TAXONOMIC STUDY OF THE SECTION TACAMAHACA SPACH OF THE GENUS POPULUS L. (SALICACEAE MIRB.) IN INDIA

摘要

The genus Populus L. belongs to the family Salicaceae Mirb., mainly distributed in the Northern temperate regions. It consists of about 35 species in the world and about 8 species in India. The 8 Indian species of Populus L. belong to 5 sections viz.Populus, Leucoides Spach, Tacamahaca Spach, Aigeiros Duby and Turanga Bunge. The section Tacamahaca Spach is the major one having 3 species in Indian distribution. These three species of the section Tacamahaca Spach are discussed in detail along with a plate and an illustration. A key to the species is also provided for better understanding of the relationship between these three species.