Signs of the Wild: Southern Africa

Southern 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.

Fully updated and expanded, this third edition of the top-selling Field Guide to Common Trees & Shrubs of East Africa now features more than 520 of the trees and shrubs – indigenous and naturalized exotics – commonly found in the region.

Each of the four sections – trees, shrubs, palms and mangroves – is arranged in alphabetical order according to scientific name. The book features:

An informative introduction to families.
Species accounts describing the plants’ habitat, bark, leaves, flowers and fruit.
General and commercial applications and uses in traditional medicine.
Almost 2,000 photographs depicting the species, its fruit, flowers and bark.
Glossaries, both textual and illustrated, of botanical and medical terms.