PHYTODIVERSITY AND USEFUL PLANTS OF EASTERN GHATS OF ORISSA
Authors : Misra, M. K., Das, P. K., Dash, S. S.
ISBN : 81-7089-361-5
Published Year : 2009
Pages : pp. x+393.
Rs.1,250.00
Price includes all taxes.
The book deals with 581 species available and its indigenous uses in Koraput region. The enumeration is mainly based on the Bentham & Hooker's (1862-1883) classification and subsequent delimitation of families under Cronquist's (1968) classification. Under each family the genera and species were alphabetically arranged with a short keys for enabling easy identification. Up dated information available on nomenclature for the taxa studied along with the basionym and synonyms, followed by a short description, phenological data, the notes on distribution in the collected area along with the usefulness of the plants, if any.
It is hoped that the present book would meet the needs of the many botanists, foresters, geologists, agriculturists, herbal healers (vaidyas) and plant based industries. We are also hopeful that it would also increase botanical activities in the region and generate public interests in the wild plants leading to reorganization and protection of rare and endangered species. In spite of vital ecological role played by tropical wetlands and important subsistence livelihood support to many rural people in the developing countries, the wetlands along with its vegetation have been neglected for a very long period. They are increasingly threatened by various anthropogenic activities. In India, rural people get several types of economic benefits including the medicinal plants from the wetlands, but are not aware of the consequences of the rapid vanishing and destruction of wetland ecosystems.
The region covered in this book is South Odisha consisting of seven districts in the eastern part of Peninsular India. The region is economically under developed. Geographically and physically the region is diverse and extends from the coast to interior hilly tracts, covering a part of the Eastern Ghats of India. The region has not been floristically explored well and the wetland areas are totally neglected. In this book the floristic as well as the plant resources utilization aspects have been emphasized.
The present book deals with 294 aquatic and wetland plants of South Odisha. This is not an exhaustive account of the total floral diversity of the wetlands of South Odisha but we have tried to include all available wetland plants of the region.
Information on the traditional uses of wetland plants by the local people are also collected as for as possible and are incorporated in a separate chapter. For the benefit of the readers, a separate chapter has been included that gives a general idea of the wetlands especially their distribution, threats, conservation and management with reference to India.
The book is fully illustrated with colour plates that would help identification of wetland plants by the common people as well as plant lovers and plant taxonomists.
The authors are indebted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for financial assistance in the form of a research project. We are thankful to the local people who without hesitation have provided the information on the traditional uses of the plants. The help rendered by the officials of the Forest Department of the State, Government during the field studies is also thankfully acknowledged. During the field study and preparation of the book, Sri Deenabandhu Sahu and Sri Rama Chandra Sahoo, the research scholars of the Ecology and Floristic Laboratory, Berhampur University have extended their cooperation for which we are thankful to them.
Finally, we hope that the book would be helpful to the students, researchers, common people, plant taxonomists, botanists, herbal healers and wetland managers.
It is hoped that the present book would meet the needs of the many botanists, foresters, geologists, agriculturists, herbal healers (vaidyas) and plant based industries. We are also hopeful that it would also increase botanical activities in the region and generate public interests in the wild plants leading to reorganization and protection of rare and endangered species. In spite of vital ecological role played by tropical wetlands and important subsistence livelihood support to many rural people in the developing countries, the wetlands along with its vegetation have been neglected for a very long period. They are increasingly threatened by various anthropogenic activities. In India, rural people get several types of economic benefits including the medicinal plants from the wetlands, but are not aware of the consequences of the rapid vanishing and destruction of wetland ecosystems.
The region covered in this book is South Odisha consisting of seven districts in the eastern part of Peninsular India. The region is economically under developed. Geographically and physically the region is diverse and extends from the coast to interior hilly tracts, covering a part of the Eastern Ghats of India. The region has not been floristically explored well and the wetland areas are totally neglected. In this book the floristic as well as the plant resources utilization aspects have been emphasized.
The present book deals with 294 aquatic and wetland plants of South Odisha. This is not an exhaustive account of the total floral diversity of the wetlands of South Odisha but we have tried to include all available wetland plants of the region.
Information on the traditional uses of wetland plants by the local people are also collected as for as possible and are incorporated in a separate chapter. For the benefit of the readers, a separate chapter has been included that gives a general idea of the wetlands especially their distribution, threats, conservation and management with reference to India.
The book is fully illustrated with colour plates that would help identification of wetland plants by the common people as well as plant lovers and plant taxonomists.
The authors are indebted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for financial assistance in the form of a research project. We are thankful to the local people who without hesitation have provided the information on the traditional uses of the plants. The help rendered by the officials of the Forest Department of the State, Government during the field studies is also thankfully acknowledged. During the field study and preparation of the book, Sri Deenabandhu Sahu and Sri Rama Chandra Sahoo, the research scholars of the Ecology and Floristic Laboratory, Berhampur University have extended their cooperation for which we are thankful to them.
Finally, we hope that the book would be helpful to the students, researchers, common people, plant taxonomists, botanists, herbal healers and wetland managers.
