Customer Reviews

The Genus Conophytum: A Conograph

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This botanical work is, quite simply, a classic. The author is the world's authority on his subject, genus Conophytum. Steve Hammer is a natural-born writer and his prose is clear and concise, while also being delightfully witty and informal. For me the most attractive aspect of the book isthe many, many color photographs by John Trager. They make anyone want to grow conophytums! Some plants are photographed to show their rainbow of colors; they are delicious looking.

Yet beyond the wit and color, this is a botanical monograph and will be for many years to come the standard reference on the genus. The book is laid out logically, with chapters devoted to each series within the two sections/subgenera. The early chapters talk about the group's taxonomic history, its cultivation and so forth.

All in all, I not only recommend this book; I urge you to peruse it!

For those interested in the genus Conophytum this book has to be an absolute must. Although the book is a full blown reference book Hammer's writing style is easy and there is no reason why anyone interested could not read it from cover to cover, rather than just use it a reference tool.

The photographs are superb and the plants almost leap off the page at you. The book is well produced and print and paper quality are excellent. Essential for a book that will be used on a regular basis.

It cannot be faulted and should be in the library of every enthusiast of these beautiful plants.