Taxonomy Work

Patanjali Herbal Research Department of Patanjali Research Foundation Trust, Haridwar is working on vegetation survey in different regions of India. For this purpose Plant Taxonomy Laboratory and Plant Ecology Laboratory are established under this department. The team of scientists did many field trips all over India for the purpose of plant exploration and identification.

In 2018, the team lead by Acharya Balkrishna and Dr.Anupam Srivastava went to Northeast India and spent 3 months working on vegetation survey of Tropical Broad Leaf Forest of Seijosa, Arunachal Pradesh. The plant specimens were collected in different seasons and preserved in Patanjali Herbarium for further identification. A detailed flora will be published after completion of vegetation survey.

In 2020, the Scientists went to tribal villages in North India to collect plants or herbs used by the traditional healers from the Indian tribes. The teams also went to Morni Hills, Panchkula and Haryana for World Herbal Forest project in association with Department of Forest, Govt. of Haryana. The plant specimens were collected and preserved in Patanjali Herbarium for further identification. A detailed book entitled 'Flora of Morni Hills (Research and Possibilities)' has been published with detailed description of 980 plants including their live photographs and herbarium. A book entitled 'Morni Hills Ke Mahatvapuran Aushdhiya Padapa' in Hindi has also been published which contain detaiedl botanical description and medicinal uses.

1. Plant Taxonomy Laboratory:

This laboratory deals with the collection and identification of medicinal plants according to modern phylogenetic classification and preparing herbarium for future studies. This also includes field activities, courses, projects and outreach initiatives, documentation and preservation of specimens. We are also creating a huge herbarium of all the medicinal plants with rare Astavarga plants named as Jeevak (Malaxis acuminata D. Don), Rishbhak [Malaxis muscifera (Lind.) Kuntze], Meda [Polygonatum verticillatum (L.) All.], Mahameda [Polygonatum cirrhifolium (Wall.) Royle], Ridhi (Habenaria intermedia D. Don), Vridhi [Habenaria acuminata (Thwaites) Trimen], Kakoli (Roscoea purpurea Sm.) and Kshirkakoli (Lilium polyphyllum D. Don.). This laboratory is equipped with modern equipments like dissecting microscope, binocular microscope with camera, camera lucida, Stereomicroscope with optic light, plant press and herbarium dryer.

2. Plant Ecology Laboratory:

This laboratory deals with the ecological study of medicinal plants with species emphasis on microclimatic analysis, soil analysis, phytosociological study, biomass and productivity analysis. This laboratory is well equipped with sophisticated analytical equipments such as Anemometers, Clinometers, Electronic balance, Cyclomixer, Global Position System (GPS), Hygrometer, Water bath, Distill water unit, Luxmeter, Microtome, pH meter, BOD Incubator, Autoclave, etc.