United States
£ GBP
This book provides essential information on the morphology, biology, phytochemistry, pharmaceutical prospects, evolution, phylogeny, biogeography, and taxonomy of Paris (Melanthiaceae), a morphologically distinctive plant genus with great economic importance. Since the establishment of this genus, 70 species and 24 subspecific taxa have been described, resulting in considerable confusion in species delimitation. In this book, the taxonomy of all described taxa is carefully revised. Based on multi-disciplinary evidences a revised classification system of Paris containing five sections is outlined. Every species is provided with a concise but diagnostic description, a colour illustration, photographs that highlight distinguishing characters, examined specimens and distribution range. The interspecific relationships are clarified with an identification key. A Monograph of Paris (Melanthiaceae) offers taxonomists, evolutionary biologists, ecologists, horticulturalists, phytochemists, and practitioners a thorough and up-to-date overview about this interesting plant group. It is equally valuable for undergraduate and graduate students, teachers and professionals engaged in related fields.
Acknowledgement
Chapter 1. Taxonomic History
Chapter 2. Morphology
Chapter 3. Biology
Chapter 4. Economic Importance
Chapter 5. Phylogeny, classification, and biogeography
Chapter 6. Taxonomic revision
Chapter 7. Conservation status
Dr Yunheng Ji is an Associate Professor at Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. He is an expert in the monocotyledonous families, Asparagaceae and Melanthiaceae, as well as aquatic angiosperms. His research interests are plant taxonomy, molecular phylogenetics, evolution, biogeography, genomics, population genetics, and DNA barcoding. Dr Ji has received several competitive research grants funded by national and international agencies. He has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed research publications in well reputed scientific journals.
