Beat About The Bush is a series of remarkable books for outdoor and nature lovers. This comprehensive guide has been expanded to include not only mammals, birds and reptiles, but amphibians, invertebrates, plants, field signs and clues as well.

The information is portrayed in the same detailed yet user-friendly, question-and-answer format.

Have you ever wondered ...

• why birds often fly in formation
• why hornbills call with their wings open
• why cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests
• and how long crocodiles can stay under water with one breath?

Interesting information on the plants these animals depend on is also included, as are the most interesting aspects of climate/weather, geology, astronomy and bush management practices.

Trevor Carnaby has been working as a professional field guide for the last 20 years. Passionate about Africa, he is actively involved in guide training and spends a great deal of time photographing Southern and East Africa’s wildlife, people and landscapes, while leading tailored, privately guided safaris through his company, Beat about the Bush Safaris.

This book’s title says it all! Now in an updated second edition, it provides a clear understanding of how trees are constructed and what to look for when identifying a tree.

The book is divided into two parts: Part 1 describes and clearly illustrates the different parts of a tree and their role in tree identification. Part 2 features a key to 43 tree groups, based on easy-to-observe stem and leaf features. It carefully outlines each group and the southern African tree families represented in the different groups. Numerous colour photographs and explanatory illustrations support the text, making this an accessible and easy-to-use guide.

How To Identify Trees In Southern Africa will equip readers with a sound understanding of how trees work and what to look for in order to make a positive ID.

A refreshing new book on mushrooms and other fungi in South Africa, covering 200 species - more than any mushroom book in the region to date. Text covers each species' distribution (both regionally and worldwide), description, typical habitat, edibility and toxicity. Magnificent photographs accompany each species, making this both a practical guide and a beautiful book. It will be welcomed by all mushroom enthusiasts, and by nature-lovers in general.

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.

Why do we spend so much time indoors, which is not our natural habitat? Why have trends such as forest-bathing become so popular? The answer to the last question lies in the proven benefits we obtain from our connection with nature - from increased productivity to feelings of happiness and an enhanced sense of wellbeing. For millions of years, humans developed in natural environments, in close contact with sunlight, vegetation and fresh air. But most of us spend 80-90% of our time indoors far from the environments for which we are naturally suited and in which we evolved. Skogluft's mission is to bring a natural living environment back into your home and workplace. Based on years of research data on the impact between nature and people, gathered together by a Norwegian mechanical engineer, Jorn Viumdal, Skogluft reveals how installing a wall of easily available plants in your home environment can dramatically improve health, strengthen the immune system and increase productivity. The plants are easily available, cheap to buy and simple to look after. Here is a low-tech solution to a problem created by our increasing dependence on a world dominated by high technology. Learn the simple techniques to beautify your world and create air you can live with all year around and experience the health and wellness effects for yourself.

The Botanical Bible tells the story of plants and flowers, beginning with an overview of the plant kingdom and the basics of botany, then offering strategies for gardening with purpose. Later chapters introduce seasonal eating, the healing properties of plants and the world of botanical art. This stunning gift book is part history, part science, part beauty book, part cookbook and part art book. It will appeal to anyone wanting to use plants and flowers in modern life, whether they are an accomplished gardener or are simply yearning for a more natural life. This comprehensive guide to plants, flowers and botanicals covers a host of practical uses, features vintage illustrations alongside the work of current artists, and is sure to be an inspiration to anyone interested in the natural world.

’n Regstreekse, voor die hand liggende en effektiewe gids tot boom-identifikasie.

Dié boek se titel sê dit alles! Hierdie bygewerkte tweede uitgawe verskaf ’n duidelike uiteensetting van hoe bome saamgestel is en waarna om op te let wanneer ’n boom geïdentifiseer word. Die boek bestaan uit twee dele:

- Deel 1 beskryf en illustreer duidelik die verskillende dele van ’n boom en hul rol in boomidentifikasie.

- Deel 2 bevat ’n sleutel tot 43 boomgroepe, gebaseer op maklik waarneembare stingel- en blaarkenmerke. Dit gee ’n duidelike oorsig van elke groep, sowel as die Suider-Afrikaanse boomfamilies wat in die onderskeie groepe verteenwoordig word. Talle kleurfoto’s en verduidelikende illustrasies ondersteun die teks wat dié handleiding toeganklik en gebruikersvriendelik maak.

Identifiseer die Bome van Suider-Afrika sal lesers toerus met ’n goeie begrip van die bou van bome en waarna hulle moet oplet om dit korrek te kan identifiseer.

