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Published on: 1
st
Jan 2012
EX-SITU CONSERVATION OF RARE, ENDANGERED AND
LOST PLANTS OF SOUTH DELHI AND ARAVALLI HILLY
RANGES
KSHIRSAGAR S. R.
P. G. DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY, S S. V.P. SANSTHAS L. K. DR. P. R. GHOGREY
SCIENCE COLLEGE, DHULE-424005 MAHARASHTRA, INDIA
akshar07_sanjay@yahoo.co.in
ABSTRACT:
About 300 species of angiospermic plants from South Delhi and Aravalli hilly ranges are
conserved in medicinal plants conservatory in about 2 acres of land in Aravalli Biodiversity Park
in South Delhi of Delhi Region but of them rare, endangered and lost plants have been discussed in
details.
KEY WORD: Conservation, lost plants, Delhi, Aravallis
INTRODUCTION:
Taxonomic data are fundamental to conserving biodiversity. Taxonomists are needed to provide
conservationist with tools to identify and therefore monitor the prevalence of species, by
indicating which species are near extinction and by indicating areas of the world with high
diversity that should be conserved (HEYWOOD Vernon, 2004).
Aravallis, the oldest mountain chain in the world, starts from Pavagarh (Central Gujarat), and
passing through Palanpur (North Gujarat), Mount Abu (Rajasthan), Haryana and ends to South
Delhi. Delhi has two land forms i.e. Yamuna basin and Aravalli ridge areas. Delhi has lost many
of the medicinal herbs which used to common in past. Causes of its losing are i) extension of roads
ii) many flyovers, open grazing, air pollution, huge mining etc.

STUDY AREA:
Present author has surveyed whole Aravalli hilly ranges and Delhi region in search of present
status of lost and medicinal plants diversity. Seeds of rare, threatened, endemic and endangered
plants were collected in proper season and sown in nursery and hundred percent germination was
found. Healthy saplings were then transferred in field for plantation in Biodiversity Park in South
Delhi in about seven hundred acres of areas. For saplings of locally endangered and lost medicinal
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plants species of Delhi, same species (in the form of saplings and seeds) were brought from other
areas of Aravallis and conservatory of medicinal plants is developed in about two acres of area.
METHODOLOGY:
While survey, field diary was maintained to record precise data about rarity, causes of threats,
encroachment into forest areas by tribals, if any, and population of individuals etc. Correct
identification of plants was done by Floras of Maheshwari, (1963); Shetty, & Singh, V. (1987-
1993); Cooke, (1901-1908); Shah, (1978). Literature survey was also done from the work of
Singh A. K. (2004).
In the following enumeration, (Table - I) plants species are arranged alphabetically with their
botanical names, families, past and present status in Aravallis and Delhi, present status in
conservatory followed by medicinal uses. In about two acres of land following plant species (table
1) are conserved

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
Above mentioned thirty two species are conserved in herbal garden of Aravalli Biodiversity park
of South Delhi. Main objectives of biodiversity park are i) to develop herbal garden ii) to
conserve and multiply rare, endangered and lost plants of Delhi and Aravallis iii) to educate
students of schools and colleges of Delhi about awareness of environment and its conservation iv)
to introduce lost endemic species v) to conserve key stone species vi) to develop about 30
different plant communities which used to exist in past of the Aravallis in South Delhi vii) to
conserve and reclamation of past and lost biodiversity viii) to conserve eroded soil ix) to develop
range land as a pastureland.
Work of development of proposed park was started in 2004 and now all saplings planted in 2004
and onwards are in full flowering and fruiting condition and multiplying on their own.
Schools and colleges are always visiting the herbal garden and Biodiversity Park and author with
his team given lectures on herbal garden and its need of the day.
REFERENCES:
Maheshwari, J. K. (1963) Flora of Delhi: NISCAIR, New Delhi.
Shetty, B. V. and Singh, V. (1987-1993) Flora of Rajasthan, Flora of India, Series: 2, Vol-I-III,
Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta.
Cooke, T.(1901-1908) The Flora of the Presidency of Bombay, Vol I-III. (Reprint ed. 1958)
Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta.
Shah, G.L. (1978) Flora of Gujarat State, Part I-II, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar,
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India .
HEYWOOD Vernon (2004) Modern Approaches to Floristics and their Impact on the Region of
SW Asia Turk. J. Bot. (28) 7-16.
Singh A. K. (2004) Endangered economic species of Indian desert. Genetic Resources and crop
Evolution 51:371-380.

Table 1: In about two acres of land following plant species are conserved
Sr.
No.
Botanical
Names
Families Past and
Present
status in
Aravallis
Past and
Present status
in
Delhi
Present
status in
conservatory
Medicinal
Value
1. Acacia sinuata
(Lour.)Merr.
Mimosaceae Reported as
not common
and now
few trees at
Mount Abu
----- Well
established
and
multiplying
on its own
Pods used in
washing
hairs
2. Anogeissus
sericea Brandis
var.
nummularia
King ex Duthie
Combretaceae Endemic
and
endangered
Lost but one
individual left in
Aravalli
BiodiversityPark
Well
established
and
multiplied
Stem bark :
good source
of tannin
3. Asparagus
racemosus
Willd.
Liliaceae Occasional Earlier reported
as rare but now
very rare
Well
established
Roots are
used in
increasing
breast milk
4. Boswellia
serrata Roxb.ex
Coleb.
Burseraceae Occasional
everywhere
Earlier reported
on the authority
of others work
but now lost
Well
established
Bark gum is
useful in
arthritis
5. Celastrus
paniculatus
Willd.
Celastraceae Reported as
common in
Aravallis,
now very
rare
----- Well
established
and
multiplying
on its own
Very good
brain tonic.
Trade name
is
Jyotishmati
oil.
6. Commiphora
wightii
(Arn.)Bhandari
Burseraceae Reported as
rare but
now
endangered
------ Well
established
Gum
obtained
from stem is
highly
medicinal in
arthritis

7.

