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The first illustrated account of the ferns of the West Himalaya in two volumes was published by me more than 20 years ago. It is now not available. Moreover, fern taxonomy has undergone many changes which have necessitated its revision. The present account (in six volumes) is profusely illustrated with line diagrams and colour photographs. It is based on personal collections made by the author during the last over sixty years of fern hunting in various parts of the West Himalaya. Information about those that could not be personally collected, has been forth coming from colleagues.

The present flora is presented in six volumes. In Volume I, introduction, and account of 16 families is provided (Ophioglossaceae, Marattiaceae, Osmundaceae, Plagiogyriaceae, Cyatheaceae, Gleicheniaceae, Lygodiaceae, Marsileaceae, Azollaceae, Salviniaceae, Parkeriaceae, Hymenophyllaceae, Lindsaeaceae, Dennstaedtiaceae, Actiniopteridaceae, Vittariaceae). Account of four families (Pteridaceae, Cheilantheaceae,Cryptogrammaceae and Adiantaceae) is in Volume 2;  Aspleniaceae and Thelypteridaceae in Volume 3;  Athyriaceae, Woodsiaceae, Onocleaceae, Blechnaceae, Peranemataceae, Hypodematiaceae are in Volume 4; Dryopteridaceae and Tectariaceae in Volume 5 and in Volume 6 are: Bolbitidaceae, Elaphoglossaceae, Nephrolepidaceae, Oleandraceae, Davalliaceae, Grammitidaceae, Loxogrammaceae, Polypodiaceae, bibliography.

Detailed description, information about specimen illustrated and details about habitat and distribution in the West Himalaya, rest of India and Asia are provided for the around 400 species, subspecies and hybrods of ferns that are in the west Himalaya.