India is second only to China in terms of resource stock and varieties of bamboo it has. The plant occurs throughout India, except for the northern state of Jammu & Kashmir. The current updated list has 128 species (87 of which are endemic) in 18 genera. Bamboos of India: a Compendium compiles valuable information, culled out from the multitude of studies that have been published over the last three centuries in various forms, on the well-known and less-known Indian bamboos.
The book is primarily based on literature survey, and covers endemic, introduced and cultivated species. Arrangement of genera and species is in alphabetic order, and the information is covered under the headings: Description; Flowering and Fruiting; Distribution and Ecology; Anatomy, Morphology and Fiber Characteristics; Chemistry; Silviculture and Management; Pests and Diseases; Physical and Mechanical Properties; Natural Durability and Preservation; and Uses.
A product of several years of intensive research, the Compendium is well-illustrated with 95 color plates, 113 black & white diagrams and 18 genera distribution maps. Extensive bibliographies (at the end of each chapter covering a genus), an exhaustive glossary and a species index make the Compendium fulfil the role of comprehensive and authoritative reference work.
