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South Africa has been divided into 16 geographical regions, each with its own succulent gems highlighted and illustrated. Aside from proffering a wealth of information on the plants themselves, this book offers the reader useful advice on places to visit and which routes to follow throughout each region, in order to fully appreciate each area's succulent diversity. The 20 hand-painted plates and the photographs beautifully illustrate this complex and interesting ecological grouping of plants, and the regions in which they grow.
This is a tribute to the late Gerhard Dreyer who spent years photographing the wild flowers of South Africa and these are some of his best images selected from several thousand. This is a tribute not only to Gerhard's photography but also the amazing floral abundance and diversity of South Africa which will appeal to both locals and overseas tourists -- there is a short introduction by Ernst van Jaarsveld, an expert on flowers, based at the Kirstenbosh Botanical Gardens, with extended captions on each flower. South Africa has the highest biodiversity for a temperate region, and world-wide is second only to Brazil and Indonesia, both tropical countries. The Fynbos biome alone has more plant species than the whole of Europe -- so a publication of this scope can only hope to give a representation of the unbelievable variety available, but anyone who has a fondness for flowers will want this book.
This open access book richly illustrates the first, and comprehensive, account of the country’s biomes and ecoregions, the driving forces that account for their diversity and vulnerability, and the ecological principles that provide an understanding of the patterns and processes that have shaped landscapes, ecoregions, and ecosystems. Angola encompasses the greatest diversity of terrestrial biomes and is the second richest in terms of ecoregions, of any African country. Yet its biodiversity and the structure and functioning of its ecosystems are largely undocumented. The author draws on personal field observations from over 50 years of involvement in ecological and conservation studies in Angola and across Southern Africa. The vast recent literature published by researchers in neighboring, better resourced countries provides depth to the accounts of ecological principles and processes relevant to Angola and thus contributing to the understanding and sustainable management of its natural resources.
The story of East of the Cape: Conserving Eden is a story about nature and people. The drama takes place in a region located on the south-eastern coast of Africa where nature’s diversity is manifest: rainforest, karoo, fynbos, grassland and savanna are juxtaposed in complex and intriguing ways. Aptly called Eden, this region is also home to thicket, a Lilliputian forest of great antiquity that harbours the ancient stock of many plant lineages found in southern Africa’s contemporary ecosystems. Eden is also home to a diversity of human cultures, each of which has left its mark on nature. From the birth of humankind to the present day, the footprint of Eden’s inhabitants has become progr...
The Story of Life & the Environment – an African perspective is about the fragile miracle of life. It’s a celebration of the Earth’s rich and wonderful diversity – the species, populations, communities and ecosystems that surround us – and of nature’s resilience. It unpacks the three major ecosystems: fresh water, the ocean and the land, and the teeming life each supports on and around Africa. It discusses evolution and the ever-branching tree of life; how systems work, how populations expand and contract, and how all the elements of life interact. And it tells the story of how humans originated in Africa, and how we have evolved to become modern people. The book sounds a warning about our human impact on the planet, which is fostering rapid climate change, as well as massive over-consumption and depletion of resources. The book is also about responsible planning and management of our environment and natural resources to redress damage and ensure sustainability. This is the story of life and the environment in Africa.
This third edition of Trees of Southern Africa has been updated, revised and expanded by Meg Coates Palgrave. It features new simplified keys based on leaf characteristics, and incorporates updated names, reclassifications and new species. All known indigenous trees and many naturalised aliens occurring in southern Africa, south of the Zambezi-Cunene rivers, are included. Accompanying the descriptions are comprehensively revised maps reflecting up-to-date distribution, and drawings of a characteristic leaf and / or fruit. Other features incllude English and Afrikaans common names, notes on medicinal or magical properties and an illustrated glossary. A comprehensive, user-friendly guide, it will appeal to tree enthusiasts and professional botanists across the sub-continent.
Kirstenbosch is a name that resonates round the world as the home of a uniquely rich flora in a setting of unsurpassed beauty, and in 2013 Kirstenbosch celebrates its 100th anniversary. This centenary publication tells the story of its establishment, its setbacks and triumphs, its benefactors and heros. It outlines the Garden's scientific eminence - as the repository of knowledge on our prized flora - and details the many attractions that make it a favourite destination for Capetonians and visitors alike. With a finely crafted text by acclaimed ecologist Brian Huntley, and lavishly illustrated with photographs and artworks that tell the history and reflect the beauty of the Garden, this will be a sought-after volume - a quality memento for visitors to Kirstenbosch and a keepsake for the many thousands of locals who flock there annually. Beautifully presented in a colourful dustjacket, this book will be a tasteful, all-occasions gift, and one to cherish.