Ceropegia, Brachystelma and Riocreuxia in Southern Africa

Ceropegia, Brachystelma and Riocreuxia in Southern Africa , by R.Allen Dyer.

With illustrations by Auriol Batten, Rosemary Holcroft and others.

The Stapelieae comprise a vast complex of forms, colours and specialized floral structures. Ceropegias and Brachystelmas are fore-runners of the Stapelieae in the tree of plant evolution and one detects numerous similarities between the groups concerned. The variety of form is so great that the reader may be inclined to say that seeing is believing.

The present book is a valuable contribution to botanical science. It abounds in original observations which lead the reader to accounts of both ancient and modern discoveries. The author states that his object has been to present the information largely in a pictorial manner with the emphasis on illustrations, balck and white and in colour.

Nearly all species are illustrated, thus with the text and keys it should be possible to identify species with confidence.

The author has enlisted the assistance of collleagues and other workers who have  wide field experince and have given generously of their knowledge. Auriol Batten has contributed a number of beautifully executed paintings which give distinction to the volume at first sight.

Hardback with dustcover over green boards-Maps to endpapers. Frontispiece viii plus 242 pages text with supporting illustrations and plates. Very clean copy.