Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Study area. 3. Climate. 4. Previous plant explorations and publications. 5. Methodology and format. 6. The fern habitat. 7. Analysis of the fern flora. 8. Synopsis of the ferns recorded from Kumaon. 9. Key to the families. 10. Systematic treatment. Bibliography. Appendix. Index.

"The present book is the outcome of a series of field surveys conducted in Kumaon region of Western Himalaya since 1985. A thorough study of the region shows a great diversity in topography and climate etc., resulting to its enormously varied flora. Till date there has not been any comprehensive accounts of the fern flora of Kumaon Himalaya. Keeping this in view the authors have tried to fulfil this vacuum by bringing out "An Illustrated Fern Flora of the Kumaon Himalaya" in two volumes.

The present volume includes 87 coloured photographs and systematic account of 341 species of fern taxa with latest nomenclature, key to the families, genera and species. For each species synonymy, detailed description, species examined, notes on habitat and distribution are provided.

This comparatively comprehensive volume deals with climate, new distributional records of the plants, enumeration of taxa, map of study area, previous plant explorations, methodology, statistical synopsis of the flora. The vol. II in the series includes illustration of 240 taxa and 80 photographs.

It is hoped that the present volume covering various aspects of the fern flora of Kumaon Himalaya will be of immense interest to students, researchers, teachers, forest personnel, horticulturists, nature enthusiasts and other scientists engaged in the documentation of the biological diversity of India." (jacket)