Life originated and evolved in water. Later the The tropical countries where the need to under plants moved out of water, conquered the land and stand the natural ecosystems is far greater because became dominant over it. The evolution through they are under intensive pressure from develop the millennia resulted in enormous complexity of ment from a rapidly growing human population, form, tissue organisation, reproductive mechan have generally devoted much less attention to the isms and specialisation of taxa in different niches. studies of aquatic ecosystems. The Indian subconti At some stage during evolution, some plants devel nent is a well-recognised biogeographic region with oped appropriate morphological and physiological a distinct geological history, climate, soils and adaptations and reverted back to the aquatic and/ biota. It is also distinct in the history of human civilisation and cultures which have a profound bear or semi-aquatic habitat. These plants, perhaps with the exception of a few ing on the natural ecosystems. This book is in with beautiful flowers, have attracted little atten tended to provide the state of our knowledge of the tion from mankind. The fact that humans evolved aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation in the inland in a tropical forest or savanna environment appears freshwaters of the subcontinent. The book covers responsible for a permanent bias in human atti only the herbaceous vegetation, since there is al tudes towards land and its biota.

India has a vast landmass of 328 million hectares, extending from the tropics to the alpine regions, rich wetlands to deserts, islands, long coastline to Western and Eastern Ghats and the high Himalayas. It has equally rich and diverse plant diversity, with over 47,000 species that are already documented. Because of the large population dependence on these plants, expansion of agriculture, urbanization and development efforts, many species are threatened too. Some of the issues concerning plant diversity in India are unique to the country. Taxonomic and floristic studies on all major groups have been carried out but the information is scattered in research papers and regional/local floras, manuals and monographs. This volume intends to bridge this gap. Nine of the thirteen chapters of this volume deals with different plant groups extending from algae to angiosperms and allied groups such as bacteria, fungi, lichens, and myxomycetes. There are chapters dealing with topical issues in global context on biodiversity with special reference to India such as climate change and its impact on biodiversity, crop diversity, and tradomedicalism. Each chapter is written by author(s) specialising on the particular group and having long experience of research in it. Each chapter includes not only distribution and diversity but also major researches, economic uses and conventional human interactions. Lacunae in current knowledge are also pinpointed. The book provides information on ecosystem diversity, flora of special sensitive regions (mangroves, wetland, and coral reefs), and on policies and strategies being adopted for in situ and ex situ conservation.

The main subject of this book is the interaction between diggings created by porcupines when consuming geophytes, and their influences on annual and perennial vegetation in a desert biome. The accumulation of run-off water in diggings and depressions made by animals increases the carrying capacity of these microhabitats in the desert biome. The accumulation of run-off water does not only benefit the natural vegetation; a system of human-made depressions can be evolved to increase the catchment of the run-off water that is typical to many desert habitats, and can lead to run-off agriculture in such areas. This book will be of interest to anyone working in the fields of development of deserts from the ecological point of view, water resources, soil protection and erosion, plant ecophysiology and settlement, and agronomy. It will be helpful to students, researchers, teachers, and anyone interested in any of these areas.

An anthology of aquatic plants is an excellent collection of knowledge about anything in fresh, marine, or polluted waters. This pictorial guide deals with aquatic and wetland plants from the Okavango to the transboundary rivers to the rainwater ponds and dams. Organized and written in a way that will make information easily accessible to specialists and non-specialists alike. The guide/book highlights the diversity and vital ecological importance of the group of plants, providing descriptions and identification keys for emergent, floating-leaved, and submerged aquatic plants found in Botswana. They serve as a source of food and shelter for the aquatic fauna, thus forming the basis of aquatic wildlife conservation practices. They are economically useful in providing medicinal and aesthetic value. Aquatic plants prevent and maintain erosion, water turbidity, and the source of oxygen in the water. Information on invasive plants, such as Kariba/salvinia weed, water lettuce, and water hyacinth that threaten Botswana's aquatic ecosystems, is briefly described. In total, 194 plant species are presented in the guide. All technical terms are explained in a comprehensive glossary. This is the first such flora to cover aquatic and wetland plants for the entire geographical area, excluding grasses and sedges. It will suit a large age range, from little ones who want to look at the pictures to primary school children. If you have an explorer's spirit and a thirst for finding something new, then aquatic life will never disappoint. The physical book itself is stunning, with a handsome cover with common water lily that makes it pretty enough to sit on the coffee table but entertaining enough to keep kids glued to the pages. When the two characters from a different native, who rose in the same city of Aizawl, meet and fall in love during PUC, his jealous gay friend circles a rumor and tries to interfere in their affairs. Her love sadly feels unrequited due to his shy and reclusive nature followed by some tragic incidents that make all her attempts go in vain. She also doesn’t understand his gesture of acceptance and things remain in a state of oblivion for a long time. Her sedulousness doesn’t allow giving up on him even after they part ways to pursue their higher studies. But her naiveness again fails her in catching his clues before he turns into a severe hophead after his mother’s demise. A lot changes in their lives by the time he comes close to expressing his hidden love for her and is about to propose for marriage. Despite both being settled in the South, every time some divine energy would stop them from meeting in one place. Unease in his mind, he starts revealing his feelings and relevant secrets after his marriage and comes to a point when she learns how life had been unkind to both of them and they begin expressing their regrets. It is a tragic love story that starts with love and ends with friendship. After reading the book, you might wonder whether they will remain just as incomplete stories that are waiting to be completed like how they called themselves.

Invasive alien species are a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystems throughout the world. In India, a country with four of the world's most important 'biodiversity hotspots', the invasion of alien plants means risking a national ecological disaster with major social and economic consequences. Currently, there is insufficient information about invasive alien plants; their distribution, rate of spread and adaptability to new environments. This book reveals existing and potential invaders, evaluates the level of risk they pose to native species and suggests steps to manage spread and limit damage. Invaluable to policy-makers, this book is also required reading for researchers of invasive plants worldwide.