This book is an attempt in compiling all such available information based on the critical study of literature till date, and, on the interactions of the author with the indigenous people during his more than three decades of association with the forest and the people of the area. The necessity for such an attempt, for a specific region, rich both in MAP as well as the tribal, in whom the available knowledge has been concisely recorded, was keenly felt to provide guidance to the future researchers in objective ethnobotany (OE) as well as in indigenous drugs. This book is also intended for the forest officers, who faces numerous enquiries addressed to them by quoting names in local languages; and more often than not they are faced with a dialemna as to how to locate this plant even though the particular plant may be in his vicinity. Hence, names in different languages have been indexed for both the researchers in OE and for the forest officers, as well as for the amateurs.

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 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.

Results of regular monitoring of the species diversity and structure of plant communities is used by conservation biologists to help understand impacts of perturbations caused by humans and other environmental factors on ecosystems worldwide. Changes in plant communities can, for example, be a reflection of increased levels of pollution, a response to long-term climate change, or the result of shifts in land-use practices by the human population. This book presents a series of essays on the application of plant biodiversity monitoring and assessment to help prevent species extinction, ecosystem collapse, and solve problems in biodiversity conservation. It has been written by a large international team of researchers and uses case studies and examples from all over the world, and from a broad range of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The book is aimed at any graduate students and researchers with a strong interest in plant biodiversity monitoring and assessment, plant community ecology, biodiversity conservation, and the environmental impacts of human activities on ecosystems.

Ethnobotany deals with traditional and indigenous associations of people with plants. The subject has been attracting more and more scholars in India and many other countries. It’s importance in search for new molecules from ethnomedicinal herbs and useful genes from wild relatives and land races of crops, still in use among many native folk, for genetic engineering has enhanced the importance of the discipline. The number of books and research papers published each year has been rapidly increasing .Research workers need to know about the work done on their topic of study. Bibliographies reviews greatly help in this and save their valuable time. About 2500 publications are listed in the present book. To facilitate the search of reference on particular region, ethnic groups or use categories indexes are given for providing clues to such search. Research guides can easily spot gaps in ethnobotanical studies in any ethnic society, as also regions of the country. Biographers will find from one source the work done in single or joint authorship by the scientist on whom they are writing. To facilitate this an index by surname of joint authors is also provided. The book will be an essential reference work for research workers.