Book Title: Indian Plantarum: A compendium of Phytogeographic zones and Plant lists
Author: Dr. Deepa Maheshwari
Year of Publication: 2023, Ahmedabad
Contents
Acknowledgements
Preface
Chapter I: Introduction
- Climate of India
- Plants and environment
- Vegetation types of India
- Phytogenic Zones and Sub-zones of India
Chapter II: State-wise Phytogeographic zones and Sub-Zones
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Delhi
- Uttar Pradesh
- Rajasthan
- Madhya Pradesh
- Gujarat
- Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal
- Sikkim, Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya
- Maharashtra
- Orissa, Chhattisgarh
- Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka
- Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands
CHAPTER III: Plant list for Phytogeographic Zones and Sub-Zones
Bibliography
A note to readers
Disclaimer
Summary
This book serves as a comprehensive guide to the phytogeographic zones of India, offering a structured and in-depth understanding of how plants are distributed across various climatic, ecological, and geographic contexts in India.
Chapter I: Introduction
The first chapter lays the foundation for the rest of the book by detailing the key concepts that underpin this phytogeographic zonal classification system.
Climate of India: This section details out the diverse climatic zones of India ranging from tropical, subtropical, temperate, to alpine formed due to the interplay of India’s geographical location coupled with its unique physiographic features. This section further explains how these climatic variations create a mosaic of ecological niches across the country.
Plants and Environment: Here, the book explores the intricate interrelationship between plant life and environmental factors such as availability of light, soil type, rainfall, temperature, altitude, wind conditions and human interference. It sets the stage for understanding why specific plant communities thrive in particular regions.
Vegetation Types of India: This section offers a comprehensive classification of India’s vegetation, organizing it into distinct types based on climatic, geographical, and ecological characteristics. The major vegetation types identified include tropical evergreen forests, subtropical forests, temperate forests, alpine scrub forests, and sub-alpine forests. Each of these broad categories reflects specific climatic conditions ranging from high rainfall and humidity in tropical regions to frigid temperatures and sparse vegetation in alpine zones. To provide a more nuanced understanding, each primary vegetation type is further divided into sub-types that capture the regional and ecological variations within them.
Phytogeographic Zones and Sub-Zones of India: The section introduces the idea of phytogeographic zones—broad ecological regions defined by dominant vegetation patterns. Phytogeographic zones, also known as bioclimatic and agroecological zones. 20 Phytogeographic zones are identified basis the intricate interplay of regional climatic and microclimatic conditions with the geographical location and seasonal variation. These zones are further divided into 79 sub-zones each having a unique set of criteria for plant growth. Map illustrating these phytogeographic zones and sub-zones serves as a quick and handy reference.
Furthermore, the mean annual rainfall, mean temperature and growing periods have been identified for each phytogeographic zone and sub-zone which can be easily referred to while studying the state-wise phytogeographic zones and sub-zones.
Chapter II: State-wise Phytogeographic zones and Sub-Zones
This chapter serves as the heart of the book, offering a meticulous breakdown of India’s phytogeographic zones and sub-zones by state and union territory. Drawing from an integrated analysis of climatic data, topographical features, vegetation types, and ecological patterns, it maps how the country’s extraordinary floral diversity is distributed across its landscapes. Each state is examined in detail, with a focus on its dominant climatic conditions and ecological characteristics.
To enhance usability, the chapter includes carefully designed maps for each state, highlighting key physiographic features along with the locations of major cities. These visual aids make ‘Indian Plantarum’ a highly accessible and user-friendly guide for students, researchers, planners, and gardening enthusiasts alike—enabling readers to easily connect plant suitability with geographical and ecological context.
Chapter III: Plant Lists for Phytogeographic Zones and Sub-zones
The final chapter functions as a practical and hands-on field reference, meticulously compiling plant species associated with each phytogeographic zone and sub-zone across India. Designed for ease of use by botanists, landscape architects, ecologists, and gardening enthusiasts, this chapter bridges scientific data with on-ground applicability. Every listed species is identified by its scientific name and thoughtfully categorized into typologies such as trees, palms, shrubs, herbs, grasses, climbers, groundcovers, etc. This functional classification allows users to identify plants not just by name or habitat, but also by their growth form and landscape use.