Also available in English as How to Identify Trees in Southern Africa .

Written with the non-specialist in mind, this guide is a must-have for flower lovers, hikers, tour guides and tourists – anyone interested in identifying the wild flowers that grace the Cape Peninsula.

Wild Flowers of the Cape Peninsula covers the most remarkable and commonly seen wild flowers of Table Mountain, Silvermine and Cape Point. The book was originally published as Common Wild Flowers of Table Mountain in 2007, then revised in 2013 to include the flowers of Silvermine.

This new edition offers:

• 360 (previously 208) of the region’s most remarkable and commonly seen wild flowers
• Clear photographs of all featured flowers and concise, informative text
• Flowers grouped according to colour, to help with quick ID
• Walking routes in the Peninsula’s famed reserves, plotted on 3 clear maps
• Illustrated glossary of terms

This highly visual new guide introduces readers to 100 of the most memorable trees in the bushveld – the northern and eastern regions of South Africa, encompassing both the lowveld and the highveld.

An introduction covers the basics of tree anatomy, supported by a pictorial glossary, and details the author’s streamlined ID method that enables even novices to make quick and sure identifi cations.

• Most trees are generously featured across double-page spreads;

• Full tree images along with diagnostic photos (bark, leaves, thorns, fl owers, pods, fruit, etc.) enable readers to distinguish even those trees that are most confusing, such as the ‘acacias’ or the bushwillows;

• Concise text highlights each tree’s key features;

• Interesting facts, multiple uses and particular value the trees have among local populations are given.

With its abundant, detailed photographs and straightforward text, this guide will help readers unlock the complicated world of trees.

South Africa has lost 116 indigenous flower species to three extinction categories: 'Extinct', 'Extinct in the Wild' and 'Critically Endangered, Possibly Extinct'. Mindful of the fact that extinctions are mainly due to people, Cape-based photographer Anneke Kearney compiled this photographic record of endangered plants to make people aware of the dire future of our beautiful plants, so that nobody can say, 'I didn't know'. Cape Town has more threatened species than any other area in the country. The most important other hotspots are Coega, Albany, Pondoland, KwaZulu-Natal midlands and Drakensberg, Magaliesberg, Sekhukhuneland-Drakensberg and Barberton. Renowned botanist and conservation campaigner, Dr Tony Rebelo, says in the Foreword that a call to action is not just for us. "It is for our children. It is not just for esoteric and idealist reasons. Thousands of visitors come ...every year just for the biodiversity. Hundreds of thousands more have it as one of the reasons for their visit. Our health, our relaxation, our existence is enhanced by living in a biodiversity showcase. The Littlest Kingdom on earth must retain its splendour ...there is space for everyone, including the biodiversity that occurs nowhere else on earth. This book with its spectacular photographs of rare and little seen plants, is sure to make a huge contribution to raising awareness of and spreading critical information on our indigenous flora.

Botanicum is ’n pragtige volkleur boek wat ’n hele klomp raaisels om plante onthul. Hoe het die eerste plante gelyk? Wanneer het die eerste woude gevorm? Wanneer het plante begin blomme dra? Watter plante is die grootste, kleinste, vreemdste, seldsaamste, lelikste en stinkste op aarde? In Botanicum kan jy die mees eksotiese en veemdste plante bymekaar sien. Leer hoe plante al miljoene jare langer as ons bestaan en fassinerede dinge soos hoekom party plante groen is en ander nie en hoe party plante in water leef en ander in die lug hang sonder enige kontak met die grond. Kom ontdek binne Botanicum die wonderlike planteryk in sy kleurryke, verrassende glorie.

This book is a dictionary of British (native, naturalised and cultivated) plants and the folklore associated with them. Unlike many plant-lore publications Vickery's Folk Flora tells us what people currently do and believe, rather than what Victorians did and believed. The result is a vivid demonstration that plant folklore in the British Isles is not only surviving but flourishing; adapting and evolving as time goes by, even in urban areas. Each entry includes: - The plant's English and scientific (Latin) name, as well as significant local names. - A brief description of the plant and its distribution, and, in the case of cultivated plants, a history of their introduction to the British Isles - Information on the folklore and traditional uses of the plant, arranged where possible in a sequence starting with general folk beliefs (superstitions), use in traditional customs, use in folk medicine, other uses, and legends concerning individual representatives of the plant. In addition to the major entries there are a number of minor entries for feast days, diseases and other subjects which direct readers to relevant major entries, e.g. St. George's Day, on which red roses are worn; dandelions are gathered; and runner beans are planted.

