Nagaon: A state forest department official - Hamren divisional forest officer Jatindra Nath Sarma - has written a book detailing almost 1,400 different species of trees, herbs, mushrooms and shrubs available in the jungles and plains of the Northeast, which is set to release in the first week of November.

Sarma claims that of the species covered in his book, Medicinal Plants and Mushrooms in India, as many as 500 species are still unexplored.

Jungles in the three hill districts, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, are the hubs of medicinal plants.

Sarma's book describes each of these plants, along with photographs and relevant scientific inputs.

"Our investigation covers forest areas in all parts of the Northeast equally, including the plains. This is a book, which includes everything available here. The forest department's handbook covers 900 species of plants. Our database includes 1,340 plants and 60 wild mushrooms," Sarma told The Telegraph today.

Sarma's first book on forest resources was published by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council in 2006 which included 434 species of plants, herbs and shrubs in Karbi Anglong district. The book, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Assam, brought to light the existence of more than 225 unexplored plants in the state.

"Tribes in the hilly belts use certain medicinal plants which are unknown even to botanists living in the plains. Our dream is to make these resources popular among all sections of people. Clerodendrum sinensis var.hamrensis is a recently identified spice in West Karbi Anglong which the tribes use as a popular medicine to treat high blood pressure," Sarma said. "The book, presented in a scientific manner by an Indian forest service officer with his huge field experience, shall be of special interest to students, scholars, taxonomists, researchers, physicians and forest field officers," principal chief conservator V.K. Vishnoi said.