When I joined the University of Delhi as Professor of Botany in March 1949, my first requirement was naturally a "Flora of Delhi". None was in existence and even Duthie's "Flora of the Upper Gangetic Plain" was out of print. This seriously hampered the teaching and learning of botany. In the department we also received frequent requests from Hakims, Vaidyas, tradesmen and foreign visitors to identify various specimens from time to time. I, therefore, tried to find a student who would take up this job earnestly. Dr J. K. Maheshwari, who had taken his M.Sc. degree in botany in 1953, offered himself for this work and the C.S.I.R. responded by sanctioning a scheme of research on this topic. J. K. Maheshwari worked with great industry and enthusiasm for a little over three years and finally prepared a manuscript which won him the Ph.D. degree of the University of Delhi in 1957.
During the last few years this manuscript has been further revised and improved and in 1962 it was given to the C.S.I.R. for publication in book form. At the time of writing this Foreword, it is already in the page proof stage and should soon see the light of the day.
Dr J. K. Maheshwari has spared no pains in making this work as complete as possible and has provided many field notes which are based on personal experience. He has also tried to keep pace with the many changes in nomenclature that have come about in recent years since the publication of Hooker's "Flora of British India".
The arrangement of families generally follows Bentham and Hooker's system. English and local names have been given wherever possible for the benefit of agriculturists and others and there are useful notes on the local uses of the plants.
Hindu (889)
Agriculture (94)
Ancient (1021)
Archaeology (619)
Architecture (535)
Art & Culture (867)
Biography (600)
Buddhist (545)
Cookery (158)
Emperor & Queen (497)
Islam (237)
Jainism (275)
Literary (876)
Mahatma Gandhi (360)
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