Background: Most studies in taxonomy try to consider some characteristics or traits more important than others in classifying certain groups of organisms and then classification under these tests is more art than science and is influenced by the personal opinions of researchers.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The genus Scorzonera L. was treated mathematically and polygonal shapes were drawn based on the morphological and anatomical characteristics and pollen study. 
&nbsp; 
Result: The similarity percentages between species were calculated and a dendrogram was drawn linking the species of the genus spread in Iraq. The results showed that the lowest similarity percentage was between the two species S. latifolia and S. papposa and reached 20.47%, while the highest similarity percentage was between the two varieties S. cana var. jacquiniana and S. cana var. radicosa and reached 80.95%. All species were linked as one unit at a similarity percentage of 36.90%.

Numerical Classification Study of Species for Genus Scorzonera L. Asteraceae (Compositae) in Iraq

Background: One of the key tasks of livestock development is to reduce the amount of feed needed for raising and fattening cattle, as well as increase the efficiency of feed use. A possible solution to these problems are plant-based feed additives containing various phytochemical compounds, both individually and together with metallic trace elements, to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract of animals. The aim of the study was to assess the effect on the microbiota of the cattle rumen of the vegetable feed components Artemisiae absinthil (bitter plant A. absinthium) and CoCl2 (cobalt II chloride). 
 
Methods: Study the effect of the herb Artemisia absinthium (A. absinthium) and CoCl2 (cobalt II chloride) on the microbiome of cattle rumen. The studies were conducted on a cannula animal model, Bos taurus (Kazakh white-headed cattle), after feeding an experimental feed additive, A. absinthium, either alone or in combination with CoCl2. The experiment was carried out in four repetitions using a 4 &times; 4 Latin square. Animals in the I experimental group were additionally given A. absinthium at a dose of 2.0 g/kg of dry matter (DM); in the II experimental group, A. absinthium at a dose of 2.0 g/kgDM with additional CoCl2 (1.5 mg/kgDM); and in the III experimental group, only CoCl2 (1.5 mg/kgDM). The contents of the scar were collected for further analysis, which was performed by high-performance sequencing (NGS) of 16S rRNA gene ampicons. 
 
Result: There was difference in the microbiome of the rumen of cattle between the control and experimental groups, both at the level of the phylum&rsquo;s and at the genus level. The dominant phylum in all groups were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. A study of the microbiome of the rumen revealed groups of microorganisms capable of producing carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZyms) and destroying structural hydrocarbons. In the group using A. absinthium, a symbiotic link was established for the genus Akkermansia and the unclassified Bacteroidales linear regression (R2 = 0.93, p = 0.0435) and for the unclassified Ruminococcaceae and the genus Akkermansia (R2 = 0.75, p = 0.05).

Effect of Artemisia absinthium (Asteraceae) and Cobalt Supplementation on Rumen Bacterial Community in Cattle

<div>Background: Medicinal plants are used for different purposes and in diverse uses of human beings. Medicinal plants have played key roles in the lives of local peoples living in these biodiversity rich regions by providing products for both food and medicine. A study was conducted in hill station of District Ramban (J&amp;K) in order to check the present status of medicinal plants diversity their abundance and for suggested utilization measures for residential peoples of the area. The current ethnobotanical study aimed to survey and collect the medicinal plants in order to document the traditional knowledge from the local peoples. &nbsp; 
 
Methods: In this field-laboratory investigation during 2019-2020, Three large sampling zones of Ramban District were surveyed and selected based on varied local data, altitude and latitude. In the laboratory, the collected medicinal plants were identified morphologically based on the valid Taxonomic keys and Herbaria 
 
Result: During the field survey, medicinal plants used by the local community were ranged from 68 to 79 plant species, which were 46 to 55 herbs, 13 to 15 trees, and 08 to 09 shrubs from selected sampling zones for treating various diseases and disorders. These medicinal plants are distributed in 38 families with diversity of Asteraceae family was dominant in all sampling zones.</div>

