With the ever decreasing vegetation cover in India, the study of
forest elements from evolutionary view point becomes imperative. The
beginning in this direction was made by P.N. Mehra and his students
from Panjab University, Chandigarh when during the sixties, they
investigated the broad leaved tree elements of Kumaon region in
western Himalayas and Assam/Meghalaya region in eastern
Himalayas. The outstanding contributions made by this team prompted
other workers to undertake such studies in the future years. One active
group established itself at Punjabi University, Patiala and woody
elements of Garhwal Himalayan and central Indian forests were
investigated. Such studies were extended to south Indian regions by us
in the year 1980. As a consequence of intensive survey of Palni hills
forests for four years, the present account dealing primarily with
woody taxa has been compiled with a view to making a permanent
record of the fast disappearing forest systems of India All this is
intended to make an imprint on the minds of botanists, foresters,
naturalists and conservationists in respect of the richness of our forests.
