In the early part of this century, J.F. Caius prepared a number of volumes in a series on "Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of India," published in 24 parts, from 1935 1944 (volumes 37 - 45) of the Journal of Bombay Natural History. Caius, a French Jesuit missionary (1877-1944), arrived in India in 1895, where he spent the rest of his life. He distinguished himself as an expert on medicinal and poisonous plants of India, snake poisons and antidotes, and related areas of natural history.
Arranged phylogenically, by family, each chapter includes a description of the family and its medicinal and poisonous genera, followed by generic keys. Each genus is described, then keys to the species treated are given. The species accounts include botanical descriptions; distribution data; traditional medicinal uses in Western, Indian, Hindu, or other cultures; and extensive listings of local common names from various parts of the world, but strong on Indian regional dialect names. A classic reference.
Article copyright American Botanical Council.