The book Floristic diversity of Barda Hills and its surroundings is first of its kind emphasizing the contribution of J.I. Thaker (1910) to the field of plant taxonomy and ethnobotany of Gujarat. His major contribution was on Vanaspati Sastra - Barda dungar ni-Jadibuti taeni Pariksha anae Upayog in Gujarati (1910). After his premiere work, no comprehensive study were undertaken to identify the multifarious changes that have come about in the area. In view of this, an attempt was made to understand the floristic diversity with different facets of taxonomic and ecological understanding in the Barda Hills and its surroundings. The basis of the whole study was based on the hypothesis that - the habitat destruction, over-exploitation of biotic resources, pollution and introduc-tion of exotic species as a result of human activities in the area over a period of ten decades, might have caused decline or shift in the species composition in the Barda Hills and its surroundings. Justification to the hypothesis includes various descriptive findings on biodiversity, historical understanding, floristic diversity, biogeography, species diversity (ecological prospective), genetic diversity and bioresources.

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 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 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.