Cultivated plants are the basis of a vast economic and recreational industry. This book provides an inventory of the large number of plants (both native and exotic) that are cultivated in gardens. It includes accurate, up to date nomenclature and, above all an accessible botanically authorative means of plant identification.
Researched for more than three decades, this definitive work provides up-to-date descriptions of all the true conifers of the world, including 545 species of trees and shrubs. Written for accessibility to both horticultural and botanical audiences, it is the first comprehensive update of conifer taxonomy in nearly a century. Noted conifer taxonomist James E. Eckenwalder also discusses the relationships among the groups, practical usages, champion trees, fossil occurrences, and biology. New identification guides for the families and genera are based whenever possible on foliage features and thus should be easier to use than traditional conifer keys, which focus on seasonal, and often microscopic, cone characters. Eckenwalder shares the reasoning behind his taxonomic decisions, many of which are unique to this book, reflecting a comprehensive reevaluation of conifer classification. He also outlines the features sought in cultivars of each genus, particular cultivation concerns, and conifers recommended for cultivation under various conditions and to achieve different effects. Some 3,000 cultivars have been available in recent times, more than five times the total number of conifer species. Several hundred original illustrations include drawings of the seed cones for all genera as well as for representative species. Maps of the natural distribution of each genus allow for easy comparison of ranges. Handsome black-and-white photographs of species in their natural habitats and attractive color photos further enrich the volume. More than 100 images reproduce foliage of many genera as an aid in identification. With its unprecedented attention to detail and extensive bibliography, this major work is an essential reference for botanists, naturalists, and horticulturists.
Australian vegetation has interested botanists and naturalists since Europeans first encountered Australia and its plant life. This 1994 edition of Australian Vegetation reviews the vegetation of the continent as a whole. In the introductory section, chapters on phytogeography, vegetation history and alien plants set the scene for further sections covering all the major vegetation types. The plant life of extreme Australian habitats is also discussed, and the book closes with a chapter on the conservation of Australian vegetation. Each chapter, written by experts on each particular habitat type, will inform and stimulate the interests of students and professional botanists, especially those fortunate enough to see for themselves the unique vegetation and flora of Australia.
This 2001 book provides a selective annotated bibliography of the principal floras and related works of inventory for vascular plants. The second edition was completely updated and expanded to take into account the substantial literature of the late twentieth century, and features a more fully developed review of the history of floristic documentation. The works covered are principally specialist publications such as floras, checklists, distribution atlases, systematic iconographies and enumerations or catalogues, although a relatively few more popularly oriented books are also included. The Guide is organised in ten geographical divisions, with these successively divided into regions and units, each of which is prefaced with a historical review of floristic studies. In addition to the bibliography, the book includes general chapters on botanical bibliography, the history of floras, and general principles and current trends, plus an appendix on bibliographic searching, a lexicon of serial abbreviations, and author and geographical indexes.
This publication caters for the professional horticulturist and amateur gardening enthusiast, and is written in an easy to understand style. Scientific terms, where used, have been explained or included in the comprehensive glossary. The text is complemented by many delicately executed line drawings by Trevor Blake and a wonderful selection of colour photographs. This is the fourth of a multi-volume set in which the authors have drawn on their extensive experience of years devoted to the culture of Australian plants. Volume Four treats the following genera in great detail: EUCALYPTUS (with the most comprehensive cultivation details available), FICUS, FLINDERSIA, GASTROLOBIUM, GOMPHOLOBIUM, GOODENIA and GOSSYPIUM.
2nd ed. of v. 1 updates the original volume and expands the range of review essays presented. It is intended to provide a primary source of information about plants in Australia from the point of view of taxonomic botany. To be used as a ready reference to the major literature on the Australian flora and includes a glossary of botanical terms and a key to families of Australian flowering plants.
