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Contents: Preface. Summary. 1. Introduction and review of literature. 2. Geography, climate and vegetation. 3. Material and methods. 4. Hepaticae: i. Subclass Jungermanniidae Schust. ii. Subclass Marchantiidae (Marchantiae) R.M. Schust. 5. Distribution. 6. Discussion. References. Appendix. Index of genera and species.

The present title "Terrestrial Hepatic Flora of Nilgiri Hills, India", provides the first comprehensive account of floristic diversity in the terrestrial liverworts of Nilgiri hills (Tamil Nadu). It incorporates a critical morpho-taxonomic and ecological observations of terrestrial liverworts supplemented with relevant illustrations. Short descriptions of each unit of classification including order, suborder, families, subfamilies and genera of hepaticae with keys to segregate them have been provided. Each species has been dealt with as far as achievable complete morpho-taxonomic details and relevant synonyms.

It also incorporates the type locality of the collected species, range of their distribution in India and elsewhere (in the world), characteristic of the species, reference to specimens examined and discussion showing affinities with closely related taxa. Besides combination of characters, some modern criteria have also been applied to evaluate the correct taxonomic status of each species. Some closely related species difficult to be differentiated on classical criteria were investigated for SEM details of sporoderm architecture of spores which provide added information for clear elucidation of the taxa. The contents of the book will be very useful for the readers and researchers regarding their acquittance of these miniatured plants.