Customer Reviews

Aroids: Plants of the Arum Family

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've long been a fan of the Orchidaceae, but I didn't know that the Aroids are possibly an even more advanced branch of the Monocotlydons. This book exposes some shocking facts. Some species routinely metabolize lipids to generate temperatures over 100 F around their inflorescence while surrounding temps are near freezing. Other species manufacture aromatic compounds rarely encountered outside of the ANIMAL kingdom. There are aroids we can eat, and others that smell so horrible they inspire nightmares. Some species' reproductive contrivances are almost too imaginative for the plant kingdom.

Deni Bown has provided an invaluable service: she's compiled nearly everything Aroid known to science into one, comprehensive yet accessible book.

Very interesting look at one of the most unusual plant species on this planet! Brown gives us information on habitat, medicinal value, mythology concerning aroids and much more. This book is a must have for aroid enthusiasts!

I believe that is the most comprehensive book on the entire aroid family currently available. At no stage does it purport to be a guide to cultivation; rather, it is a well-written and entertaining botanical read covering many fascinating aspects of the morphology, ecology, geography, reproductive strategies and other aspects of these astonishing plants. Within the limited confines of a slim volume, and in the light of such a huge diversity of species, this book fulfills its criteria to an exceptionally high standard.

A great book for descriptions and background information on many unique and beautiful aroids. The information, photos and illustrations are first-rate. That said, the information on cultivation of aroids was rather light and generic (there isn't even any information on the difference between growing jewel alocasias vs. the larger tropical alocasias--this is important as you will rot and scorch your jewel alocaisias if you attempt to grow them like their larger, moisture and sun-loving relatives).

This is a wonderful book if you want to read about Aroids, and explore this fascinating group of plants. However there are minimal illustrations or pictures, and I often found myself longing for more of the many pictures that Deni Bown must have taken, in her travels. I am unlikely to see many or most of the plants she talks about in my lifetime, unless I plan some jungle exploration holidays, and would have loved to have more pictures to help me imagine what they looked like. Hopefully she will put out a more illustrated version one day!

I think it is the best book about aroids with very good photos and descriptions.

This is the best botanical book I have bought in years. easy to read, witty and packed with information.

If your tastes are a little nonstandard, you will enjoy growing the plants described in this book. I am lucky enough to live in Chapel Hill, NC. Its benign climate is ideal for growing hordes of very cool, very weird plants. Great effort!