BIOLOGICAL NOTES ON BASTAR AREA

During four field trips to several localities in Bastar area a large number of lower plants (nearly 200 species) have been collected and observations recorded on some lower animals and also on human tribes.Among plants, the find of Nitellopsis is the second record for India and the chromosome count, n=23 is the first report of its chromo-somes. There are several rare specimens belonging to fungi, bryophytes and in particular to pteridophytes like Isoetes and Ophioglossum and the gymnosperm Gnetum.

Kutumbasar caves near jagdalpur have exhibited a rare phenomenon of albinism in the fish, Nemacheilus. Evezandi day.

Anthropogenetic data on three tribes viz. Halba, Muria and Maria indicate identifiable differences but traits (Height,blood groups etc.) have to be examined on a large number of individuals belonging to different tribes.