Ethno-Botanical Study of Medicinal Plants from Unexplored Area of District Ramban (J&amp;K) India

<div style="text-align:justify">Talking about the invasive species of plants there are many of them like Ageratum conyzoides, Cannabis sativa, Parthenium hysterophorus, Lantana camara, Tribulus terrestris and&nbsp;many more. And one of these is Parthenium hysterophorus which we will be discussing in this paper. P. hysterophorus is native species to tropical America, Mexico and the southern USA. This invasive plant belongs to the Asteraceae family. This is said to be a poisonous annual herb that grows aggressively. It has certain harmful effects on agriculture, livestock and human life. This herb tends to cause skin problems, respiratory problems, fever and bronchitis-like problems in humans. Despite having many harmful elements this weed is also known to have health benefits examples as urinary tract infection, rheumatic pain and Diarrhoea. This herb is spreading all over India badly. Certain experiments and methods are being done on this plant to know the impactful parameters of the plant which can be used in a productive way. It has the potential to be used as bio-pesticides and for removing heavy metals and dyes. In this paper, we have discussed this noxious herb and its benefits. The goal of the review is to impart basic knowledge about, morphology, discovery, harmful and beneficial effects, active compounds and preventive measures about P. hysterophorus.</div>

Parthenium hysterophorus Being Boon and Bane for Human Beings: A Review

<div>Background: Understanding the sociological structure of weeds in crop fields is a pre-requisite for effective management. Identification and quantification of weed species found in different crops are possible to provide strategies for weed control. The exploration studies of weeds in agro-ecosystems are meager in Telangana, so that the present study has initiated to explore the weeds and educate the local farmers about the impact of agrestals and it will be of immense helpful to control the loss of crop productivity first of its kind in the region. 
 
Methods: The inventory of agrestals was carried out in 33 districts of Telangana State during 2016-2020 in two growing seasons (kharif, rabi) and it is an overview in agro-ecosystems.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The study focuses on the documentation of weed taxa in agricultural fields and recorded ca. 249 plant taxa pertaining to 150 genera and 47 families. Cyperaceae is the predominant family with 38 plant species followed by Poaceae (33 spp.), Asteraceae (20 spp.), Euphorbiaceae (17 spp.), Amaranthaceae (16 spp.). Echinochloa crus-galli is the dominant taxon in paddy crop with its mimic, where Cyperus rotundus is a serious competitor in many cultivated crops. The present study is very climacteric for farmers, agronomists and plant breeders for cognizance, to know the intensity of weeds impact and management skills.</div>

Inventory of Agrestals in Telangana, India: Their Impact and Management

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of monofloral honeys collected from Mostaganem province, based on their melissopalynological, physicochemical and biological properties. 
 
Methods: Eight honey samples were analyzed for pollen profile (quantitative and qualitative) and physicochemical parameters, including moisture, electrical conductivity, pH, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), color, sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, turanose, melezitose), as well as their&nbsp; as their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. 
 
Result: Melissopalynological analysis identified 49 pollen types from 29 botanical families, with Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Apiaceae being the most represented. The pollen types found as dominant were Eucalyptus and Daucus carota. The number of pollen type identified per sample ranged between 1.900 and 37.700 grains/g. The physicochemical parameters of the studied honeys complied with European and international standards. Among the analyzed samples, Eucalyptus honey exhibited the highest polyphenol (56.61 mg GAE/100 g) and flavonoid content (8.54 mg QE/100 g), along with the highest reducing power (55.64%). Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between, conductivity and color, pH and moisture, as well as polyphenol content with antioxidant, inhibitrice concentration at 50 and antibacterial activity. These findings confirm the high quality of local honeys from the Mostaganem region and their potential applications in alternative therapeutic strategies.