Crotalaria
burhia Buch.-
Ham ex Benth.

Papilionaceae

Reported as
locally
abundant
but now
very rare as

Rare in past now
Endangered

Well
established

Rope made
out of roots
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a whole
8. Desmodium
gangeticum
(L.)DC.
Papilionaceae Occasional Common in past
but now very
rare
Well
established
Constituent
part in
dashmul of
Ayurveda
9. Ensete
superbum
(Roxb.)Cheesm.
Liliaceae Rare ------ Well
established
Stem sap is
aphrodisiac
10. Erythrina
suberosa Roxb.
Papilionaceae Occasional Earlier status as
planted now
endangered
Well
established
Ash of the
Bark with
coconut oil
is useful on
swellings of
neck in
cattle
11. Garuga pinnata
Roxb.
Burseraceae Reported as
Rare
But now
endangered
------- Well
established
Stem bark
contains
tannins
12. Gmelina
arborea Roxb.
Verbenaceae Occasional Earlier status as
planted now
endangered
Well
established
Seeds used
in dashmul
of Ayurveda
13. Helicteres isora
L.
Sterculiaceae Occasional
in Aravallis
Earlier reported
as rare now lost
Well
established
and
multiplying
on its own
Bark is
useful in
diarrhea in
childrens
14. Hemidesmus
indicus (L.)
Ait.
Asclepiadaceae Occasional -------- Well
established
Dried and
powdered
roots useful
in gonorrhea
15. Leptadenia
pyrotechnica
(Forssk.)Decne
Asclepiadaceae Endangered,
few bushes
at
Nahargarh
wildlife
sanctuary,
Jaipur
Rare in past now
endangered
Well
established
Long
durable rope
made out of
stems
16. Lycium
barbarum L.
Solanaceae Common in
past now
rare in
bushes
Common in past
but now
endangered
Well
established


17.
Mimosa hamata
Willd.
Mimosaceae Reported as
common but
now rare
Common in past
but now
endangered
Well
established
Bark
infusion
against
snakebite

18.

Nyctanthus
arbor-tristis L.

Oleaceae

Occasional

------

Well
established

Bark is
highly
medicinal in
sciatica pain
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19. Plumbago
zeylanica L.
Plumbaginaceae Rare as a
whole
Occasional in
past now rare
Well
established
Leaves
useful in
eczema
20. Psoralea
coryllifolia L.
Papilionaceae Occasional Earlier as rare
now lost
Well
established
Seed oil is
useful in
scabies and
ring worm
disease
21. Pterocarpus
marsupium
Roxb.
Papilionaceae Rare in past
now
Very rare
------- Well
established
Heart wood :
anthelmintic,
leucoderma,
diarrhea,
dysentery
22. Schleichera
oleosa
(Lour.)Oken.
Sapindaceae Rare in past Earlier planted
but now very
rare
Well
established
Fruit : Hair
tonic
Bark :
Scabies
23. Soymida
febrifuga
(Roxb.)A.Juss.
Meliaceae Reported as
occasional
but now
rare
----- Well
established
Bark is
useful in
fever
24. Sterculia
urens Roxb.
Sterculiaceae Reported as
common but
Rare as
whole
Earlier reported
on the authority
of other workers
but now lost
Well
established
Bark gum is
useful in
arthritis and
rheumatism
25. Talinum
portulacifolium
(Forssk.)
Asch.ex Sch.
Portulacaceae Reported as
rare but
Endangered
at Jaisalmer
as wild
---- Well
established
Beautiful
indoor plant
26. Tecomella
undulata
(Sm.)Seem.
Bignoniaceae Occasional Occasional in
past as
cultivated but
now only 5
individuals
Well
established
Wood is
useful in
gonorrhea
27. Tinospora
cordifolia
(Willd.) Miers.
Menispermaceae Common Earlier common
but now
occasional
Well
established
Stem juice is
useful in
chronic
fever,
malaria
28. Tylophora
indica (Burm.
F.) Merr.
Asclepiadaceae Reported as
very rare in
Aravallis,
now
endangered
Earlier reported
on the authority
of other workers
but now lost
Well
established
and
multiplying
on its own
Highly
medicinal in
curing
chronic
asthma
29 Vitex negundo
L.
Verbenaceae Occasional Rare in past now
few individuals
left
Well
established
Leaf
infusion
apply on
dislocation
of bones
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30. Woodfordia
fruticosa
(L.)Kurz.
Lythraceae Common Planted in past
somewhere but
now lost
Well
established
Bark is
highly
medicinal in
leprosy
31. Wrightia
arborea
(Dennst.)Mabb.
Apocynaceae Reported as
frequent but
now
occasional
------ Well
established
Leaves latex
is useful in
tooth ache
and killing
germs
32. Xeromphis
spinosa
(Thunb.)Keay
Rubiaceae Reported as
common but
now rare
---- Well
established
Fruits are
medicinal