Mosses of Khandala and Mahabaleshwar in the Western Ghats, India/G.T. Dabhade. 1998, 193 p., plates, figs., $44.
Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Review of previous work. 3. Area under study. 4. Material and methods. 5. Taxonomic treatment. 6. General considerations. 7. Glossary of technical terms. 8. References. Index.
"Mosses which play a key role in the formation of natural biotic community and indicative of forest condition were abundant in the Western ghats (India). Eversince the work of Sedgwick (1909) Dixon (1911) & Bruhl (1931), etc. Research on mosses was neglected. In addition to this scenario, the area under study have undergone tremendous physiognomic changes. It has been observed that the forests have succumbed to heavy deforestration & urbanisation pressures and pollution survival of many plant species including mosses have been threateneds many mosses have become an endangered species. Therefore an attempt has been made by author to undertake the task of investigation of mosses of Khandala & Mahabaleshwar of Western Ghats (Sahyadri) lying in Maharashtra State.
"A detailed illustrated account of 87 taxa of mosses belonging to 48 genera under 27 families in the area under investigation is incorporated in this work alongwith their ecology and distribution. This work includes several new finds. Special mention can be made of the taxa i.e. Pogonatum aloides, Archidium indicum, fruiting Diaphanodon procumbens, Pinnatella, calcuttensis, etc.
"This much awaited volume will help to fill some gap in the taxonomy of Indian mosses. However, it is certain that the book will be a useful reference to the students of botany, researcher in mosses." (jacket)