Flowers of the Pacific Island Seashore
Flowers of the Pacific Island Seashore

Author: W. Arthur Whistler

Publisher: W. Arthur Whistler

Published: 1992

Total Pages: 168

ISBN-13:

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The dream of becoming a beachcomber on some distant tropical shore has always held a particular fascination for Westerners. To be able to spend one's day relaxing under a tropical sun and walking a palm-covered beach bordering a blue lagoon has seemed like the ideal escape from the everyday pressures of the hurried lifestyle of our Western world. Ever since its European discovery, Polynesia has captivated the imagination of adventurers looking for an island paradise. Now, with the age of jet travel, a visit to the islands is no longer an impossible dream. Every year thousands of people fly to the South Pacific to spend their vacation in the tropical sun. One of the most remarkable features of Polynesia is the vast array of exotic flowers to be found growing everywhere in profusion. For those who are interested in nature, the easiest way to identify these exotic species is by using an illustrated book on tropical flowers. There are already a number of such books available, but most of these deal only with cultivated ornamental plants such as hibiscus, frangipani, and jasmine. These are well-suited to those who do not go beyond the confines of their hotel or local tourist attractions. But it is for those who seek out nature, away from the hotels, aways from the tourist attractions, or even away from civilization, that this book is intended.

Guide to Standard Floras of the World
Guide to Standard Floras of the World

Author: David G. Frodin

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2001-06-14

Total Pages: 1136

ISBN-13: 9781139428651

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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.

Ethnobotany of Pohnpei
Ethnobotany of Pohnpei

Author: Michael J. Balick

Publisher: University of Hawaii Press

Published: 2009-02-26

Total Pages: 610

ISBN-13: 0824837495

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Ethnobotany of Pohnpei examines the relationship between plants, people, and traditional culture on Pohnpei, one of the four island members of the Federated States of Micronesia. Traditional culture is still very strong on Pohnpei and is biodiversity-dependent, relying on both its pristine habitats and managed landscapes; native and introduced plants and animals; and extraordinary marine life. This book is the result of a decade of research by a team of local people and international specialists carried out under the direction of the Mwoalen Wahu Ileilehn Pohnpei (Pohnpei Council of Traditional Leaders). It discusses the uses of the native and introduced plant species that have sustained human life on the island and its outlying atolls for generations, including Piper methysticum (locally known as sakau and recognized throughout the Pacific as kava), which is essential in defining cultural identity for Pohnpeians. The work also focuses on ethnomedicine, the traditional medical system used to address health conditions, and its associated beliefs. Pohnpei, and indeed the Micronesian region, is one of the world’s great centers of botanical endemism: it is home to many plant species found nowhere else on earth. The ultimate goal of this volume is to give readers a sense of the traditional ethnobotanical knowledge that still exists in the area, to make them aware of its vulnerability to modernization, and to encourage local people to respect this ancient knowledge and keep such practices alive. It presents the findings of the most comprehensive ethnobotanical study undertaken to date in this part of Micronesia and sets a new standard for transdisciplinary research and collaboration.

Flora of the Marquesas Islands (set of Volumes 1 And 2)
Flora of the Marquesas Islands (set of Volumes 1 And 2)

Author: David Lorence

Publisher:

Published: 2019-12-30

Total Pages: 1135

ISBN-13: 9780915809035

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A project spanning over three decades has come to fruition with the publication of the Flora of the Marquesas Islands authored by David H. Lorence (NTBG) and Warren L. Wagner (Smithsonian Institution). This two volume, 1135 page opus is a complete account of all of the vascular plants found in the Marquesas Islands and was developed and written on a web site format. The Marquesas are a volcanic archipelago of 12 islands and numerous islets situated within the eastern part of French Polynesia, making it one of the most isolated groups of oceanic islands. This collaborative project between the National Tropical Botanical Garden, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Délégation à la Recherche de la Polynésie française is intended to further knowledge of the flora of this remote archipelago.Volume 1 (411 pages, published in December 2019) includes introductory chapters covering the project's history, Marquesas geology and climate, history of plant collecting in the islands, flora and vegetation, plant communities, threats to the flora, conservation status of species including IUCN Red List recommendations, critical conservation considerations, and many other aspects, as well as taxonomic treatments of the native and naturalized lycophytes (fern allies), ferns, and monocots. Volume 1 is richly illustrated with 134 figures including 111 color plates, 21 elegant line drawings by Smithsonian illustrator Alice Tangerini, and two maps. A complete list of all exsiccatae (specimens studied) is given in the Exsiccatae section. Volume 2 (722 pages, published in September 2020) covers the dicots, dicot exsiccatae, a list of cultivated plants, a list of all literature cited, and an index to both volumes. Volume 2 comprises is richly illustrated with 252 color figures and line drawings.

Vegetation of the Tropical Pacific Islands
Vegetation of the Tropical Pacific Islands

Author: Dieter Mueller-Dombois

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-11-26

Total Pages: 905

ISBN-13: 1441986863

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Written by the leading authorities on the plant diversity and ecology of the Pacific islands, this book is a magisterial synthesis of the vegetation and landscapes of the islands of the Pacific Ocean. It is organized by island group, and includes information on geography, geology, phytogeographic relationships, and human influences on vegetation. Vegetation of the Tropical Pacific Islands features over 400 color photographs, plus dozens of maps and climate diagrams. The authors’ efforts in assembling the existing information into an integrated, comprehensive book will be welcomed by biogeographers, plant ecologists, conservation biologists, and all scientists with an interest in island biology.