The Genus Lachenalia. 2012. 300 photogr. figs. maps. tabs. 496 p. gr8vo. Hardcover.

The first complete and illustrated monograph of the genus Lachenalia, a horticulturally important and botanically diverse plant group. Lachenalia ranks with Gladiolus as one of the two most popular genera of South African bulbous plants worldwide, and next to Ornithogalum is the second-largest member of the family Hyacinthaceae in southern Africa. The flowers of some species have exceptionally showy blooms that occur in numerous interesting colours, shapes and sizes, and their fascinating leaves, many of which are attractively spotted or barred, or covered with attractive hairs or pustules. The flowers of many species are attractive in another dimension in that they emit distinctive aromas, ranging from spicy (like cloves) to various degrees of sweet (like a mixture of carnations and orchids), while one species is strongly coconut-scented. All species are described, classified and This book includes many highly attractive species which have neverbeen illustrated in colour before, with 11 new taxa, ten of which are new species. This will become the standard reference work onall aspects of the genus.