To further aid in plant selection and ecological planning, this chapter also presents key environmental parameters for each sub-zone, including soil type, mean annual temperature, rainfall range, growing period, and the vegetation type. These details offer vital context for understanding the environmental requirements and adaptability of each species.
The book is an essential resource that combines climatology, ecology, geography, and botany to present a clear picture of India’s diverse plant life. It aids in understanding how India’s vast climatic and ecological diversity translates into rich and varied vegetation patterns. By organizing this information through a phytogeographical lens and linking it to real-world administrative regions, the book makes ecological knowledge both accessible and applicable for a range of users.
Review
In 1960, the U.S. Department of Agriculture introduced the now widely recognized Plant Hardiness Zone Map—a pioneering tool that helps gardeners and horticulturists identify which plant species are likely to thrive in specific regions based on annual minimum temperatures. This system has since become a foundational reference in landscape and ecological planning across the United States.
In contrast, despite India’s staggering climatic and ecological diversity—from the cold deserts of Ladakh and alpine zones of the Himalayas to the arid plains of Rajasthan and the tropical evergreen forests of the Western Ghats—no comparable effort has been made to systematically classify plant suitability across the subcontinent. Indian Plantarum by Dr. Deepa Maheshwari is a commendable and timely first step toward filling this longstanding gap. It represents an earnest and methodical attempt to create an Indian counterpart to the USDA Hardiness Zone Map, tailored to our country’s unique and complex bioclimatic fabric.
Structured in three main chapters, this book is both scholarly and practical in its scope. The first chapter introduces foundational concepts, offering insights into the climate of India, plant-environment interactions, vegetation types, and the classification of 20 phytogeographic zones further subdivided into 79 sub-zones. These zones are based on detailed analysis of climate data, geography, and ecological patterns. Maps illustrating these zones provide a valuable visual reference.
The second chapter is the core of the book, offering a meticulous state-wise breakdown of phytogeographic zones and sub-zones. The inclusion of detailed maps showing important cities and physiographic features enhances both readability and practical application, making this chapter especially user-friendly for planners, researchers, and field practitioners.
The final chapter serves as a functional field guide, presenting an extensive list of plant species associated with each zone and sub-zone. Each entry includes both scientific and local names, along with categorization into growth forms such as trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, climbers, and more. Environmental parameters such as soil type, average temperature, rainfall, and growing periods are also listed, making this section a particularly rich resource for ecologists, botanists, landscape architects, and nature conservationists.
Thereby, ‘Indian Plantarum’ by Dr. Deepa Maheshwari stands out for its cross-disciplinary relevance, bridging climatology, botany, geography, and environmental science. The author’s effort to organize and synthesize such a vast body of knowledge into an accessible framework is laudable. One notable strength is the book’s practical orientation. By linking phytogeographic data with state-level administrative boundaries, the author has made the information directly relevant to real-world planning and ecological restoration efforts.
Recommendation:
I would highly recommended the Indian Plantarum: A Compendium of Phytogeographic zones and Plant lists for a broad audience, including:
Students and Academics: Particularly useful for undergraduate and postgraduate students in botany, environmental science, ecology, forestry, and geography. It also serves as a rich resource for PhD researchers working on floristic surveys or climate-vegetation relationships.
Professionals: Forest officers, ecologists, urban planners, landscape architects, and environmental consultants will find it a valuable tool for site-appropriate plant selection, afforestation, and biodiversity mapping.
Policy Makers and Administrators: For integrating ecological sensitivity into legislation, land use planning, and conservation strategies.
Nature Enthusiasts : Those interested in Indian ecology or preparing for civil service exams with relevant optional subjects will find this a concise yet comprehensive resource.
Terrain Tapestry 
Leave a comment