The genus Euphorbia, belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, is unique among flowering plants due to the peculiar highly evolved inflorescence called cyathium, which is found only in this genus and a few of its allied genera. For India, the only treatise available now for the genus covering the entire country was published about 120 years ago by J.D. Hooker for Flora of British India (Vol. 5, 1887). Since then except for some regional works, none has attempted a taxonomic account of the genus for the entire country.
After many years of survey work and research work, the authors have now brought out a comprehensive up-to-date taxonomic revision of the interesting genus for India. The genus Euphorbia has 80 species indigenous to India and 4 exotic, introduced and naturalized ones. The genus is rich in endemism with 30 species and 7 varieties endemic to India. This work provides a detailed introduction, reviewing earlier works on all aspects of morphology, anatomy, cytology, embryology, palynology, economic botany, phylogeny, etc. The taxonomic part provides detailed descriptions for the genus, subgeneric taxa, species and infraspecific taxa. Simple dichotomous keys are presented for easy identification of subgenera, sections, species and infraspecific taxa. Line drawings with detailed morphological features have been provided for 77 species, many of them published for the first time. The work also includes 40 photographs, including those of some type specimens. A comprehensive bibliography includes citations of important literature relevant to India. Alphabetic indexes to botanical and vernacular names are provided.
This work will be useful for students, teachers and researchers of Botany and allied branches and will also prove useful to all workers in applied aspects for correctly identifying their specimens.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR M S Binojkumar
Dr. M S Binoj Kumar M. Sc., Ph. D., FIAT, is currently working as Reader in Post Graduate Department of Botany, Sanatana Dharma College, Alappuzha, Kerala, India. He has over 23 years of research experience in the field of Angiosperm Taxonomy and Ethnobotany, including 6 years in Botanical Survey of India as research scholar. He has written several academic and scientific books and has published more than 60 research papers in National and International Journals. He is also member of various academic and scientific associations in India and abroad.He is an approved Research Guide of the University of Kerala and has successfully guided a good number of Ph. D. scholars. He has also organized 4 National Seminars and attended several National and International conferences, Symposia and Workshops. His field of interest is Angiosperm Taxonomy, Ethnobotany and Biodiversity Conservation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR N P Balakrishnan
Dr. Nambiyath P. Balakrishnan was born on July 27, 1935. He received his M.A. degree in Botany from Madras University in 1958 and M. Sc. in Plant Taxonomy from Liverpool University in 1967. his thesis on the flora of Jowai, Meghalaya fetched him Ph.D. degree from Gauhati University, Assam in 1972. He worked in the Botanical Survey of India from August 1958 to July 1993 and worked in the offices at Coimbatore, Howarah, Shillong, Prot Blair and Allahabad. At the time of retirement he was Joint Director and head of the office of Madras Herbarium, Coimbatore. He made extensive botanical explorations and collection of specimens from various forest areas of Peninsular India, Central India, Assam, Meghalaya, Bhutan, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. His collections amounting to more than 10,000 field numbers are deposited in MH, CAL, ASSAM, PBL, K and L. On his retirement he continued his research work as Emeritus Scientist at Southern Circle of Botanical Survey of India, Coimbatore. He guided 4 students for Ph.D. degree. His research work in Plant Taxonomy yielded 180 scientific articles in various Indian and International journals. He authored 5 books and edited Volumes 1 & 2 of Flora of India. He discovered 2 new genera, 72 new species and several new varieties. He is continuing his interest and research on the family Euphorbiaceae.
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