Sex' has played a key role in all cultures. Many stories and anecdotes fill the history with incidents of sex and related acts, especially of Kings and Kingmen who received treatments for increasing their vigour and vitality from `Dhanvanthris'. Many plants have been used traditionally for this purpose. Recent upsurge of `Viagra' in media is a well known story. However, the knowledge of aphrodisiac plants is necessary for everyone to lead a healthy and psychologically contented life. From the ancient times, this subject has aroused interest, but, there is hardly any attempt to bring together the widely scattered information available till date, so as to provide baseline data for researchers and students alike. With this sole objective in mind, the present compendium has been prepared with all the earnest efforts to provide information on Botanical names, Synonyms, Family, English, Hindi and Sanskrit names, Distribution, Parts used, Active constituents, Aprhodisiac preparation and Biological activity of over 456 species belonging to 331 genera under 116 families of which, 2 species (2 genera) belong to Fungi, 2 species (1 genus) to Lichens, 6 species (5 genera) to Pteridophytes, 6 species (3 genera) to Gymnosperms and the remaining 456 species (320 genera) to Angiosperms having 360 species among dicotyledons. The original source of information is also given. For ready reference to contents and from the point of view of lay readers, 8 useful appendices and 43 colour photographs have been provided. It is hoped, that, this invaluable compendium with its comprehensive coverage of the subject will provide a distinct baseline for scientists, students and professionals, working in the field of economic botany, ethnobotany and the science of reproductive biology.

The present book "Ethnobotany and Medicinal Plants of India and Nepal" is next publication in the series on Indian Medicinal Plants. The contributors of the papers in this book are well known Indian Ethnobotanists who have furnished authenticated data for further scientific and clinical tests. The information about the medicinal plants spread over 325 pages, covers various tribal communities from north to south and east to west and different ailments cured in nature's dispensary. Beautiful phtographs of some medicinal plants have also been provided by some contributors. The information furnished in the book will be useful for controlling biopiracy, backing conservation stretegies and facilitate better understanding of phytotherapy research.

The book provides a scientific background needed for the identification of medicinal plants commonly occurring in India. It explains scientific terms for description of plant parts. It explains the method for identification of plants employing scientific terms. Any unknown medicinal plants can be identified to its family, genus and ultimately to the species. More than 610 species of Indian Medicinal Plants, including those 365 mentioned in the CCIM approved University syllabus of Ayurvedic medicine are listed. An exhaustive list of above plant species provides correct and up-todate scientific name together with names in English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi languages and plant parts used in medicine. It also provides about 88 line drawings of plants parts and 125 coloured photographs for confirmation of identified plants. With the help of this book, one will be able to identify 610 species of Medicinal Plants. This will help in pinpointing the genuine drug and its parts by way of comparison. It may also help in detection of genuine as well as adulterated plant species and their parts. Thus, it is hoped that, the book will be useful to Agriculturists, Ayurvedic practitioners, Pharmacicsts in addition to the students of Ayurved, botany as well as a common person interested in knowing common Indian Medicinal Plants.

The book deals with 200 plants species of Angiosperms. For the first time here is a detailed explaination of 200 herbs in complete Ayurvedic perspective, aided with their botanical description, chemical constituents, Ayurvedic medicinal properties, clinical usage and also ethnomedicinal usage. The plants selected in the present book are fairly widely used in India for millennia. This book well helps in generating a global interest in Ayurveda and medicinal plants in India. Salient features of this Book are: (1) Species of plants are presented in Alphabetical order of their Botanical names. (2) In dealing with each species, after its Botanical name, all available Synonyms are mentioned. (3) This is followed by names popularly used in English and in other Indian languages with its distribution. (4) To help to identify the plant species, the taxonomic description is given. (5) Available infor-mation about the chemical constituents of each species is given. (6) Sanskrit Shlokas from relevant Nighantus describing the Ayurvedic Medicinal properties are first given in Devanagary script followed by its rendering in Roman script using internationally recognized transliteration markings. (7) This is followed by giving its action and uses according to Ayurvedic therapeutics. (8) Information about its use in Ethnomedicinal practice is given, then. This book is helpful for Ethnobotanists, Ayurvedic medical practitioner, students and researchers as well as other reader's interested in the field of Ethnomedicine.

The book will be very useful for students and researchers of ethnobotany, economic botany, bioresources, traditional universities, phytomedicines, Indian systems of medicines, plant genetic resources, biochemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical houses, corporate houses, herbal industry, policy planners, institutional libraries etc. and laymen alike.

Did you know that Vanilla was formerly served as aphrodisiac by Cassanova and Madam Pompadour, and Elizabeth I loved its flavor? This is the first book that provides a complete worldwide coverage of orchids being employed as aphrodisiacs, medicine or charms and food. Opening with an in-depth historical account of orchids (orchis Greek testicle), the author describes how the Theory of Signatures influenced ancient herbalists to regard terrestrial orchid tubers as aphrodisiacs. Doctors and apothecaries promoted it during the Renaissance. Usage of orchids in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Indian Ayurvedic Medicine; by Tibetan yogins and Amchi healers for longevity pills, tonics and aphrodisiacs; by Africans to prepare 'health promoting' chikanda or as survival food when lost in the Australian bush are some highlights of the book. Early settlers in America and the East Indies often relied on native remedies and employment of orchids for such needs is described. Also covered are the search for medicinal compounds by scientists, attempts to prove the orchid's efficacy by experiment and the worry of conservationists.

The present book "Ethnobotany and Medicinal Plants of India and Nepal" is next publication in the series on Indian Medicinal Plants. The contributors of the papers in this book are well known Indian Ethnobotanists who have furnished authenticated data for further scientific and clinical tests. The information about the medicinal plants spread over 325 pages, covers various tribal communities from north to south and east to west and different ailments cured in nature's dispensary. Beautiful phtographs of some medicinal plants have also been provided by some contributors. The information furnished in the book will be useful for controlling biopiracy, backing conservation stretegies and facilitate better understanding of phytotherapy research.