Synopsis The family Zingiberaceae include many spices such as cardamom, large cardamom, turmeric and ginger. They are also well known  for other uses such as medicinal, traditional, food, ornamental and ritual. The illustrated book on "Zingiberaceae and costaceae of South India" is the first detailed account of the families in South India. Apart from naturally occurring gingers, widely cultivated exotic ornamental gingers are also included. A total of 10 genera, 65 species and two varieties are dealt in this work. Of which, 29 species are endemic to this region and other 6 species are exotic. The text is illustrated with 60 full page line drawings, 98 colour photographs in 20 plates and 10 distribution maps. The book would be useful to the students and scholars of Botany, Horticulture, Forestry and indeed to any one who has interest in nature and natural resources be they are gardeners or nursery men. By using the colour photographs together with the text and illustrations it would be possible for them to identify with ease the individual species.