PICTORIAL IDENTIFICATION MANUAL OF CITES PLANTS IN INDIA

CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Flora & Fauna) regulates the removal of species from the wild conditions and trade across international borders.

CITES Appendices are of 3 Categories (I, II, III)- Appendix I lists the threatened species, Appendix II includes those which are vulnerable and Appendix III includes species which require close vigil. The CITES Appendices are periodically revised at the conference of the parties and the species are also shifted from one Appendix to another or deleted as required, depending on the situation.

INDEX	Species
A	*Aloe vera* *Alsophila balakrishnanii* *Alsophila costularis* *Aquilaria malaccensis* *Alsophila gigantea* *Alsophila spinulosa* *Araucaria araucana*
C	Cycas circinnalis *Cycas rumphii* *Cycas revoluta* Cycas beddomei *Cycas pectinata* *Cypripedium cordigerum* *Cypripedium himalaicum*
D	*Dioscorea deltoidea*
F	*Frerea indica*
G	*Gnetum montanum*
N	*Nardostachys grandiflora* *Nepenthes khasiana*
P	*Podophyllum hexandrum* *Pterocarpus santalinus* *Paphiopedilum charlesworthii* *Paphiopedilum druryi* *Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum* *Paphiopedilum insigne* *Paphiopedilum fairieanum* *Paphiopedilum spicerianum* *Paphiopedilum venustum* *Paphiopedilum villosum* *Paphiopedilum wardii* *Picrorhiza kurrooa*
R	*Rauvolfia serpentina* *Renanthera imschootiana*
S	*Saussurea costus* *Sphaeropteris albosetacea* *Sphaeropteris brunoniana* *Sphaeropteris holttumiana* *Sphaeropteris crinita*
V	*Vanda coerulea*
T	*Taxus wallichiana*

INDIA: Himalayas, Meghalaya Naga hills, Manipur.
MYANMAR, AFGANISTAN, South West CHINA, VIETNAM.

Found in the evergreen and coniferous forests, at an altitude of 2300-3700 m. Slow growing, lives up to 2000 yrs.

Endangered. It is used for topiary work, also used for making bows and various other material. Since the growth of the plant is very slow, there is a rapid decline of the population.

Tree, dioecious, 6 m high; stem futed; bark thin, reddish brown; branchlets spreading. Leaves linear, 2-3.8 x 0.3 cm, coriaceous, flattened, arranged in two vertical opposite rows, dark grey glossy green above, paler beneath. Cones axillary, sessile, male and female cone on separate trees. Male cone solitary, axillary, sub-globose, bracts empty; stamens 10. Female cone solitary, few imbricate scales around an erect ovule; ovule surrounded at base by membranous cup shaped disc. Disc in fruit bright red, succulent, enlarged; 7-8 mm. Seeds olive green.

Used as hedge, also used in topiary in Europe. In Britain it has been used for making bows and for archery sports.

In Ladakh the bark is used in place of tea. It also used for ploughs and axils of carts. The wood is strong and elastic

All parts of the plant are highly poisonous except the scarlet aril. Poisioning results in gastroenteritis, heart and respiratory failure. Sometimes death occurs within 5 minutes.

During 2001, 100 kg of dry leaves of Taxus wallichiana has been exported to Italy (CITES permit no. A 1724).

Offence case detected at Chennai Sea port on 27.04.01 for attempt to transport/export 2 kg of Taxus wallichiana to Srinivasan Temple, Singapore which violates CITES, EXIM Policy & WL (P) Act, 1972.

Cycas circinnalis L.

INDIA: Western peninsular India. Stunted variety with narrower leaflets is found around Bangalore, but is not common.
SRI LANKA, MALDIVES, near MALA, E. tropical AFRICA, MALAGASY, COMORO ISLANDS, SUMATRA, JAVA.

Found in deciduous forests of the Western Ghats from sea level to 3500' from malabar southwards to hills on the east side as far north as Orissa. Fl.: February - March; Fr.: August - October.

Endangered. Collected for its attractive fronds. The specific name refers to the circinate variation in young foliage. The plant looks more graceful as compared to the cultivated C. revluta.

