National Herbarium of Cultivated Plants (NHCP): Taxa Added During 2008

National Herbarium of Cultivated Plants (NHCP) is a major resource for taxonomic and systematic study of plant genetic resources (PGR). For taxa added as herbarium specimens, observations on area and habitat of collection, growth habit, phenology and use of the germplasm are noted on the herbarium sheets. The data checked against reported information aided in recording rarity, endemism, genetic erosion and loss, spread of species etc in 49 taxa added to the NHCP in 2008. Taxa of PGR importance that may be affected by climatic and man-made changes to habitat and morphology can be delineated through these procedures and aid in the use of herbarium resources for measuring species responses to environmental changes.