Science Vision

128-147

Authors: B. Bharali, P. Borgohain, D. Bezbaruah, V. Vanthangliana, P. Protim Phukan, R. Rakshit

Tertiary sediments are thickly deposited in most part of the northeast India attaining a maximum thickness of ±7 km sedimentary succession. Surma basin located in the eastern proximity of India is also characterized by a thick sedimentary column which can be considered as the northeastern extension of Greater Bengal basin. This basin was initiated due to the mutual collision between Indian and Burmese Plate. Due to this collision, the bed rocks have undergone folding which are oriented N-S trending hill ranges. The basin was also cut by a number of parallel to sub-parallel transverse faults and thrusts. The litho association is consisting of sandstone, siltstone, shale and their various proportions. The present study focused on the provenance of the sediments, tectonic settings of the basin and various paleoclimatic conditions prevailing during the time of deposition by using petrography, granulometric and heavy mineral analysis of representative rock samples which were collected from various parts of Aizawl district of Mizoram belonging to the Upper Bhuban Formation. Based on the various proxies it was confirmed that the sediments were primarily derived from surrounding orogens and deposited in a shallow marine basin under the influence of fluvial-deltaic conditions which were basically sourced from felsic provenance. The sediments were moderately weathered under semi-humid to humid climatic condition before they deposited into Surma basin. Sandstones samples are litharenite and wacke type which were deposited in an active continental margin to recycled orogen settings.

160-162

Authors: D.C. Vanlalfakawma, F. Lalnunmawia, S.K. Sen, S.K. Tripathi

Bambusa tulda Roxb. is a semi-deciduous caespitose bamboo endemic to Indo-Burma. It is known as ‘rawṭhing’ in Mizoram, India, and its mass gregarious flowering is called ṭhingtâm. ‘Ṭhingtâm’ has a cycle of about 45-50 years. The first ṭhingtâm, recorded in the region was in 1880, which was preceded by mautâm (gregarious flowering of Melocanna baccifera) in 1862; i.e., the ṭhingtâm phenomenon occurred ~20 years after the Mautâm. The last ṭhingtâm was recorded in 1981. However, there has been a localised ṭhingtâm at Zawlnuam, a village at the northwestern Mizoram. The first flowering was recorded in 2015. This unusual phenomenon needs to be investigated.

172–181

Authors: H. Lalrinawmi, J.M.C. Vabeikhokhei, J. Zothanzama, Zohmangaiha

Twenty-seven (27) species of edible mushrooms growing in both soil and wood have been described here from Mizoram, India. All the species were identified based on their morphological, both macro- and microscopic characteristics. The study was carried out during July 2013 to October 2016. Wood inhabiting fungi viz. Schizophyllum commune (pasi), Lentinula lateritia (pa pal), Auricularia auricular-judae (Pu Vana beng), Lentinus tigrinus (pa hnahkhar), L. polychrous (pa chang/pa puanveng) and soil growing fungi viz., Lactifluus corrugis (pa uithin), Lactarius piperatus (pa lengvar), Macrolepiota dolichaula (pa se-ek), Russula subfragiliformis (pa lengsen), Termotomyces heimii (pa sawntlung), Volvariella taylorii (changel pa) are the edible species known to the local community. Other edible species yet unknown to the local community in Mizoram are also recorded viz., Cantharellus cibarius, Craterellus cornucopioides, Lycoperdon perlatum, Macrolepiota procera, Ramariopsis kunzei, Russula aurora, R. compacta, R. cyanoxantha, Lentinula edodes, Lentinus sajor-caju, Pleurotus ostreatus, P. djamor, Tremella fuciformis, T. mesenterica, Laetiporus suphureus and Fistulina hepatica.