Cycads of Africa -Douglas Goode (Signed)

Although cycads and their now-extinct relatives dominated world vegetation in Middle Mesozoic times about 145 million years ago ('The Age of Cycads'), they were gradually ousted by the angiosperms or flowering plants and today the order Cycadales comprises only 150 - 160 species world-wide, about one-third of which are found in Africa.

This monography by Douglas Goode is the most complete review of the genus Encephalartos published to date and includes all 50 known species of this distinctively African group as well as the sole living representative of the genus Stangeria. It also includes a single species of Cycas - endemic to Madagascar but introduced to East Africa by Arab traders some centuries ago.

Each species is accompanied by three meticulously detailed-full-colour plates, showing the plant in its natural habitat, details of leaf and cone-scale structure, and the diagnostic features of the mail and female cones. The comprehensive and up-to-date text focuses on cycads in the wild - not on horticultural specimen plants - and emphasises the desirability of conserving them in their natural environment. There are clear and concise descriptions of each species' habit and habitat, its stems, leaves, cones and seeds, together with an account of its geographical distribution, its conservation status and its susceptibility to damage by fire, mammals, insects and plant collectors. Two distribution maps accompany each species account.

Of all the world's cycads, the genus Encephalartos is the most diverse and colourful. Each species has its own individual character with distinctive cones, stem structure and leaves, while even the disposition of the dead leaves can be a useful identification pointer. To illustrate all of these important features in one painting it proved necessary to have colourful photographs of the habitat and close-up photographs of the plants themselves. With these aids, and from his wealth of field experience, Douglas Goode has successfully captured the form , textures and colours of each cycad in a way that will delight all cycad enthusiasts, particularly in the case of those groups of closely related species whose members can appear identical at first sight.

This book takes readers to all the habitats where these wonderful plants grow, and where, sadly, some may already have become extinct in the wild. The combination of authoritative text and sensitively executed illustrations will ensure that this book is widely acclaimed - not only by professional and amateur botanists and cycad enthusiasts, but by connoisseurs of Africana and collectors of finely illustrated books.