Craib & Lavranos - The Bushman Candles
This fabulous large format book, on what hobbyists still tend to call Sarcocaulons but taxonomically are now all included in Monsonia and the title “Bushman Candles” neatly sidesteps, is based around the extensive field knowledge of the two authors.
For each of the 15 species there is a full description and diagnostic features, geographic distribution and habitat preference, history, life history, autecology, conservation status and synonyms. This is supplemented by a distribution map and many colour photos in habitat. And one of the crowning glories of the book are the paintings by Ellaphie Ward-Hillhorst for the Moffet 1979 Bothalia
ion of the Genus Sarcocaulon which are reproduce life sized.
If this wasn’t enough there are chapter on Bushman Candle Art, Reminiscences by Moffett, Ellaphie Ward-Hillhorst by Graham Duncan, Homelands by Bowen Boshier who provided his pencil drawings to show the landscape the plants grow in, Gerhard Marx on the botanical art he provided for the book, photographing in habitat by Connall Oosterbroek who provided many of the photos, and finally their culture.
For me this is an exceptional book, both on the quality and range of its contents as well as presentation. Even if you are not very interested in Bushman Candles the information on Southern African habitats and the botanical art are exceptional. Those who have been waiting a long time for it to be published won’t be disappointed by the end result! 2011 13 x 10 192 pages
Cover: Hardback
Comments: , New
Price: £(GBP)65.00
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Fransden, Robin - Succulents of Southern Africa
The author has set out to produce the most comprehensive guide to these plants yet produced, and whilst it doesn’t cover every known specie it includes a tremendous number of them. After a brief introduction to the area and plants, there are also brief biographies of the main personalities who discovered and made the plants better known. The vast majority of the book covers the plants by family with concise descriptions on one page and colour photos, which have come from a number of sources, on the opposite page to the text. A glossary and selected bibliography are also included. It is a substantial book and has certainly achieved its aim. 2017 10 ½ x 8 ½ 504 pages
Cover: Hardback
Comments: , , New
Price: £(GBP)55.00
Special offer! Just £39.50 until the end of November 2023
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Powell, Weedin & Powell - Cacti of Texas A Field Guide, with Emphasis on the Trans-Pecos Species
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Cover: Softcover
Comments: , , Second hand book – please see important information
Price: £(GBP)25.00
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Rowley, Gordon - Succulents in cultivation - breeding new cultivars
Gordon’s books have always covered interesting and important subjects which have been overlooked previously, and this one continues the tradition. Some cacti and succulents have been hybridised or attractive forms selected for a long time, and he explains how this has come about. A large part of the book surveys the results achieved, and if you would like to try yourself to produce new and striking plants he explains the various way to try it – you don’t have to be a large multinational conglomerate for some of the methods which amateurs have successfully used in the past! Illustrated with many colour photos. 11 x 9 ¼ 248 pages 2017
Cover: Hardback
Comments: , Like new, Second hand book – please see important information
Price: £(GBP)25.00
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van Jaarsveld & Thomas (illustrations) - The Southern African Plectranthus - and the art of turning shade to glade
Following on from his first book on these plants 20 years ago, this is everything you’d hope from this well known botanist. It covers the history of their discovery and cultivation, his hunting for them in their natural habitats, garden uses in suitable climates, hybrids, distribution and ecology before going on to describe each of the 55 known and accepted SA species (and a couple of other) each illustrated with colour photos and a full page botanical illustration by Vicky Thomas. Augustbe not the most popular of plants, but Fernwood Press have produced a book that will be enjoyed by many who haven’t previously been captivated by them. 2006 12 x 9 ¼ 176 pages
Cover: Hardback
Comments: , New
Price: £(GBP)25.00
Special offer! Just £12.50 until the end of November 2023
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