A Book of South African Flowers

Abstract

SINCE its discovery, visitors have been struck by the remarkable flora of Cape Colony, and especially of the particular region known to botanists as the “South-western Region.” Here the landscape is often dominated by such unique types of plants as Protea, Leucadendron, Strelitzia, etc., which are found nowhere else in the world. In order to spread a wider knowledge of these interesting and beautiful plants “among those for whom the purely scientific botanical books have little or no meaning,” the Wild Flower Protection Society has published a book with illustrations, accompanied by interesting biological notes suitable for the ordinary reader. Most of the plants described are those which were in danger of becoming extinct from various causes, mainly, however, the Capetown flower-seller, and are now protected by law from being destroyed. Thirty-two of these are illustrated by coloured plates, some of them good, some rather poor, and the remainder by photographs. The text has been written by Mrs. Bolus, the Curator of the Bolus Herbarium, Kirstenbosch, the drawings are by Miss Barclay, and the photographs by Mr. Steer. We feel sure not only that the authors' modest hope “that the book may prove useful in schools” will be fulfilled, but also that it will be just the thing for those interested in the Cape flora generally, and especially for the visitor with limited time who wishes to know something about the wild plants around him.

A Book of South African Flowers.

D.

Barclay

H. M. L.

Bolus

E. J.

Steer

By. Pp. xviii + 174 (57 plates). (Capetown and Johannesburg: The Specialty Press of South Africa, Ltd.; London: L. Reeve and Co., Ltd., 1925.) 21s.