Conclusion

Cissus quadrangularis

Observations in different development stages of a plant and their variants and in different seasons are necessary to characterize the morphological characters of a taxon. Thus in C. quadrangularis our present observations prove that leafless condition of the stem is due to caducous nature of leaves which are formed only during rainy season. In addition, the hard and short tendrils are nothing but the result of maturity. Breeding experiments conducted proved that the three variants bred true suggesting that the distinct morphological characters of stem are genetically fixed. It is concluded that Variant II and Variant III might be the chimeric variations and may be treated as cultivars of Variant I.

Madhuca longifolia

Madhuca longifolia var. latifolia and M. longifolia var. latifolia have morphological differences in leaf, anther and fruits but have only quantitative differences in anatomical and phytochemical features. The tree specimen of var. latifolia, which yield maximum oil content, might be used as a potential source for selection of high oil yielding line of M. longifolia.

Basella alba

Since Basella alba var. alba and B. alba var. rubra have similar morphological (except color of aerial parts), anatomical, physicochemical and phytochemical characters it is recommended that var. rubra does not warrant a variety status but may be considered as a cultivars.

General

In the present work on the pharmacognostical studies on varieties of Cissus quadrangularis, Madhuca longifolia and Basella alba. It is observed that the varieties of the three species show only quantitative differences rather than qualitative differences. To establish pharmacognostical standard among varieties of species more specific studies like electron microscopical, phytochemical and pharmacological works are needed. In pharmacognostical study of rhizome of two varieties (red and white) of Nelumbo nucifera, Mitra et al. (1976) could not observe any difference. However, Mehrotra and Shome (1993) using SEM studies established marked difference between the two varieties. More recent techniques as DNA finger printing and IR spectral study are of more diagnostic value is evolving standards and distinguishing varieties of medicinal plants.

The present pharmacognostical work is carried out on three variants of Cissus quadrangularis and two varieties in each of Madhuca longifolia (var. latifolia and var. longifolia) and Basella alba (var. alba and var. rubra). Morphological, anatomical, physicochemical, behavior of useful parts with different chemical reagents, fluorescent behavior, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical studies and TLC characters are studied.