The members of the plant genus Brachystelma R. Br. exhibit narrow distribution ranges and many species found in India are narrow/point endemics. The group for the Indian subcontinent was first published with scant descriptions in the Hooker’s Flora of British India. Some species are truly rare as they never appeared after their first description by taxonomists. Many publications focused on endemic and threatened species of India surprisingly omitted this genus entirely. The genus as a whole in fact falls in the most deserving zone for focused conservation. Given the fact that India exhibits a greater diversity for Brachystelma, the whole group is now assessed here from fresh collections, with improved descriptions, especially where coronal structures are concerned, taxonomic relationships, distribution, and conservation status. A few new species are proposed in this work. The book has 20 illustrations, 37 photo plates and 9 distribution maps and provides clarity on the identities of many little-known species. This work contributes expressly to the revision of the family Apocynaceae for the Flora India program of the Botanical Survey of India.
Preface
1. Introduction
2. Brachystelma R. Br
3. Brachystelma and allied genera
4. Brachystelma vs. enlarged Ceropegia concept based on phylogeny
5. The documentation of Indian Brachystelma R. Br
6. Materials and method of presentation
7. Enumeration
References cited
Index to scientific names