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India, a mega diverse country has also a high degree of endemism owing to diverse climatic conditions and varied topography. The study of endemism helps in identifying region with high biodiversity and can be a means of useful factor for the conservation of species. Further, it is reported that the terrestrial endemics are projected to be affected 10 times more than the non endemic species due to climate change. Therefore, an enumeration of endemics can help not only in identifying and conserving them but also the biodiversity at large.

The variation in climatic conditions across the state of West Bengal  has complemented to a spectacular floral diversity. A number of endemic species are known to occur in the state including several new taxa described in the recent decades. Due to their restricted range of occurrence, endemic species are often the most vulnerable. The flora of West Bengal has been under severe pressure due to various biotic and abiotic factors leading to depletion of huge tracts of natural vegetation. As a result, many species of vascular plants have become rare and threatened. So far, the state of our knowledge on the endemic and threatened vascular plants occurring in West Bengal has remained scattered.

The present book attempts to reflect the current knowledge on Endemic and Threatened vascular plants of West Bengal by scrutinising the literature, herbarium information and field data. The book provides a detailed account on the Endemic and Threatened vascular plants of West Bengal with detailed descriptions, distribution and phenology along with distributional maps and photographs. A  total of 52 species of vascular plants belonging to 46 genera and 29 families are recorded as endemics and 58 taxa belonging to 48 genera and 32 families of vascular plants are documented as threatened species. The information provided in the book will significantly contribute in the conservation and management of endemic and threatened vascular plants of West Bengal