Botanical, Physicochemical and Biological Properties of Monofloral Honeys from Mostaganem Province, Northwest Algeria

Background: Eclipta prostrate also recognized as Bhringaraja is an annual herbaceous plant, commonly known as king of hairs. It is an erect or prostrate, much branched, roughly hairy, annual, rooting at the nodes; the leaves are opposite, sessile and lanceolate belonging to family Asteraceae. This plant is a significant medicinal plant in the tropical and subtropical areas. It is broadly used in treating different diseases of skin, liver and stomach in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and other countries. 
 
Methods: The main aim of this work was to collect and analyze the available information on traditional uses, phytoconstituents and biological activities of E. prostrata. Eclipta prostrata L. methanol extract was evaluated for its phytochemical compounds, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and antibacterial activity.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, steroids, glycoproteins and volatile oil the total saponin content was found to be 84.175 &plusmn; 0.575 in mg/g equivalent of diosgenin. The results of antioxidant activity measured by the FRAP method revealed stronger reducing power of the extract. Further antibacterial activity was observed against K. pneumoniae and S. aureus in potential of inhibiting the tested microorganisms. Crude methanolic extract of E. prostrate recorded a minimum inhibitory concentration of 2 mg/ml. The results of current study suggested that antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity could be due to polyphenols, however chiefly by various active compounds or substances present in the extract. Further isolation, characterization and identification of the potential phytochemical compound from crude extract needs to be addressed.

Exploration of&nbsp; Antibacterial and Antioxidant Potential of Eclipta prostrata Leaf Extract

Background: Floriculture has emerged as a thriving agribusiness, enhancing land productivity, generating diverse employment opportunities from cultivation fields to retail outlets and ultimately raising the incomes of farmers and business owners. Among the commercially cultivated loose flowers worldwide, the marigold (Tagetes spp.), belonging to the Asteraceae family, holds significant importance. One of the main factors influencing marigold development and yield among the many agro-techniques is nutrition. Soil testing offers essential insights into the nutrient content of the soil and identifies any imbalances, while fertilizer recommendations are designed to address these imbalances based on the crop&rsquo;s specific requirements. The targeted yield approach has proven effective by promoting balanced fertilization that accounts for both the soil&rsquo;s nutrient status and the crop&rsquo;s needs. While fertilizer prescription equations have been developed for vegetable crops such as pumpkin, okra, tomato and chili under Odisha&rsquo;s soil conditions, similar equations have not been established for flower crops. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: A total of 24 treatment combinations were designed by using four levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (0, 60, 80 and 100 kg/ha) with two levels of farmyard manure (5 and 10 tonnes/ha) and a control treatment with no fertilizer application. 
&nbsp; 
Result: Data from all 24 plots of the African marigold variety BM-2 were collected for each season and analyzed. The nutrient requirements to produce one quintal of marigold flowers are approximately 0.55 kg of nitrogen, 0.09 kg of phosphorus and 0.56 kg of potassium. The contributions to the required nutrients come from soil (23.07%, 48.01% and 40.01% for N, P and K, respectively), fertilizer (54.92%, 17.51% and 87.40% for N, P and K, respectively) and farmyard manure (27.55%, 8.21% and 7.82% for N, P and K, respectively), to achieve the targeted yield.

Targeted Yield Equation for Marigold in Laterite Soils of Odisha

<div>Background: Indian Himalayan region has a rich heritage of species and genetic strains of flora and fauna and is considered as mega hot spot of biological diversity. Wild plant raw material is in great demand around the world for use by pharmaceutical companies, ethnomedicinal practitioners and variety of traditional medicines. India is one of the world&rsquo;s major exporters of raw herbal drugs and the Himalayas are renowned for their vast storehouse of medicinal plants. The present study conducted at Baba Ghulam Shah Basdshah University located in District Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir recorded the presence of 46 species of medicinal plants belonging to 34 families. 
 
Methods: The plant specimens were collected from different parts of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Campus. All the parameters like habit, habitat, life form, parts used, methods of use were recorded on filed notebook along with date of collection. Routine herbarium practices were followed for preserving the plant specimens. The plant specimens were collected and their external morphology was studied and examined carefully. The specimens of medicinal plants were properly labelled and subsequently deposited in the Herbarium, Centre of Biodiversity Studies, BGSBU, Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, India. 
 
