The Nilgiris was identified in 1970 as representative area of the Western Ghats under the UNESCOs Man and Biosphere programme. It is the first biosphere reserve set up in India in 1986. The present work is based on the intense field work personally carried out on the Nilgiris by the authors during 1991-1992 by spending 55 days in the field. This book includes 144 species of Pteridophytes with short description along with identification keys for genera and species and ecological notes. Colour photographs have been provided for important species. Specimen citation has been given for all the species based on our own collections. This is the modern account on the Pteridophyte Flora for this phytogeographically important region. The only previous comprehensive report for the ferns of Nilgiris is by R.H. Beddome (1864). It would be of immense use for pteridogists interested in the ferns of the tropics, for research scholars, students of Pteridology, for forest conservationists and hobbyists.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR V. Irudayaraj
Dr. V. Irudayaraj is lecturer in St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai. He did his M.Sc. in St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappali (1983) and Ph.D. St. Xavier’s College (affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University), Palayamkottai (1991) under the guidance of Rev. Dr. V.S. Manickam. He has specialized in biosystematics of south Indian ferns. He has co-authored two books and published about 50 research papers on taxonomy, cytology and intraspecfic variation of south Indian ferns. He had the chance to work on Himalayan ferns under the guidance of Prof. S.S. Bir, Punjabi University, Patiala (1992-1993). He is the recipient of Prof. S.S. Bir medal in Pteridology (2001).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR V.S. Manickam
Rev. Dr. V.S. Manickam S.J., F.I.F.S. is the Director of both Centre for Biodiversity and Biotechnology (Research base) and Kodaikanal Botanic Garden (Environmental base). He is a well-known field botanist of India particularly for his floristic works in south India. He did his M.Sc. in St. Joseph’s College. Tiruchirapalli (1969) and Ph.D. in Kerala University (1974). He joined as lecturer in St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapalli and retired as Reader from St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai on 2002. During the last three decades Rev. Dr. V.S. Manickam has carried out intensive botanical explorations in the Western Ghats of south India. Under his leadership, various families of south Indian ferns have been subjected to cytological, ecological, micromorphological, phyto-chemical and biotechnological studies. He has published 7 books and about 100 research papers. He participated in several National and International (China, Netherlands, Australia, USA) symposia and organized two National Symposia on ferns and medicinal plants. He is coordinating “All India Coordinated Project on Taxonomy (Pteridophytes & Gymnosperms)†(20002-2005).
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