Life Science(Biology)

The term ecosystem was first coined by Sir Arthur George Tansley, 1935.                 *Sir Arthur George Tansley*  D efinition:  "The ecosystem is the basic  functional unit of organisms and their environment, interacting with each other and within their own components" ...E.P.Odum , 1971.           Components of ecosystem An ecosystem consists of Biotic & Abiotic components . Biotic/Living components are Autotroph   and Heterotroph .     Autotroph  are generally  phytoplanktons,  photosynthetic bacteria(e.g.green sulphur bacteria),   chemosynthetic bacteria (e.g. Nitrosomonas)  and  green plants which prepare their own food(potential energy ).           Heterotrophs  consume products of autotrophs or decompose dead organic matters . On the basis of feeding habit consumers may be 1st...

Phytogeography is the study of distribution of plant species and elucidation of origin of flora. The word " phytogeography" was derived from two Greek words 'Phyto = Plant' and ' Geografia= Geography '. It is controlled by evolution, climate,  and geographical barriers. Chorology, the mapping of plant boundary, is one of the important core principles of the study of plant distribution to decode the factors like evolution and environmental barriers which shape green footprint of our planet. D.Chatterjee in 1962 divided India into nine phytogeographical regions,viz.:- (1) Western Himalayas,(2) Eastern Himalayas, (3) Indus Plain ,(4) Gangetic Plain ,(5) Assam, (6) Central India, (7) Deccan ,(8) Malabar ,and (9) Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Geographical location,Type of vegetation, average rainfall, altitude, and two major plants of each regions are listed below:- Western Himalayas: Kashmir, Northern Punjab,Kumaon ranges of Uttranchal Subtr...

Hellenia specoisa Family: Costaceae Common name : Crepe Ginger, Wild Ginger Bengali : Keu Botanical description: Rhizome :  tuberous. Leaves : Simple, spirally arranged on the stem, oblanceolate or oblong, glabrous above,silky pubescent beneath with broad leaf sheaths. Inflorescence : Spikes terminal, more or less globose. Flowers white, large, fragrant, bracts bright red; stamen one, perfect,lip large with incurved margin. Fruit :  Globose or ovoid capsule bright red, dehiscing loculicidal; seeds black with fleshy white aril. Flowering & Fruiting : July-October Parts used: Rhizome and stem Medicinal use: Tripuri, Chakma,and Halam communities of Tripura utilize different parts of Hellenia specoisa for an array of survival, diatery and healthcare needs: (i)  Rhizome juice or paste has been used to treat fever, rash, asthma , anaemia, diabetes, skin diseases, rheumatism , bronchitis, and intestinal worms.[1,2,3] (ii) It is mentioned in the Kama Sutra a...