INCLUDING THE MAGALIESBERG & SUIKERBOSRAND.

As those familiar with the country areas around the Witwatersrand and Pretoria are undoubtedly aware, the variety of wild flowers in the region is so immense that identifying them is no easy matter. In his Field Guide to the the Wild Flowers of the Witwatersrand and Pretoria Region, Braam van Wyk tackles the problem in an innovative way. By dividing the 763 species described in the guide into six colour groups, he ensures that the flower’s colour becomes the first clue to its identity.  Within the colour groups the species are organized into families, each explicitly defined by its diagnostic characters. Flowers which occur in more than one colour can be found in each relevant colour group.

Each species is illustrated by a full colour photograph, carefully selected to show most clearly the distinctive features of the plant. The photographs are arranged into more than 130 plates which facilitate comparison of similar species. The concise text describing each species, its habitat and flowering time is placed opposite the relevant plate, making this a a thoroughly practical field guide . Leaf drawings for the majority of the species accompany their descriptions. A thoroughly researched and carefully presented chapter on the most common grass found in the region completes this invaluable book.