More than 2000 species of vascular plants play a vital role directly or indirectly in the economy of state and subsistence of about 42 lakhs population of tribals. In this book 610 species have been dealt which are used by the tribals for food, fodder, timber, fire-wood, tannin, dye, oil, fibre, medicine, alcohol, gum and resin etc. Besides above, the plants which find place in totems and taboos, magico-religious beliefs, magico-medicines, rites and rituals and several ceremonies and household uses related to the life of tribals from birth to death have also been discussed under the species arranged alphabetically. The correct botanical name of each species is followd by the prevalent local names, short diagnostic characters, habitat and distribution in the state and flowering and fruiting period before dealing with the above mentioned uses. The plants which find place in folk songs, proverbs, musical instruments and considered auspicious or inauspicious or landmark for routes etc have been discussed under separate heads in the end of the book. The introductory chapters include detailed information about land environment of the state, the tribal populations – their culture and customs, previous ethnobotanical works and methodology of present study. Besides 67 figures of individual plants, 62 coloured and one black and white photographs reflecting landscape, vegetation types, individual plants, culture and custom of tribals and plant-based household and agricultural implements have been included. The authors would welcome any suggestion from its readers that may be valuable in the future improvement of this book

The present ethnobotanical work was carried out by doing periodical and extensive ethnobotanical survey, assessment of field and tribal knowledge bank of tribal inhabited localities of Ratlam district of Western Madhya Pradesh from 2004-2007. A total number of 210 plant species of ethnobotanical importance [Medicinal- 186; Vegetables- 27; Wild edible fruits-36; Fodder/Forage - 18; Beverage and Drinks-3; Gum and Resin-3; Magico-religious beliefs and offerings-25; Agriculture implements, Handle, Tools, Boats-5; Fibres-11; Detergent - 3; Dye-3; Tannin-12; Oil yielding Plants-3; House, Building construction, Thatching and Furniture-11; Taboos and Totems-6; Musical instruments-11; Fuel-6; Biofencing-10; Fish poison-10; Other economic uses-7] belonging to 178 genera and 71 families have been including in the present study used by the indigenous people inhabiting all the villages of the district. Further the dicots are represented by 180 species belonging to 150 genera and 59 families and the remaining 30 species; belong to 28 genera and 12 families of monocots. Statistically, out of 210 plant species of ethnobotanical interest are belonging to different habits viz, 96 herbs, 55 trees, 37 shrubs, 16 climbers, 5 grasses and one angiospermic parasite plants and were included in the present study. The book includes vernacular names, Taxonomic description, distribution, part use, Chemical constituents, Biological activities, Folk uses of studied plants. This book is helpful for Botanists, Ethnobotanists, NGO’s and research workers interested in carrying out the researchers in the field of Ayurveda and Medicinal uses of the plants, BAMS students, the student of Botany and the persons engaged in Pharmaceutical concerns as well as other reader’s interested in the field of Herbal-medicine and Ethno-medicine and a must for Scientific and University Libraries in Madhya Pradesh.

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 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 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 ethno-medicinal usage. The plants selected in the present book are fairly widely used in India for millennia. This book well help in generating a global interest in Ayurveda and medicinal plants in India. The author has done a commendable job to compile the useful information of plants, in addition with excellent coloured photograph, which facilitates its identification. 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 information about the chemical constituents of each species is given. (6) Sanskrit Shlokas from relevent 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 Ethno-medicine.