Southern African Wildflowers [Hardcover]

John Manning (Author), Colin Patterson-Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2005

This book takes readers on a journey through the diverse landscapes of southern Africa, showcasing the unique richness of its wild flowers along the way. Each chapter focuses on a specific region, highlighting the most beautiful, interesting and rare plants occurring there. The journey begins at the Zambesi River and then moves down the eastern part of the region through the well-watered ‘land of plenty’. From here, the reader is taken through the splendors of the Cape fynbos and then northwards, to end in the parched ’thirstlands’ of the west. Beautiful full-color photographs by well-known botanical photographer Colin Paterson-Jones celebrate the flora of the region, while the authoritative text reveals insights into the plants themselves, their origins, interactions with other living organisms, and their often remarkable adaptation to sometimes hostile environments. Emphasis is given to the context in which the flowers grow; the changing vegetation and landscapes are featured throughout, displaying the extraordinary diversity within the region.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr John Manning is a Specialist Scientist at the National Botanical Institute, Kirstenbosch. He is a world specialist on the bulbs of southern Africa but has wide-ranging interests in all aspects of South Africa's flora. He has published widely in scientific journals and is also committed to popularizing the indigenous flora. He is the author or co-author of several popular wildflower guides. Colin Paterson-Jones is a well-known botanical photographer and he is author and photographer of Table Mountain Walks, Garden Route Walks and The Cape Floral Kingdom.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Struik Publishers (June 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1770070176
• ISBN-13: 978-1770070172
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 10.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,371,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunningly visual survey of the diverse landscapes of windflowers that South Africa has to offer, October 6, 2005

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Southern African Wildflowers (Hardcover)

Southern African Wild Flowers: Jewels Of The Veld is a coffee table book that presents the reader with a stunningly visual survey of the diverse landscapes of windflowers that South Africa has to offer. Each individual chapter focuses upon a specific region, highlighting and showcasing the most beautiful, interesting, and unusual plants occurring there. Beginning at the Zambezi River, this "book bound expedition" continues through the splendors of the Cape fynbos, then northwards, to conclude with the parched "thirstlands" of the west. The gorgeous full-color images by botanical photographer Colin Patterson-Jones is the perfect complement to research botanist's John Manning informed and informative text about the plants, their origins, their interactions with other living organisms, and their remarkable adaptations to sometimes hostile environments. Southern African Wild Flowers is especially commended to the attention of botanists, horticulturalists, landscapers, and adventurous gardeners!