From Darwin to David Attenborough, many naturalists built their careers on a curiosity which began in early childhood. However, in this digital age our children can all too easily become isolated from meaningful contact with both the natural world and the people around them. Foraging for wild food can help refocus them and a day gathering edible plants, picked in the wild, can be a great way to reconnect with family and nature. With clear information, instructions and illustrations, this book looks at 30 edible plants commonly found in our parks, woodlands and hedgerows. It shows you how to identify them safely and gather them to make delicious recipes that are easy to create and tempting and nutritious for young children. The plants are organized by season and there are scrumptious things to make throughout the year including puffball kebabs, sea beet huff-a-puffs, staghorn sumac lemonade, sweet potato & chestnut burgers, and hazelnut chocolate spread. Once you've caught the foraging bug, you'll soon be looking for chestnuts to roast, hazelnuts to crack, or the best wild apple trees. Foraging is for life!

Sunday Times Bestseller 'A paradigm-smashing chronicle of joyous entanglement' Charles Foster Waterstones Non-Fiction Book of the Month (September) Are trees social beings? How do trees live? Do they feel pain or have awareness of their surroundings? In The Hidden Life of Trees Peter Wohlleben makes the case that the forest is a social network. He draws on groundbreaking scientific discoveries to describe how trees are like human families: tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them, support them as they grow, share nutrients with those who are sick or struggling, and even warn each other of impending dangers. Wohlleben also shares his deep love of woods and forests, explaining the amazing processes of life, death and regeneration he has observed in his woodland. A walk in the woods will never be the same again.

Hierdie titel met sy foto's en idees wys jou hoe om blomme op hul beste te vertoon en die plesier wat hulle jou bring, te verleng. Leer oor die beste blomme en loof vir rangskikkings wat hou, kleur, kombinasies en houers, hantering en versorging van blomme en veel meer. Die meer as 65 idees vir pragtig elegante dog eenvoudige rangskikkings word soos volg aangebied: Kitsrangskikkings wat binne enkele minute afgehandel word; maklike rangskikkings en rangskikkings met 'n bietjie meer om die lyf.

"These seeds will captivate you whether you're a gardener or not." - The Washington Post "A sumptuous guide to 600 of the world's weirdest and most beautiful species, from the black seed with hair like Donald Trump to pinhead-sized orchid seeds." - The Guardian "The book drives home the incredible botanical wealth that is found on our precious blue planet." - The English Garden True time capsules of life, seeds are significant items of hope and promise. They are the most complex organs plants ever produce, and come in an enormously diverse range of shapes, sizes, and colours; from the impressive coco de mer nut to the microscopic seeds of an orchid, to the extraordinary cobalt blue of the traveller's palm pit. Seeds are often overshadowed by the adult plant's size and show. Here, 600 seeds are spotlit, each given equal attention, each shown as glorious photographs, life size and in detail, alongside an engraving of the parent plant. Every profile includes a population distribution map, a table of essential information, and a commentary revealing notable characteristics, related species, and a diagnosis of the specimen's importance in terms of taxonomy, rarity, dispersal method, and scientific significance. Arranged taxonomically, this essential reference reveals the variety and importance of seeds to an extent never seen before.

One hundred thirty-two species, subspecies, and varieties of cacti may be found in Texas. About one hundred of them occur in the states Trans-Pecos region, one of the most cactus-rich areas of the United States, but at least one kind can be found in every county of the state. This volume is an identification guide to the genera, species, and varieties of Texas cacti, with maps showing the distribution of each. Based on the comprehensive reference ""Cacti of the Trans-Pecos and Adjacent Regions"" (2004), by A. Michael Powell and James F. Weedin, this field guide provides briefer, less detailed treatments of the entire states species for educated general readers. More than three hundred beautiful full-color photographs of the cacti in flower and in fruit, each placed with its description in the text, highlight the book. Readers may identify cacti using color photographs of the plants, keys, distribution maps, and descriptions of the vegetative characters, flowers, and fruits. The introduction - full of details about the biology and morphology of the family Cactaceae and the uses, horticulture, and conservation of cacti - is an important reference for general readers. A glossary of cactus terms, an exhaustive list of literature, and a thorough index complete the book. This guide was designed for use by naturalists and hobbyists as well as serious students. Visitors to the national parks, state parks, and other natural areas of Texas will find it essential to identifying the cacti.