Result: During ethnobotanical exploration, 46 species distributed over 44 genera in 34 Families of wild medicinal plants were documented from four sampling sites. The details pertaining to common names, part used, medicinal uses and active constituents of each species were tabulated. Among the plant parts used, leaves contributed for medicinal use in about 63% species, followed by fruits in 19% species, underground parts in 10.8% species and flowers in 6.5% species. The enlisted plant species belonged to three life forms viz., herbs (21), shrubs (15) and trees (10). Asteraceae was the most dominant family represented by 4 species followed by Moraceae, Lamiaceae and Fabaceae each represented by 3 species, while as families like Meliaceae, Violaceae, Berberidaceae were represented by 01 species each.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Diversity and Utilization of Medicinal Flora of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Campus Rajouri Jammu and Kashmir, India</div>

<div>Background: Geographical and botanical origins of honeys are determined by melissopalynological analysis. Pollen contents of 12 autumn honeys collected from Indian honey bee, Apis cerana F. hives located in different localities of Kullu hills of Himachal Pradesh were analysed. Kullu hills having varied geography, climatic condition with diversified and rich flora is ideal for apiculture. So, it is of utmost importance to study the floral richness of the area and preferences of honey bees for nectar and pollen in order to obtain maximum production of a good quality of honey. Thus, the present work was carried out to determine the critical analysis of honey samples and to identify the different pollen types which are major plant sources that contribute to the increase of yield of honey. 
 
Methods: Melissopalynological studies were conducted between 2009 to 2012. Reference pollen slides of honey samples were prepared and identified. Quantative analysis is done with the help of a haemocytometer and pollen spectra, absolute pollen count as well as percentage of pollen types were calculated. Reference slides were also prepared. 
 
Result: Microscopic analysis yielded that in honey samples, 5 pollen types were present as predominant; 17 were secondary, while, 38 were important minor and minor pollen sources. Out of 12 honey samples analysed, 5 were unifloral, whereas, 7 were multifloral. In the unifloral honeys, the predominant sporomorphs were: Prunus cerasoides, Eriobotrya japonica, Prinsepia utilis, Plectranthus sp. and Solidago sp. Forty four pollen types were necteriferous, while, 6 were nectarless represented by Cannabis sativa, Juglans regia, Rumex nepalensis, Polygonum sp. and Zea mays. Among different plant families, Lamiaceae (8), Asteraceae (7), Rosaceae (7), Fabaceae (4), Polygonaceae (3) and Apiaceae (2) highly contributed for nectar and pollen sources of honey bee. Twenty five botanical families with 50 different pollen taxa were identified indicating the various plants visited by honeybees and the sources of nectar used in the production of honey. The high concentration and diversity of pollen types showed that the samples were of botanical origin.</div>

Numerical Classification Study of Species for Genus Scorzonera L. Asteraceae (Compositae) in Iraq

Effect of Artemisia absinthium (Asteraceae) and Cobalt Supplementation on Rumen Bacterial Community in Cattle

Ethno-Botanical Study of Medicinal Plants from Unexplored Area of District Ramban (J&K) India

Parthenium hysterophorus Being Boon and Bane for Human Beings: A Review

Inventory of Agrestals in Telangana, India: Their Impact and Management

Botanical, Physicochemical and Biological Properties of Monofloral Honeys from Mostaganem Province, Northwest Algeria

Exploration of Antibacterial and Antioxidant Potential of Eclipta prostrata Leaf Extract

Targeted Yield Equation for Marigold in Laterite Soils of Odisha

Diversity and Utilization of Medicinal Flora of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Campus Rajouri Jammu and Kashmir, India

Melissopalynological Determination of Pollen Density and Botanical Origin of Autumn Honeys of Kullu Hills, Himachal Pradesh, India