Modern angiosperm taxonomy or systematics provides a strong foundation for the progress of biological sciences as it incorporates studies on biosystematics, chemical and serological evidences, numerical taxonomy, cytogenetical and ecological evidences and many others. This book accounts for information on classical and fundamental aspects of taxonomy as well as its recent developments. Special attention has been paid to the chapters on origin of Angiosperms, Theory of Evolution and Evolutionary trends in Angiosperm Flowers. The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, Important herbaria, Techniques for the preparation, storage and study of herbarium specimens, Botanical gardens, and Taxonomic literature are discussed in detail and includes the study of some selected families belonging to 21 orders. For each family, general features and evidence from anatomical, embryological, chromosome numbers and phytochemical data have been added and evolutionary trends discussed. Attention has also been drawn to economic importance and geographical distribution of these families. Illustrations for some members of these families have also been added.

A basic practical manual for the process of describing new species, this desperately needed desk reference and guide to nomenclatural procedure and taxonomic writing serves as a Strunk & White of species description, covering both botanical and zoological codes of nomenclature.