Aloes in Southern Africa

by Gideon Smith

Overview

Aloes are stately succulent plants that capture the allure of the African savanna. Aloes in Southern Africa explores the character and biology of African aloes, their habits, characteristic features and distribution in nature. It details 58 aloe and related species, cultivation and propagation, gardening styles and plants that flourish in different regions, plus medicinal, cosmetic and culinary uses. Whether you are starting a garden, redeveloping one or simply looking to expand your knowledge of these fascinating succulents, Aloes in Southern Africa will prove an invaluable guide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781920544447
Publisher:	Penguin Random House South Africa
Publication date:	11/05/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	136
File size:	41 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

GIDEON SMITH is Chief Director: Biosystematics Research and Biodiversity Collections at the SA National Biodiversity Institute. He is involved in various national and international environmental associations and advisory committees. His interests are in the biology and classification of succulent plants, as well as landscaping and horticulture. South Africa’s most prolific author on succulent plants, he has authored or co-authored ±40 books, and more than 500 research and popular papers, mostly on succulents.

BRAAM VAN WYK, a graduate of the Universities of Potchefstroom and Pretoria, is a plant taxonomist by training, with a wide interest in the classification of the rich southern African flora. Among his more popular works are Field Guide to Wild Flowers of the Highveld, Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa, A Photographic Guide to Wild Flowers of South Africa and How to Identify Trees in Southern Africa.

Table of Contents

Preface     5
Aloes and their kin     6
Introducing aloes     7
The family Aloaceae and its genera     15
Understanding aloes     29
Aloes and extreme environments     45
Aloes by habitat     54
Desert and semi-desert     57
Fynbos (Cape shrublands)     63
Thicket (valley bushveld)     67
Tropical, subtropical and Afromontane forests     73
Grasslands of the Highveld and central interior     76
Savanna (bushveld)     83
Non-discriminating aloe species     96
Gardening with aloes     102
General principles for growing aloes     105
Aloes and gardening styles     111
Growing aloes in containers     115
Growing and propagating aloes     119
Uses of aloes     126
References     132
Index     134