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Distributed for Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Genus Lachenalia

This is the first complete and illustrated monograph of the genus Lachenalia, a horticulturally important and botanically diverse plant group. The relatively small number of Lachenalia species that have been cultivated worldwide are known for their exceptionally showy blooms and fascinating leaves, and for emitting distinctive aromas ranging from spicy to sweet to the distinct scent of coconut, in the case of one species. The horticultural potential of the genus has yet to be fully realized, and many more species await introduction into cultivation. All species in this volume are described, classified, and illustrated, and are accompanied by detailed information on their history, morphology, phylogeny, phytogeography, pollination biology, cultivation, and propagation.


479 pages | 300 color plates, 14 halftones, 8 line drawings, 135 maps, 2 tables | 7 x 9 1/2 | © 2012

Botanical Magazine Monograph

Biological Sciences: Botany


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Reviews

"[N]owhere else will you find such a combination of photographs, paintings, detailed descriptions, a key, distribution and cultivation information, written by the one person who knows the genus like no-one else. This is a book to use and to treasure."

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society

"A beautifully produced book. . . . No taxonomic monograph is ever the final word—new species will be discovered, and changes to nomenclature will occur. However, The Genus Lachenalia will no doubt stand as one of the significant milestones of South African botanical publishing for decades to come. It will be a very welcome addition to the libraries of botanists, horticulturalists, conservationists and collectors of Africana."

South African Journal of Science

Table of Contents

New taxa published in this work
List of paintings
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Preface

1. History
2. Cultivation and propagation

    Cultivation
    Propagation
    Pests and diseases
3. Lachenalias and the environment
    Conservation
    Phytogeography
    Ecology, habitat and adaptive strategies
    Phenology
4. Lachenalia biology
    Morphology
    Pollination biology
    Seed dispersal
    Karyology
5. Phylogeny
6. Taxonomic treatment

    Insufficiently known names
    Excluded taxa

References
Glossary
Appendix
General index
Index of scientific names

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