Palm like tree, 40-80 m high; trunk cylindrical, rarely forked, with crown of pinnate leaves with compact woody bases of petioles; bark brown, with diamond shaped scars of fallen leaves, smooth below; petiole 0.4-0.6 m long, with short spines; leaflets 80-100 pairs, alternate, 15-30 x 0.7-1.2 cm, margins flat. Male cone 7.6 cm dia., peduncle ca 33 cm long, microsporoohyll 3.5-5 x 1.2-2 cm, ovate-deltoid, prolonged into an upcurved subulate spine, brown tomentose, glabrous above. Megasporophyll 15-20 cm long; blade 6-7 x 2.5 cm, rhomboid, tapering to an acuminate point, margin crenate or spinous toothed; ovules 6-12. Seeds ovoid, 3.8 cm dia., pale reddish yellow.

Offence case registered against M/s Kem breed Plants, Kalimpong, West Bengal detected at FPO, Kolkata on 04.01.01 for attempt to transport about 9 kg of C. circinalis alongwith Musa ensete to New Zealand and 3.55 kg of Cycas seeds to UK on 04.04.02 which violates CITES as well as EXIM Policy.

INDIA: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Cocos Isles.
SRI LANKA, SOUTH TENNASSERIM, MALAY PENINSULA & ARCHIPELAGO, MOLUCCA, NEW GUINEA & NORTH AUSTRALIA.

Endangered. Collected for attractive fronds. Also a sago extracted from trunk and fruits are edible.

Sago extracted from the trunk. Fruit is eaten in the Andamans. Poisonous when raw.

Dioecious, tree or shrub, upto 3 m, produces suckers; trunk unbranched, rarely forked, clothed with old leaf bases. Leaves 60-150 cm long; petiole quadrangular; leaflets 9-18 cm x 5 mm, sub-opposite, margin revolute. Male cones apical, cylindrical or ovoid, 8-40 cm long, 1.5-4 cm dia.; peduncle short, microsporophyll lanceolate-cuneiform, 20-38 x 11-17 mm, truncate, covered with pollen sacs beneath, apical portion sterile, lower fertile. Megasporophyll forming rossette, densely hairy, blade with 4-6 ovules covered with thick down; blade ovate lacinate up to midrib, with 12-18 linear curved spinous segements. Seeds 1.5-3.5 cm long, flattened, apex emerginate, bright orange or yellow. Fl.: male cone mature in July.

About 151 kg of live Cycas revoluta has been exported to China (CITES permit no. A 2606) during 2002. Offence case had been detected at FPO, Kolkata during 2002 against Desmound Corbrai, Kolkata on 25.11.02 for attempt to send pockets of plants, flowers & seeds of Cycas revoluta to USA which violets CITES as well as EXIM Policy and Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

About 320 kg of Cycas stems detected at ICD, TKD, Delhi on 03.05.01 for attempt to send the same to UAE, violating EXIM Policy & CITES.

INDIA: West Bengal (Darjeeling), Sikkim, Bihar, Assam (Goal Para, Kamrup), Meghalaya, Manipur.

Found in the Sal forests of Darjeeling and Sikkim, Someshwar hills and plains of Bihar and Khasi hills in Meghalaya.

Endangered. Collected for attractive habit, megasporophylls have pectinate blades.

Evergreen tree, 2.4-3 (-6.7) m tall, trunk sometimes forking. Leaves 1.5-2.1 m long; petiole ca 44.5 cm long. Distantly spinous; leaflets 17.5-25 cm x 0.4-1.2 cm, narrow linear, sub-falcate, margin flat, pilose with deciduous hair, especially on midrib. Male cone ca 45.5 x 15.2 cm, cylindric-ovoid; microsporophylls 3.5-5 x 1-2.4 cm, shortly peduncled, deltoid, clavate, thickened, acumen ca 4 cm long, subulate, ascending. Megasporophylls 15-20 cm long, densely taway-silky throughout; blade 7.5 cm wide, broadly aricular; acumen 2.5 cm long; margin deeply subulate, pectinate, teeth 1-2 cm long, stalk as long as blade; 2 or 3 pairs of ovules above middle. Seeds ovoid, ca 3.8 cm long, glabrous, orange.

Tender fleshy shoots are eaten as vegetable in Assam and Meghalaya. Seeds are also edible.

Endangered. Destruction of habitat has probably resulted in decline of this species.

Upto 60 cm. Leaves alternate, orbicular to lanceolate, plicate, almost scattered. Flowers solitary, 7-10 cm across, pale yellow to white; sepals longer than tip; lip bag shaped. Fl.: June - July..

