Addition to the flora of Rajasthan from southern Aravallis

Family: Burseraceae 1. Protium serratum (Wallich ex Colebr.) Engl., This is an evergreen tree species, has imperipinnate leaves. Rachis of leaves brown tomentose; leaflets 5-7, ovate-oblong to elliptic-lanceolate, pubescent when young. Young branches are also pubescent. Panicles lax, axillary, up to 20cm long. Flowers bisexual. According to Aima (2003), this species is present all over India. In Rajasthan, we recorded this species above 900m in submontane habitat from two localities, namely, Kamalnath Reserve Forest Block, Range Jhadol in Udaipur district and Mt. Abu Wildlife Sanctuary in Sirohi district. A dense sacred grove on the banks of a perennial stream between Kamalnath temple and Shanideo temple consists of Mangifera indica, Putranjiva roxburghii, Protium serratum, Ensete superbum, Ficus arnottiana, Syzygium heyneanum, Dalbergia volubilis, Hiptage benghalensis etc. Many epichormic branches are present on the basal part of each tree of P. serratum. Similarly, this species was also seen occuring in patches along the way leading to Gomukh at Mt. Abu. Mehta (1979) had studied the flora of Mount Abu area but he didn’t record this species from there. Hence, it is an addition to Mt. Abu flora and Rajasthan flora as well. Local status of species: Rare.