Rhododendrons in India: Floral and Foliar Splendour of the Himalayan Flora

The genus Rhododendron is acclaimed in horticulture for its most elegant, bell-shaped flowers of varied colours. In India, Rhododendron species are found in the Himalayas from Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh and in the forested mountain tracts of N.E. Indian States. The interest in the Himalayan Rhododendrons began with the discovery of the red flowered R. arboreum in Kashmir in the year 1796 and introduction of its seeds into the English gardens in 1827. J.D. Hooker's travels in Sikkim between 1848-1850 revealed the hidden rhododendron treasure. Following this, series of botanical explorations were undertaken in the Eastern Himalayan region by noted botanists and plant collectors from England bringing forth the richness and species diversity of the genus. Himalayan Rhododendrons have contributed a great deal in developing many horticulturally appealing clones and have ensured their importance in a multi-million dollar horticulture trade in the West at par with roses and orchids. In India, the species in the Western Himalaya and Sikkim are better known, while the species that inhabit the densely forested inaccessible mountains in Arunachal Pradesh and other N.E. Indian states largely remained less known or even unknown. Thus there has been no comprehensive account of all the species of the genus in the country leaving a wide gap to know the Indian rhododendrons wholly and from a single source. Hence this book. The book provides detailed taxonomic treatment of the genus in India with workable keys to the subgenera, different sections, sub-sections, species and sub-specific taxa with botanical descriptions. Colour photographs for many species, line drawings for about 20 species, distribution maps for all the species are provided to enhance the scientific value of this book as a Reference Manual for the use of botanists, teachers, students, foresters, nature lovers and conservationists. In short this book is the need of the hour for planning appropriate scientific conversation measures to safeguard the rhododendron species and their sites from further destruction, depletion and possible extinction.
Contents
1. Introduction 2. Taxonomic Treatment of the Genus 3. The Genus Rhododendron L. in India and its Classification 4. Subgenus Rhododendron L 5. Subgenus Hymenanthes (Bl.) K. Koch 6. Subgenus Tsutsusi (Sweet) Pojarkova 7. Subgenus Azaleastrum Planchon
About the Authors
A.R.K. Sastry joined Botanical Survey of India (BSI) in the Western Circle, Pune in 1961; worked in the Eastern Circle, BSI, Shillong; BSI Headquarters in different posts including the post of project Coordinator of US Fish & Wildlife funded BSI project on Endangered Species of Flora , and retired as Joint Director. Worked as Director, Biodiversity programmes in the WWF-India, New Delhi. Published about 15 books and 75 research papers. Visited several US Botanical Institutions, Kew & Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. First recipient of Distinguished Scientist Award (Vishisht Vaignyanik Purashkar) from the Ministry of Environment & Forests, New Delhi in 1993; was a member of the IUCN Threatened plants committee for the Indian subcontinent. He is a Member of Research Council, Tropical Botanical Research Institute, Palode under the Kerala State Council for Sci., Tech.,& Environment, Tiruvananthapuram. P.K. Hajra joined the BSI in the Central National Herbarium; worked in the Eastern Circle, BSI, Shillong and obtained M.Sc and Ph.D from Gauhati University. Published over 75 scientific papers, many books (as author or editor) while in BSI. Held different posts during his service including the post of Director, Biosphere Reserves, MoEF, New Delhi and Retd. as Director, BSI. Visited many U.S Botanical Institutions (as Project Officer, POSSCEF) and many other countries during his tenure as Director, BSI. Received H.Santapau and J.W.Harshberger Medals and is Consultant to National Remote Sensing Agency on floristics.