Asian Journal of Research in Botany

Taxonomic Studies of Lippia javanica (Burm F.) Spreng. Complex (Verbenaceae) in East African Flora

2021-01-09T10:02:13+00:00

Lippia javanica complex is widely spread in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa; however, there exist a taxonomic conflict in the aforementioned species complex where morphologically similar forms of the species occur in the same habitat. In the Southern Africa region, there are two varieties L. javanica var. javanica and L. javanica var. whytei that were formally recognized. Morphological characters of the 63 East African herbarium specimens were sampled. Phenetically, the varieties in the Southern African region overlap in habit and leaf characters. Nevertheless, differences in floral characters such as the number of inflorescence per axil and varying peduncle length form the basis for the morphological distinctness. Multivariate analysis using cluster and principal component analysis failed to delimit the infraspecific taxa. Findings from this present study indicated that the variations are not sufficient enough to warrant separation. Thus we proposed that the suspected varieties be synonymized under the earliest name Lippia javanica.

Ecological Studies from a Philatelic Perspective (I) - the Edelweiss in Romanian Philately

2021-01-14T04:17:05+00:00

Until the beginning of the 21st century, the concerns related to the management of protected areas were reduced only to the voluntary initiatives of nature lovers, rarely materializing in specific measures to promote the conservation of endangered biodiversity by the authorities or administrators of those areas. As the concern for the management of protected areas and biodiversity is relatively new in Romania, and information related to this subject is relatively scarce, especially those regarding the species of ecosystems under the Habitats Directive, we considered necessary this study on the edelweiss, this being a species emblematic for Romania. Through this paper, we aimed to review some aspects of the edelweiss, namely its association with thematic philately. Following the analyzes carried out, based on the data from the literature consulted (articles, catalogs, books, blogs, etc), as well as following the observations made based on philatelic e-commerce sites, we concluded that the edelweiss, as well as the ecosystem in which it (re)finds, have been and still are of interest, both for international philately and for that of our country; as proof the significant number of issues and philatelic circulations that we have identified, analyzed and interpreted, during over 60 years of postal activity (the first issue appeared in Romania dating from 1957). What is even more surprising is a large number of philatelic occurrences of the floristic species, in various facets, both within the reference habitat (rock at the level of alpine hollows) and outside it.

Influence of Starter Solution and Mulching on Growth and Yield of Broccoli

2021-01-21T11:01:38+00:00

A field experiment was accomplished in the Horticulture farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from October 2018 to March 2019 to study on influence of starter solution and mulching on growth and yield of broccoli. The experiment comprised of four levels of starter solution viz., S₀ (Control), S₁ (1% Starter solution), S₂ (1.5% Starter solution) and S₃ (2% Starter solution) and four levels of mulching viz., M₀ (no mulch), M₁ (Black polythene), M₂ (Water hyacinth) and M₃ (Rice straw) were used in this experiment arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data on different growth and yield attributes parameters were taken in which all the treatment showed significant variations. In the case of starter solution, maximum plant height (71.41 cm), number of leaves (15.35), canopy spread (78.86 cm) and weight of primary curd (416.41 g) were recorded from S₃ (2% urea solution) treatment. In the case of mulching, maximum plant height (73.02 cm), number of leaves (16.00), canopy spread (80.81 cm) and weight of primary curd (442.24 g) were recorded from M₁ (Black polythene) treatment. The highest yield (19.67 t/ha) was recorded from S₃ (2% Starter solution) whereas the lowest yield (14.83 t/ha) was obtained from S₀. Significantly higher yield (21.00 t/ha) was recorded from M₁ (Black polythene) while the lowest yield (12.88 t/ha) was obtained from M₀ treatment. In the case of the combined effects the maximum yield (24.07 t/ha) was recorded from the treatment combination of S₃M₁ while the lowest yield was (11.87 t/ha) recorded from S₀M₀ treatment. It was apparent from the above results that the treatment combination of S₃M₁ was more suitable for farmers than rest of treatment combinations.