The Flora of the Presidency of Bombay by Theodore Cooke is a comprehensive botanical work documenting the plant species found in the Bombay Presidency (present-day Maharashtra, Gujarat, and parts of Karnataka). Published in multiple volumes, the book details the classification, description, habitat, and uses of native and introduced plants. It served as a critical reference for botanists, naturalists, and colonial administrators. Cooke’s meticulous research contributed significantly to the study of Indian flora and the advancement of botanical science in colonial India About The Author: Theodore Cooke (1836–1910) was a British educationist, engineer, and administrator in colonial India. He served as the Principal of the College of Science in Pune (later College of Engineering, Pune) and played a key role in developing technical education under the British Raj. Cooke contributed to educational reform, emphasizing engineering and scientific training. He was also involved in compiling regional gazetteers, blending administrative data with historical and cultural insights, thus enriching colonial knowledge of Indian regions.