Contents: Preface. Introduction. 1. Climate. 2. Temperature. 3. Physical features. 4. Rainfall. 5. Geomorphology. 6. Profile of land elevation. 7. Brief characteristics of soil. 8. Botanical exploration/establishment of  Sikkim Himalayan regional centre of botanical survey of India. 9. Botanical curiosities. 10. Vegetation types. 11. Ecoregions of Sikkim. Photographs: Family Rosaceae: morphological characters. Subfamily 1. Maloideae. Subfamily 2. Prunoideae. 3. Subfamily 3. Rosoideae. Subfamily 4. Spiraeoideae. Family Brachycaulaceae-morpholocial characters. Genus brachycaulos. Bibliography. Index.

This book on Rosaceae of Sikkim (including Brachycaulaceae the sixth largest family of this Himalayan state, deals with the taxonomic account of 30 genera, 185 species, 3 subsp. and 31 varieties. Rosaceae are one of the major families of flowering plants and widespread over a large part of the world hosting a large number of genera, which are cultivated either as ornamental or for supplying useful products ranging from timber to edible fruits and medicine. The Indian subcontinent particularly the Himalaya regions and especially the eastern Himalayas like Sikkim are established as a secondary centre of origin and differentiation/diversity of a number of genera and species of this family. Such documentation and statewise account is prerequisite and essential for conservation of biodiversity and for developmental programmes based on bio-resources. The present work is expected to fulfill this requirement and much awaited account on the flora of Sikkim Himalaya. World over there are between 95 to 125 genera and 2825-3500 species. The present work is the outcome of both field and herbarium studies.

In introduction with brief details of the group and area, etc. general discussion on climate, temperature physical features, rainfall geomorphology, profile on land elevation, brief characteristics of soil, earlier botanical exploration and establishment of Sikkim Himalayan Regional Centre of Botanical Survey of India alongwith attraction curiosities vegetation types and ecoregions of Sikkim have been given 88 illustrations and 120 photographs are also given.

The present work includes one new generic record for India from Sikkim and two new records of species for Sikkim. Several species and infraspecific taxa not recorded in Indian flora and other publications but given in flora of Bhutan and flora of China etc. have been mentioned against the respective taxa and these will be therefore additions to Indian flora (12 taxa). The endemics are also marked accordingly. The book is broadly divided into 6 chapters, which are further subdivided in order to highlight the important details. Characteristics of family subfamilies, details of generic characters alongwith distribution in the world and number of species globally, in India and in Sikkim have been given. Each species besides full citation to protologue and importance publications and local names if any include detailed description ecological notes, distribution in Sikkim, various states in India and other countries. Suitable taxonomic and other observations notes on rarity, endemism and economic importance of various taxa have also been provided.

Keys to subfamilies general key to all the genera keys to genera in respective subfamilies species in respective genera and for infraspecific taxa have also been provided. Details of specimens examined have been given in the end of each taxa, which provide name of localities, altitude, date of collection etc, which will be helpful in knowing their distribution and collection in field. The present book, therefore embodies the maiden effort to provide first hand field observations and herbarium informations of the family Rosaceae in Sikkim Himalaya comprising many critical observations and taxonomic notes and will certainly be useful to plant taxonomist conservationists, foresters, agriculturists researchers students nature lovers and equally to general people interested in phytodiversity. (jacket)