150 kg of live Cypripedium cordigerum has been transported to US from India during 2002 (CITES Permit no. A 2609)

Vern.: Bakrachimaka, bhananbakra, papra, papri (Hin.); Papra (Beng.); Padmel, patnel (Mar.); Verivel (Guj.); Vaakakri, papri (Punj.); Banwangan (Kash.); Indian podophyllum (Eng.)

Found at an altitudes of 2500-4200 m in shady localities. Grows well as undergrowth in fir forests, rich in humas and decayed organic matter in association with species of Rhodendron, Salix, Juniperus and Viburnum. Also found in open alpine meadows.

Erect, glabrous, succulent herb, 35-60 cm high. Rhizome perennial, 2-5 x 1-2 cm, bearing fruit roots. Leaves 2 or 3, orbicular-reniform, palmate, lobed segment. Flowers solitary, cup shaped, white or pink. Fruit berry, oblong, 2.5-5 cm across, orange or red. Seeds numerous.

Rhizomes and roots constitute the drug. Freshly collected rhizomes are reported to contain more active principles which are lost on prolonged storing. The dried rhizome from the source of medicinal resin. Podophyllin obtained from the plant is cholagogue, purgative, alterative, emetic and bitter tonic and is given in conjunction with belladonna and hyoscyamus. Podophyllin is toxic and strongly irritant to skin and mucous membranes. Large dose causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea. It is used in veterinary medicine as a cathartic for dogs and cats, also used in removing warts in animals. Cardio-vascular effects of sub-lethal doses of podophyllin are reported to be wild and transitory. .

The species has been included in the Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade of endangered species of wild Fauna and Flora) which restricts its export.

Herb. 2-3 ft high. Leaves succulent, margin with prickles, arranged in a rossette, 30-60 x 5-7.5 cm, lanceolate, acuminate. Scape 60-90 cm. Flowers 2.5 cm across (long ?), yellow to vermilion.

Leaves, Aloe juice and Aloe gel. Aloe juice on drying forms semi-opaque, dark-brown substance called Mussabar in Indian Trade, which has purgative action.

After removing skin leaves are administered in fevers, enlargement of liver, spleen and other glands, skin diseases, constipation, jaundice and rheumatic affections.

The juice of roasted leaf is being given with honey for cough & cold. Salad of leaves is eaten in indigestion, constipation and flatulence. Leaf juice is given as a remedy for intestinal worms in children. Poultice of leaves is applied to tumours, cysts, inflamed parts and scalds.

The plant features in the Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade of endangered species of wild Fauna and Flora) which restricts its export.

Grows along streams with a perennial source of flowing water in moist conditions among rock boulders in the forest floor or in rock crevices. Abundant in the area of occurrence in the forest.

Medium sized fern, 1.0-1.5 m high; rhizome mossive, erect. Fronds tufted; stipes thick, fleshy, base dark brown, upper portion light brown. Stipe and rachis hair and small scales; bi to tri pinnate, mature pinnuakles 5-7 x 1-1.2 cm, shallowly lobed throughout, apex crenate; veins 2-3 pairs, rarely 4 pairs. Upper surface to costae dark purplish, hairy to glabrous; lower surface bearing few small scales, membranous, upper surface dark green; lower surface light green; lowermost pinnules 1-2.5 x 0.8-1 cm; fertile pinnules slightlyncopairs, 2-3 pairs only.

Included in the Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade of endangered species of wild Fauna and Flora) which restricts its export.

INDIA: Sikkim, Khasi Hills, Lushai Hills.
BHUTAN, CHINA, MYANMAR, VIETNAM.

Tree fern, 2-2.5 m tall; rhizome densely scaly, scales 2.2-5 x 1-1.5 mm, dark brown; stipes dark purple or stramineous brown; base spinose to warty, warty to muricate above, pinnae rachis and costae clothed with crisped dark brown hairs on upper surface, pinnae 50-75 x 10-20 cm, pinnules 8-11 x 1.5-2 cm, deeply lobed; costules 3-4.5 mm apart; veins 7-10 pairs, usually forked. Sori indusiate near costules, indusium attached only on side adjascent to costules, reflexed on maturity with abraded edge hosting the costule; paraphyses shorter than sporangia, costules hairy throughout except near apex of pinnule on the lower surface.

Stems are used in making pots in Meghalaya and Sikkim. Small pieces of stem are eaten as vegetable in Sikkim. The stem are used as wooden post for construction of huts and small cottages.

Included in the Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade of endangered species of wild Fauna and Flora) which restricts its export.