This textbook focuses on different organisms studied by students of botany. The contents have been organized in ‘self-contained’ units for ease of understanding. The initial chapters deal with fundamental aspects of diversity, its relevance and classification. The organisms are then analyzed, with emphasis on the important characters and systems of classification for each category of organisms. The information has been provided in a conceptual manner rather than describing representative examples of different kinds of organisms. An evolutionary approach has been adopted in presenting the information, beginning with the prokaryotic ‘viruses and bacteria’, journeying through ‘algae’, ‘bryophytes’, ‘pteridophytes’, ‘gymnosperms’ and culminating with the ‘most visible components of the plant world the angiosperms’. During this journey, it was not possible to leave behind the ‘fungi’. Although this fascinating group of organisms is no longer classified in the plant kingdom, it continues to find space in textbooks of botany.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prithipal Singh
Dr. Prithipalssingh is a Senior reader in Botany Kirorimal College. He has been teaching since 1971. The special interest in which he is recognized as an expert include, besides Plant Taxonomy, Biodiversity Studies, Ecology and Environmental Biology. He has published numerous research papers in national and International Journals. Dr. Prithipal Singh served on the National Consultation Committee for discussing the 'State of the Environment report of India 2001' prepared by the United nations Environment Programme. He has completed a project on "Status of biodiversity conservation in Punjab" for the Forest department, as a member of the tata Energy research Institute team. As a consultant for Biodiversity with "The Energy Institute (TERI)", Dr. Prithipalsingh participated in several world bank funded research projects of the Uttar Pradesh/Uttranchal State Forest department. He has obtained first hand information in the effect of ‘fire', grazing', 'collection of non-timber forest products' and 'natural regeneration'; focusing on the ground realities for evaluating the impact of different parameters necessary for formulating "management recommendations".
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