'Flora' contains 20 essays on the history of key plant families, including cacti, daffodils, iris, magnolia, poppies, roses, tulips and waterlilies. It explains how plants have adopted remarkable behaviours for survival in a variety of harsh habitats and also tells the remarkable stories of the adventurous botanist explorers who braved disease, slave traders, wars, jungles and other dangers to collect plants now commonly grown in our own gardens. 'Flora' is graced with hundreds of stunning colour illustrations selectedfrom the vast collection of original botanical paintings held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Featuring over 600 wildflowers, flowering shrubs, and vines, this user-friendly field guide is the first to focus on the rare, fragile lands and species of the Sandhills region of the Carolinas and Georgia. Characterized by longleaf pine forests, rolling hills, abundant blackwater streams, several major rivers, and porous sandy soils, the Sandhills region stretches from Fayetteville, North Carolina, southwest to Columbus, Georgia, and represents the farthest advance of the Atlantic Ocean some 2 million years ago. Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region is arranged by habitat, with color tabs to facilitate easy browsing of the nine different natural communities whose plants are described here. Bruce A. Sorrie, a botanist with over 30 years of experience, includes common plants, region-specific endemics, and local rarities, each with its own species description, and over 540 color photos for easy identification. The field guide's opening section includes an introduction to the Sandhills region's geology, soil types, and special relationship to fire ecology; an overview of rare species and present conservation efforts; a glossary and key to flower and leaf structures; and a listing of gardens, preserves, and parklands in the Sandhills region and nearby where wildflowers can be seen and appreciated. Wildflower enthusiasts and professional naturalists alike will find this comprehensive guide extremely useful. Southern Gateways Guide is a registered trademark of the University of North Carolina Press |Featuring over 600 wildflowers, flowering shrubs, and vines, this user-friendly field guide includes an introduction to the Sandhills region's geology, soil types, and special relationship to fire ecology; an overview of rare species and present conservation efforts; a glossary and key to flower and leaf structures; and a listing of gardens, preserves, and parklands in the Sandhills region and nearby where wildflowers can be seen and appreciated.

Today's plants are descended from simple algaes that first emerged more than 500 million years ago, and now there are around 400,000 species. The huge diversity of forms that that these plants take is staggering. From towering redwoods, to diminutive mosses; from plants that developed stinging hairs and poisons, to those that require fire to germinate tor ocean currents to dsitribute their seeds. But how have we arrived at this mind-blowing variety in the plant kingdom? How Plants Work seeks to answer this intriguing question, drawing from a wide range of examples-from the everyday leaf to the most bizarre flowers.

Even in the brick and concrete heart of our cities, nature finds a way. Birds and mammals, insects, plants and trees - they all manage to thrive in the urban jungle, and Bob Gilbert is their champion and their chronicler. He explores the hidden wildlife of the inner city and its edgelands, finding unexpected beauty in the cracks and crannies, and uncovering the deep and essential relationship that exists between people and nature when they are bound together in such close proximity. Beginning from Poplar, the East End area in which he lives, Bob explores, in particular, our relationship with the trees that have helped shape London; from the original wildwood through to the street trees of today. He draws from history and natural history, poetry and painting, myth and magic, and a great deal of walking, observing and listening.

These natural history guides have been developed to encourage young people and anyone with a budding interest in natural history to learn about the wonders of southern Africa's fascinating fauna and flora. They are an invaluable resource for the beginner, providing information at a glance: each of the species presented is described in easy-to-read text, with a photograph and distribution map. A short introduction gives context to the topic.

Imagine a typical morning--munching on a bowl of cereal, sipping coffee, dressing for the day, riding to work. Every moment of this common routine draws on the power of plants, and the centuries of development that brought wheat, coffee beans, cotton, and rubber--among many others--into our daily lives.
"Remarkable Plants "celebrates the wonder and utility of the green kingdom, taking a detailed look at how plants have shaped our world. It focuses on eighty key species and richly explores their history, highlighting their importance and bringing to light surprising stories. Organized thematically into eight sections, the book starts with "Transformers" (including rice, beans, olives) and moves through sections such as "Heal and Harm" (poppy, aloe, strychnos) and "Revered and Adored" (lotus, frankincense, rose). Each species is introduced with its common and scientific names and followed by an exploration of its cultural, historical, botanical, and symbolic associations. Hundreds of botanical illustrations show full plants as well as highlight distinctive leaves, blooms, and fruits.
Rooted in one of the world's most important and renowned temples of greenery, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, "Remarkable Plants "is a symbiotic balance of science and art that will open readers' eyes to the deep influence of the natural world on our modern one.