This is an excellent and richly illustrated field guide for beginners to research scientists to herbal medicine companies. Containing critical information on 100 medicinal plants of concern to conservationists, this book provides easy to use key for field identification of these plants. It is based on simple morphological and easily distinguishable characters to facilitate identification, including 328 color photographs of plants, besides numerous illustrations and distribution maps. Description of each species includes botanical name, vernacular names, conservation threat status (as per IUCN guidelines), habitat, altitude, distribution, botanical description, medicinal uses, trade information, mode of propagation and a well laid out map of southern India where that species is found. For the first time, such a scientific and systematic approach has been taken for medicinal plants in India, providing better understanding of conservation issues, especially from a user point of view. Companies involved in cultivation of medicinal plants and conservation of medicinal plants will find this book of great value. This book is published by FRLHT – a respected scientific and research organization and designated as a National Center of Excellence for medicinal plants and traditional knowledge by The Ministry of Environment and Forests of India. This book, the outcome of seven years of intense research, would be useful for foresters, conservationists, ecologists, policy makers, traditional healers, students and of course everyone who is concerned about conservation.

About the Authors – Dr. K. Ravikumar is a well-known expert in the field of conservation of medicinal plants. D.K. Ved is an officer of the Indian Forest Service having over 25 years of experience in conservation of medicinal plants.