricted distribution and meagre population. The species is dioecious, and field surveys revealed a marked gender imbalance, with fewer female plants, indicating potential reproductive constraints. A stiff seed coat was identified as a major barrier to germination, prompting detailed seed coat and germination studies using different pre-treatments. Among the treatments, mechanical scarification resulted in the highest germination percentage, followed by acid scarification. Successfully raised seedlings were restored to their natural habitat, along with public awareness initiatives. This work contributes to the conservation and restoration of P. foveolatum through enhanced propagation and population reinforcement.

Strobilanthes riteshii K.Chowlu, A.Shenoy & G.Sukhramani (Acanthaceae), a new species discovered during recent floristic surveys from the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh is herein described and illustrated. Based on current knowledge of its distribution and limited available information, the species is provisionally assessed as Data Deficient (DD) following the IUCN Red List criteria. A detailed morphological description, phylogenetic analysis, and photographic illustrations are provided to facilitate identification and future studies.

Lindernia rotundifolia (Linderniaceae) is recorded for the first time in Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) from the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The present communication provides a detailed description and colored photographs for its easy identification in the field.

The North-Eastern Region (NER) of India, known for its rich biodiversity, is increasingly threatened by invasive plant species. This paper presents a comparative analysis of invasive plant species in the North-Eastern Region of India based on secondary data from the India State of Forest Reports (ISFR) 2019 and 2021. The analysis highlights key invasive species, including Chromolaena odorata, Mikania micrantha, Lantana camara, Vachellia farnesiana, and Ageratum conyzoides, which dominate large areas of forest land. While some species, such as Vachellia farnesiana, have expanded their presence, others like Ageratum conyzoides have shown a decline in specific regions, indicating varying invasion patterns. The key observations from the analysis also reveal a reduction in the overall extent of plant invasions in states like Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, suggesting the success of management and conservation efforts. However, the persistence and spread of several other invasive species remain a concern, with significant ecological and economic implications for the region's forest ecosystems. This comparison underscores the importance of sustained monitoring, strategic interventions, and policy support to effectively manage invasive species and preserve the unique biodiversity of the region.

Oreorchis micrantha Lindl. is being reported here for the first time from Dzükou valley in Nagaland, India. Taxonomic description along with habit photograph, details of habitat, phenology and distribution have been provided here for easy identification of the species.

This study reports the occurrence of eight species of lichens in the Family Brigantiaeaceae from the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR), the southern tip of Indian subcontinent. Letrouitia spiralis Hafellner and L. subvulpina (Nyl.) Hafellner are reported for the first time from India. Brigantiaea tricolor (Mont.) Trevis., Letrouitia flavocrocea (Nyl.) Hafellner & Bellem., L. leprolyta (Nyl.) Hafellner, L. muralis Hafellner and L. transgressa (Malme) Hafellner & Bellem. are the additions to the lichen flora of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, Southern Western Ghats. A brief description of the newly reported species with illustrations and a key to the species for the family Brigantiaeaceae from the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve are provided.

Bondarzewia zonata hitherto reported  from North Sikkim only, is reported first time from the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Detailed Macro and micro-morphological characterization with illustration is provided in the present communication. It is also first generic record for Arunachal Pradesh.