Taxonomic Revision of Hedyotis L. (Rubiaceae) in Indian Sub-Continent

Botanical Survey of India publishes results of its scientific activities under four series. The first series deals with Flora of India publications in the form of volumes of Flora of India and Fascicles; the second series deals with state floras and the third with District floras. In addition to these, critical taxonomic revisions, monographic accounts and miscellaneous works are published under series-4. The present book "Taxonomic Revision of Hedyotis L. (Rubiaceae) in Indian Sub-Continent" by Drs. Ratna Dutta and D.B. Deb is one such work published under series-4. The present investigation of genus Hedyotis L. is a result of extensive studies of herbarium specimens housed in major herbaria of India. Out of 515 species found in the world, the book deals with 74 species occurring in the sub-continent. Taxonomists all over the world are not unanimous on the generic limits of Hedyotis L. has been enlarged on reassessment of characters used by earlier workers, and Oldenlandia L. and Kohautia cham and Schlechtd. have been merged under it. The genus has been treated under 7 sections namely sect. Hedyotis represented by 8 species, sect. Oldenlandia by 18 species, sect. Kohautia and sect. Scleromitrion by 5 species each, sect. Involucrella by single species, sect. Diplophragma by 35 species and sect. Antidopsis represented by 2 species. Authors have taken support from pollen studies and seed morphology to substantiate their taxonomic decisions. This comprehensive taxonomic revision is written and presented in complete from and should serve as a useful manual to facilitate the identification of this highly specialised groups of plants not only in India, but also in neighbouring countries of the sub-continent. Authors have examined all the types or their photographs or all the names involved number of line drawings showing important diagnostic details for almost all the taxa included in this work will be of special interest to botanists in general and taxonomists in particular. Elaborate notes and lists of specimens examined are additional features of this book.