Field Guide To Succulents Of Southern Africa

Succulents are increasingly popular in the face of the need for water-wise gardening, and this handy book serves as a guide to many well-known varieties

Aloes are stately succulent plants that capture the allure of the African savanna. Aloes in Southern Africa explores the character and biology of African aloes, their habits, characteristic features and distribution in nature. It details 58 aloe and related species, cultivation and propagation, gardening styles and plants that flourish in different regions, plus medicinal, cosmetic and culinary uses. Whether you are starting a garden, redeveloping one or simply looking to expand your knowledge of these fascinating succulents, Aloes in Southern Africa will prove an invaluable guide.

This series of natural history field guides has been developed in the hope that young people and anyone with a budding interest in natural history will take up the challenge to learn the secrets of Southern Africa's fascinating fauna and flora.

Southern Africa is the natural home of the richest and most diverse succulent flora in the world. These plants come in all shapes and sizes, from trees such as the baobab at more than 20 m tall, to miniature soil huggers, just a few millimetres high, which mimic their pebble-desert surroundings. This user-friendly, richly illustrated field guide features more than 700 southern African succulents, focusing on the most interesting and commonly encountered species. An introduction to families and their key features will help readers identify the relevant plant group, while concise accounts describing the plants’ diagnostic features, along with distribution maps, will enable quick ID of species. More than just an ID guide for plant lovers, this book will inspire gardeners who are turning to indigenous, low-maintenance and waterwise plants for cultivation.

South Africa is broken down into 16 main regions and each region is accompanied by a map of the area as well as a concise description of the succulents to be found there, along with photographs of the region's typical landscapes. The succulents are illustrated by means of Elizabeth Bodley's beautiful and accurate illustrations, together with a number of photographic plates which enable the reader to easily identify the species concerned. Contributions from other experts in the field ensure that this is a most comprehensive field guide.

This comprehensively updated and expanded edition of the region’s best-selling field guide to trees offers much, much more than the highly successful first edition. Fully updated text (including additional species entries) and distribution maps, numerous new photographs and a new 87-page section of full-tree photographs makes this well-loved guide even more indispensable in the field. Southern Africa has a rich variety of tree species, with an estimated 2 100 indigenous species and more than 100 naturalised aliens. Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa describes and illustrates more than 1 000 of these, focusing on trees that are the most common and most likely to be encountered. Species are logically arranged in 43 groups based on easy-to-observe leaf and stem features, and each account is illustrated by full-colour photographs of the plant’s diagnostic parts. The text also touches on the practical uses of the plants.

Southern Africa is the natural home of the richest and most diverse succulent flora in the world. These plants come in all shapes and sizes, from trees, such as the baobab at more than 20 m tall, to miniature soil huggers, just a few millimetres high, which mimic their pebble-desert surroundings. This user-friendly field guide features more than 700 southern African succulents, focusing on the most interesting and commonly encountered species. An introduction to families and their key features will help readers identify the relevant group, and concise accounts describing the plants' diagnostic features will enable quick identification of species. Entries are well supported by colour photographs and distribution maps. More than just an ID guide for plant lovers, this book will inspire gardeners and landscapers in search of low-maintenance, waterwise solutions for cultivation.

The genus Gladiolus has fascinated plant collectors, taxonomists and the general public for centuries. Known for their spectacular flowers, these highly adapted and specialised plants occur throughout Africa, Madagascar, Europe and the Middle East. South Africa is home to more than half of the world’s Gladiolus species and the Western Cape is the heart of species diversity. Saunders’ Field Guide to Gladioli of South Africa is the first of its kind to offer a complete photographic record of the 166 species that occur in the region. Posthumously completed, this book is the culmination of the Saunders’ long search to find and photograph every known species of Gladiolus in South Africa. It includes: An introduction comprising a brief history of gladioli, information about the morphology and taxonomy of the genus, and guidelines for use in the field. Detailed descriptions of the main floral parts of each species, along with information about ecology, pollinators, similar species and conservation status; field notes were written by Rachel Saunders. Over 1,000 exquisite photographs taken in situ detailing morphology and habitat. Up-to-date distribution maps indicating where species have been recorded. A glossary of terms with illustrations unpacking difficult terminology. A coveted record of the life’s work of a couple who contributed to botany and horticulture in South Africa; it will be treasured by anyone with an interest in these magnificent flowers. Sales points: Accessible coverage of all known gladioli in South Africa; identification at a glance; full-colour photographs of all species described; expert authors.

This practical guide describes the stage by stage development of a new method for predicting the penetration rate (PR) and the advance rate (AR) for tunnel boring machines based on an expanded version of the Q-value, Qtbm.The book also looks at logging methods and tunnel support design.

Field Guide to Wildflowers of South Africa describes more than 1 100 of the shrubs and herbs of the region, highlighting the most conspicuous species and those most likely to be encountered across the country. The emphasis is on identifying plants progressively to family, genus and species level: a novel identification aid and easy-to-use keys guide users to the correct family and genus, while individual species descriptions, accompanied by a clear photograph, distribution map and an indication of flowering season, help them to pinpoint the plant. By using the guide, wild-flower enthusiasts at all levels will now be able to accurately identify plants in any part of South africa.