African Baobab
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
| Author: | Rupert Watson |
|---|
| ISBN: | 9781775848691 | |
|---|---|---|
| Format: | Softcover | |
| Price: | R340.00.00 | |
| Release Date: | 2024-03-22 |
R340.00
Baobab trees are living monuments, the oldest natural things in Africa, outlasting every plant and animal around them. Surviving in some of the driest, rockiest areas of this continent, paradoxically they live longer and grow larger than most other trees in the world.
In this absorbing and inspired new edition of The African Baobab, author Rupert Watson explores the life and times of this fascinating tree, from its early Madagascan beginnings to its present status on the continent and its future in a changing Africa. It is a compelling read on an African icon that has intrigued travelers for hundreds of years.
The narrative effortlessly blends natural science, history and personal observations, sometimes drawing on extracts from the journals of early explorers. There are intriguing accounts of the baobab’s eccentric growth and reproductive habits, its present-day distribution, and its wide impact on everyday African life. Watson also takes a close look at the relationship between humans and baobabs, and the tree’s myriad uses over the ages, from shelters to medicinal and spiritual applications.
Aimed at naturalists, environmentalists, botanical enthusiasts, travellers, and anyone awed by the wonders of plants, this book cannot but inspire.
In stock
Related products
-
Field Guide to Succulents of Southern Africa
R450.00Southern Africa is the natural home of the richest and most diverse succulent flora in the world. These plants come in all shapes and sizes, from trees such as the baobab at more than 20 m tall, to miniature soil huggers, just a few millimetres high, which mimic their pebble-desert surroundings. This user-friendly, richly illustrated field guide features more than 700 southern African succulents, focusing on the most interesting and commonly encountered species. An introduction to families and their key features will help readers identify the relevant plant group, while concise accounts describing the plants’ diagnostic features, along with distribution maps, will enable quick ID of species. More than just an ID guide for plant lovers, this book will inspire gardeners who are turning to indigenous, low-maintenance and water-wise plants for cultivation.
-
Field Guide to Fynbos
R610.00Field Guide to Fynbos features over 1,000 species from the Cape Floristic Region – home to one of the world’s richest floras. This fully updated edition focuses on the most common and ‘showy’ plants.
An introduction unpacks the world of fynbos – including origins, diversity, climate and adaptations – and is followed by a photographic key and descriptions of the fynbos families. Species descriptions are accompanied by photographs, distribution maps, comparisons with similar species, and notes on traditional uses.
For botanists and amateurs alike, this will remain an indispensable guide to South Africa’s most renowned flora.
-
Wild Flowers of Namaqualand
R610.00Namaqualand is justifiably famous for the floral wonderland it becomes in spring, when seas of bright flowers carpet the land. Astonishingly, the carpet comprises some 3,800 species, of which 28% are endemic.
This book introduces nearly 600 species, highlighting those most commonly found, most conspicuous, spectacular or interesting, as well as endemics. An introduction touches on the species selection for the book, the climatic and topographical subregions within Namaqualand, plant names and uses, and conservation issues.
The concise species descriptions also give seed and fruit details, uses, local growing conditions and flowering times, along with beautiful full-colour photographs. This is a must-have guide for visitors to Namaqualand, or for anyone interested in the wild flowers of southern Africa.
-
Grasses of East Africa
R400.00Grasses of East Africa describes 100 species of common, ecologically important or remarkable grasses found in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. Grasses comprise one of the largest plant families on Earth, but are possibly the most overlooked. Yet it is these ubiquitous and important plants that have the greatest impact on our daily lives – providing a wide range of staple foods for humans globally, a fundamental source of grazing for livestock, and food and shelter for an infinite variety of wildlife.
-
Field Guide to the Amaryllis Family of Southern Africa and Surrounding Territories
R500.00The Amaryllidaceae family is distributed in warm temperate and tropical parts of the world. With 18 genera and 265 taxa occurring in the region, southern Africa is recognised as a major centre of diversity for this intriguing family. This compelling guide features all the species found in the region, conveniently grouped according to the biome of their natural habitat, and includes a useful key to genera and species.
Species accounts feature:
– Comprehensive text suitable for laypersons and scientists
– Information on distribution, similar taxons, life cycle and flowering period
– Notes on cultivation, history, medicinal properties and conservation
– Distribution maps
– Colour photographs and watercolour platesAn invaluable addition to the library of any plant or nature lover.
-
Saunders Field Guide to Gladioli of Southern Africa
R580.00The genus Gladiolus has fascinated plant collectors, taxonomists and the general public for centuries. Known for their spectacular flowers, these highly adapted and specialised plants occur throughout Africa, Madagascar, Europe and the Middle East. South Africa is home to more than half of the world’s Gladiolus species and the Western Cape is the heart of species diversity. Saunders’ Field Guide to Gladioli of South Africa is the first of its kind to offer a complete photographic record of the 166 species that occur in the region. Posthumously completed, this book is the culmination of the Saunders’ long search to find and photograph every known species of Gladiolus in South Africa. It includes:
– An introduction comprising a brief history of gladioli, information about the morphology and taxonomy of the genus, and guidelines for use in the field.
– Detailed descriptions of the main floral parts of each species, along with information about ecology, pollinators, similar species and conservation status; field notes were written by Rachel Saunders.
– Over 1,000 exquisite photographs taken in situ detailing morphology and habitat.
– Up-to-date distribution maps indicating where species have been recorded.
– A glossary of terms with illustrations unpacking difficult terminology.
-
Identifiseer die Bome van Suider-Afrika (NE)
R400.00‘n Regstreekse, voor die hand liggende en effektiewe gids tot boom-identifikasie.
Dié boek se titel sê dit alles! Hierdie bygewerkte tweede uitgawe verskaf ‘n duidelike uiteensetting van hoe bome saamgestel is en waarna om op te let wanneer ‘n boom geïdentifiseer word. Die boek bestaan uit twee dele:
Deel 1 beskryf en illustreer duidelik die verskillende dele van ‘n boom en hul rol in boomidentifikasie.
Deel 2 bevat ‘n sleutel tot 43 boomgroepe, gebaseer op maklik waarneembare stingel- en blaarkenmerke. Dit gee ‘n duidelike oorsig van elke groep, sowel as die Suider-Afrikaanse boomfamilies wat in die onderskeie groepe verteenwoordig word. Talle kleurfoto’s en verduidelikende illustrasies ondersteun die teks wat dié handleiding toeganklik en gebruikersvriendelik maak.Identifiseer die Bome van Suider-Afrika sal lesers toerus met ‘n goeie begrip van die bou van bome en waarna hulle moet oplet om dit korrek te kan identifiseer.
-
Plants of the Baviaanskloof
R560.00Tucked away in the southwestern corner of the Eastern Cape lies a narrow valley, flanked by the Baviaanskloof and Kouga mountain ranges. Named after the chacma baboons that long ago made this 200-km-long kloof their home, the Baviaanskloof is part of the Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site. It is a meeting point of several different ecosystems, with almost all of South Africa’s eight biomes represented, making for an exceptional diversity of species, including many endemics.
Plants of the Baviaanskloof describes well over 1,000 plant species. It includes:
– Succinct descriptions of each plant species with full-colour photographs
– Brief family and genus descriptions, and species counts for the area
– An introduction covering the geology, climate and vegetation types of the regionCompiled over two decades, Plants of the Baviaanskloof is sure to become an enduring record of the diversity of plant life found here. The only botanical guide for this area, it is a must-have for botanists, gardeners, road-trippers, hikers, travellers and all who have a deep interest in plants.




























Be the first to review “African Baobab”
You must be logged in to post a review.