Morphotaxonomy, medicinal use and new host range of Dendrophthoe falcata. in Coccnia Champaran, its cause and consequences

Dendrophthoe falcata (L) Ettingsh var . Coccinia commonly called “Banda” is a very attractive and common angiospermic parasite of the ar ea and gr ows on various angiospermic tr ees, but in this district of Champaran it is being r eported for the first time fr om uncommon and unusual host tr ees, viz., Punica granatum, Callistemon lanceolatus, Psidium guajava, Eugenia jambolana, Aegle marmelos, Albizzia lebbeck, Eucalyptus globuls, Citrus maxima other than common hosts Mangifera indica, Ficus religiosa, and F . rumphii . These unusual host ranges have attracted us to know the r eal causes. Our findings r eport that due to over exploitation and cutting of their natural host tr ees this parasite has changed its habitat and begin to gr ow and establishes itself on such uncommon and unusual host tr ees. Medicinal studies r eports its effectiveness on some new and important diseases, further studies ar e being continued.