Product Description

This guide covers more than 400 of the most commonly cultivated ornamental plants found in the tropics, identified and beautifully photographed by an expert in tropical botany. The color photographs and accurate descriptions make this book ideal for identifying plants grown in the tropics, or cultivated in greenhouses in temperate climates. The characteristics of habit, leaves, flowers, and fruit useful for distinguishing one plant from another are emphasized in the descriptions, which also include discussions of plant relationships, the correct scientific and common names, geographical ranges, any poisonous properties, and other useful and interesting information about each plant. In addition, each description includes information on propagation methods and ideal growing conditions, making it useful for gardeners in determining how and where to cultivate the plants.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1613028 in Books
• Published on: 2000-07-10
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 542 pages

Stephanie Kendrick, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, October 20, 2000
Lavishly illustrated.

John Van de Water, Newark Star-Ledger, November 5, 2000
Fascinating reading.

Clear Englebert, Fungshway.com, November 7, 2000
No other book comes close to filling the niche that this book fills.

Customer Reviews

Not for the novice gardener
I was very disappointed with the purchase of this book. Living on a tropical island I am surrounded by most, if not all of the plants in this guide. I was looking for a book to help me identify plants in my surroundings that I see on a day to day basis. While there are colour photographs with each plant description, it was difficult to recognise plants because the photos tended to focus mainly on the flowering part of the plant. This is especially frustrating when one wants to identify a tree or shrub.

The Poinciana, (here it is called Flamboyant) is an unmistakeable tree with flame red floweres and feathery leaves. The photo shows a close detail on the tree's flowers and leaves. I have never actually inspected the floweres of this tree up close, having only seen it's distinctive shape and of course flame red colour in parks and along roadways. Now that I have seen them in this book, I notice that they closely resemble those of a shrub called Barbados Pride! This could lead to confusion with someone who is totally unfamiliar with either plant!

The tree would be easier recognized if a picture of the tree itself was included. There is of course a magnificent photo of a Flamboyant on the back cover but I use this as only an example. No other tree or shrub is featured this way.

In short this book is completely useless to me in identifying plants. Everything looks familiar but I'm left with the feeling that I'm sure I've seen that plant somewhere but I don't know what it is:-(