India is one of the 17 mega biodiversity countries in the world. However, taxonomic inventory of India biota is far from complete. The goal of this publication is to identify and describe the mangrove plant species of India. Towards this objectives, the taxonomical identity and distribution of mangrove species found in the country is revised and described.

During field investigations, each species of mangrove and associated plants were identified and sampled. Description and high-resolution image material for each species is provided, which allows easy identification of individual species. This information is needed for coastal management planning and policy development, especially in relation to shoreline rehabilitation and expansion of appropriate shoreline livelihood projects in the face of climate change and sea level rise.

Furthermore, global distribution of each mangrove species and its conservation status is provided. Voucher specimens of all the mangrove species reported in the text have been deposited at CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow (LWG) as well in Annamalai University and regional centres of Botanical Survey of India as reference collections for the country.