NATAL PLANTS

First Edition: 6 volumes, 600 lithographic plates (uncoloured) with descriptive text. Volumes 1 to 3 are bound in contemporary red leather with cloth sides - the leather is rubbed and worn, the contents are bright. Volumes 4 to 6 are recently bound in half red leather with red cloth sides, the contents are bright - in these volumes the printed grey light card wrappers of the original four parts of each are bound in. A very good set.

Kerkham (A.S.) Southern African Botanical Literature 1600-1988, number 748. 'The first illustrated botanical book produced entirely in South Africa.' Complete sets are now scarce.

Gunn (Mary) & Codd (L.E.) Botanical Exploration of South Africa, Cape Town 1981, 'Pages 379-381.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Medley_Wood), 'John Medley Wood (1 December 1827 Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England – 26 August 1915 Durban) was a South African botanist who contributed greatly to the knowledge of Natal ferns, is generally credited with the establishment of sugarcane mosaic virus immune Uba sugar cane in Natal and for his extensive collection of Natal plants.

'As a result of his growing interest in botany, he accepted the post of curator of the Durban Botanic Gardens in 1882. From his interest in crop plants, he established the suitability of Uba sugar cane (Saccharum sinense L.), for conditions in Natal. During these years he collected plants extensively throughout Natal and exchanged duplicates with foreign herbaria.

'He was preparing the seventh volume of his Natal Plants at the time of his death in 1915. He is commemorated in the genera Woodia Schltr., Woodiella Sydow and a large number of species names including that of Encephalartos woodii Sander, which he first discovered.'