This well timed volume features a selection of chapters composed by experts in their respective fields. It covers a broad range of topics, from its fundamental biology to the fern’s population genetics and environmental and therapeutic applications.

This encyclopedia offers access to the diversity of ferns and seed plants, the most important groups of green land plants. Available information of general and systematic relevance is synthesized at the level of families. Evidence from virtually all disciplines important to modern taxonomy makes the work a most valuable source of reference not only for taxonomists, but for all who are interested in the various aspects of plant diversity. A revised classification includes a complete inventory of genera along with their diagnostic features, keys for identification, and references to the literature. The first volume deals with pteridophytes and gymnosperms.

This book is the result of more than five years of extensive field and laboratory studies on the polypodioid ferns of South India, covering Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Thirty three species belonging to fourteen genera under three families viz, Grammitidaceae, Loxogrammaceae and Polypodiaceae are treated. This is fully illustrated taxonomic account of this group for South India covering all important aspects including the history and classification of the group and its constituent taxa. Nomenclature and taxonomy of each species have been updated in consultation with types and other authentic specimens. Besides distribution maps, a brief note on the ecology of each species are provided. The exhaustive bibliography cited at the end will help future researchers in this field. Contents Chapter 1: Introduction; Importance of the present work, Review of literature, Area of study, Distribution and ecology, Materials and methods, Plan of the work; Chapter 2: Systematic treatment; Polypodioid ferns, Grammitidaceae, Loxogrammaceae, Polypodiaceae; Chapter 3: Discussion.