The Family Rosaceae in India Revisionary studies on Cotoneaster Medik. Volume 3

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Materials and methods: Materials; methods. 3. Systematics. 4. Cotoneaster Medik. 5. Infrageneric classification. 6. Taxonomy. 7. Petiole anatomy. 8. Palynology. 9. Morphology of nutlets. 10. Discussion. 11. Summary. 12. Literature cited. Appendix. Specimens studied (Exsiccatae). Subject index.

"Taxonomy of the genus Cotoneaster Medik. Has all along posed problems because of the existence of widespread facultative apomixis and infra-specific hybridity, resulting in a network of cultivars of great ornamental value. Although the genus is represented in the world flora by more than 200 species, it has not been possible to group them into subgenera, and even delimitation of sections series within the genus, has posed considerable problems to monographers, all over the world.

It is in such a context that the authors efforts to delimit as many as 75 species/microspecies in the temperate belt of the Indian Himalayan region, following traditional methods of revisionary studies, supplemented by data from cytology, palynology, plant-chemistry, petiole-anatomy and surface patterns of seeds (nutlets), appear commendable. Typification of every taxon referred to, detailed descriptions and excellent illustrations, of the 59 taxa, are supplemented by notes on phenology, ecology and distribution, comments on nomenclature and evolutionary trends within the Indian taxa of Cotoneaster.

Himalaya is established as a secondary centre of origin and differentiation of the genus, with as many as 37 endemic taxa: while 15 species extend their range to the Western Asia-Europe, another lot of 20 species are also found in China.

Publication on Cotoneaster Medik as Vol. 3 in the series, extends the works of J.D. Hooker (1878) and Klotz (1957-seq. 1978). Read with Vol. I and Vol. 2 dealing with 20 genera occurring in India, publication of Vol. 3 further enhances our knowledge on the family Rosaceae in India." (jacket)