Contents: Preface. Acknowledgements. 1. Introduction: i. What is a mangrove? ii. General setting. 2. Mangrove flora: i. Zonation. ii. Adaptations. iii. Physiognomy. iv. Geological significance. v. Ecological services uses. vi. Ecogeography of mangroves. 3. Indian coast: i. East coast of India. ii. West coast of India. iii. Status of Indian mangroves. 4. Field key to the mangroves. 5. Descriptions of the species. References. Index to families and species. Index to local names.

"Traditionally, plants were identified and described with emphasis on reproductive characters like flowers and fruits. This method works well with herbs, which are annual, thus lacking distinguishing characters like the bark and easily enabling collection and preservation of the whole plant. However, use of reproductive characters for day to day identification by field biologists, amateur naturalists and people who do not necessarily posses special botanical knowledge is difficult and necessary.

An urgent need of a preparation of field, identification handbook, for the mangrove forests, which are having high ecological and economic value and recognized as most threatened ecosystems is felt. The present contribution will helpful to identify a mangrove plant species based on vegetative characters (bark, leaf, branching pattern, etc) in the field itself. The present work is based on authors eleven years of field experience covering different mangrove systems. The book presents a field identification key to 109 species of Mangroves and associates. In addition, colour photographs for several species were provided." (jacket)