Botanists and seed collectors Rod and Rachel Saunders set out on what seemed to some to be an impossible mission – to find and photograph, in full bloom, all gladioli species found in South Africa and to collect and share their observations in a field guide. They had found all but one species before their untimely deaths at the hands of kidnappers in a forest in KwaZulu-Natal.

In the wake of this tragic event, friends and colleagues collaborated to keep the Saunders’ dream alive. This book is the result their collective efforts.

Gladioli are showy bulbous plants that fall within the Iris family, and the bulk of species are endemic to South Africa. Comprehensive and lavishly illustrated with more than 1,300 photographs, this guide covers the 166 Gladiolus species known to occur in the region.

The book is divided into seven taxonomic sections, according to the species’ distinguishing features. Each species is presented on a double-page spread, with a full plate of color photographs, including close-ups of diagnostic features, different color forms and habitats. Botanical descriptions cover identification (corm, cataphyll, spike, bracts, anthers, pollen, capsules, seeds, and scent), distribution, pollination, conservation status, and notes on ecology and the authors’ personal observations in the field. Distribution maps and flowering periods are given for each species, and tables highlight differences between similar-looking gladioli.

There are almost 300 recognized species, widely distributed across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, with more than half of the species found in southern Africa, making this book useful to botanists world-wide, as well as to horticulturist, propagators, students, gardeners and anyone with an interest in natural history.

Die eerste volledige streekgids oor die inheemse bome wat in die Magaliesberg voorkom.
Beskrywing van meer as 170 spesies inheemse bome wat in die Magaliesberg voorkom georden volgens FSA-nommer
Familie- en genusbekrywings van die boomspesies
Oorsprong en verklaring van wetenskaplike name en die beskermingstatus van bome
Afrikaanse streekname wat 'n ryk taal- en kultuurerfenis verteenwoordig
Boomname in Afrikaans, Engels en / of in Setswana of isiZulu
Meer as 350 kleurfoto's
Interessante boomstories, ekologiese inligting en allerlei nuttige praktiese wenke oor die gebruik en aanwending van inheemse bome
Opgedateerde wetenskaplike en gewone name

This book describes and illustrates 80 of the larger, more conspicuous and charismatic tree species likely to be seen while travelling in the Kruger National Park.

With the aim of assisting readers to make accurate identifications of these majestic plants, each spread contains photographs and succinct text with minimal botanical jargon. To aid identification, a series of maps demarcating 35 different vegetation zones or ‘landscapes’ within the Kruger Park helps readers to determine which tree species are likely to be seen in which area.

Part of the NATURE NOW series, this compact ID guide is jampacked with images of trees – an informative safari companion for all who want to make the most of their visit to Kruger.

This takes the general reader at an easy pace from the basic characteristics of wild flowers through various techniques for identifying them. It also explains why plants have different habits and grow in different places.

California is one of the most ecologically rich and diverse regions of North America, and home to hundreds of species of mushrooms. In California Mushrooms, mycologist experts Dennis Desjardin, Michael Wood, and Fred Stevens provide over 1100 species profiles, including comprehensive descriptions and spectacular photographs of 650 species. Each profile includes information on macro- and micromorphology, habitat, edibility, and comparisons with closely related species and potential look-alikes.Although the focus of the book is on mushrooms of California, over 90% of the species treated occur elsewhere, making the book useful throughout western North America. California Mushrooms also provides information on when and where to find mushrooms; guidelines on how to collect and identify mushrooms; keys to species; and overviews of nomenclature and taxonomy, morphology and phylogeny, fungal ecology, biology of mushrooms, and mushroom toxins. This complete reference covers everything necessary for the mushroom hunter to accurately identify over 650 species.

Where will you look for the biggest, tallest or most corpulent trees in South Africa, or trees that have witnessed major events in the country’s history? These interesting specimens, and many others, are found in parks, nature reserves, on farms, on town and city streets and in private gardens – some perhaps even right on the reader’s doorstep.
Remarkable Trees of South Africa journeys into the fascinating world of trees. Written in an easy, anecdotal style, the authors relate, in text and photographs, the historical, cultural and economical significance of South Africa’s trees. Also included are accounts of the major tree families, as well as an overview of trees as monuments and in botanical gardens, parks and arboreta.
Now in its second edition, the text has been completely updated with additional information on Champion Trees and the authors’ selection of the Big Five Trees of South Africa. Presented as a coffee-table book with full-colour photographs throughout, anyone with an interest in history and nature, South African flora in particular, will find this book an essential addition to their home library.

For those who work with FIBER in weaving, spinning, crocheting, knitting, macrame; for those who work with CLOTH in batik, tie-dying, quilting, applique, soft sculpture, sewing. With this book you can come one step closer to making it from ""scratch"" - increasing your involvement and satisfaction in your craft, while enhancing the beauty and value of your finished uh_product. Rich, soft, subtle colors, not easily copied by synthetic man-made dyes, are commonly obtained from natural dye sources. The end reward is beautiful natural colors, but equally rewarding is the pleasure to be derived from collecting natural materials and from the dyeing process itself. The world around you becomes a treasure house of ""hidden"" possibilities, with common and readily available plant materials yielding colors that can be as surprising as they are special. Like the ancient Hawaiians who colored their tapa cloth with dyes from kukui, ferns, and other plants of their islands, you become more sensitive to your natural environment. A greater respect for craftspeople of the past and a deeper appreciation for the materials are every natural dyer's gain. Val Frieling Krohn-Ching is a distinguished weaving and textile design artist whose curiosity and desire for experimenting has also made her the authority on dyeing with plant materials in Hawaii using wool fibers. She now shares the results of her years of experimentation - and her enthusiasm - with others. Even beginners can use her basic principles and techniques successfully to achieve new results of their own. Hawaii Dye Plants and Dye Recipes is itself an artistic production, filled with charming, botanically accurate pen-and-ink drawings to aid in plant identification. Instructions are concise and easy to follow. Interesting information about each plant enlivens the text, as do personal comments about the author's experimentation and sources of natural materials. A color chart, photographed from actual wool samples prepared by the author, shows more than 300 beautiful results that the natural dyer can achieve using recipes in this book.