Springer Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Aizoaceae F-Z

This handbook, consisting of six volumes, covers over 9000 taxa of succulents (excluding cacti), which have the ability to store water in their stems, leaves, or underground organs. In addition to the volumes on Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons, separate volumes are devoted to those families with predominantly succulent members, which show an especially great diversity, namely Aizoaceae, Asclepiadaceae and Crassulaceae. Following an alphabetical listing of families, genera and species, detailed descriptions are given, including the taxonomy with synonyms, data on the distribution and ecology, references, and keys to genera, species or subspecies. Over 2000 superb colour photographs complete this inventory of succulent plants. Review From the reviews of the first edition: "This series is a reference manual for taxonomists and horticultural cognoscenti. It compiles up-to-date information not readily available from other sources … . This series is invaluable to identify succulents, by either picture keying … or by formal text keying. … The volumes are well produced. … this is an excellent series, a significant contribution to the literature, and a superb production. … This fine series is a boon to all aficionados of succulents … ." (Rudolf Schmid, Taxon, Vol. 52, 2003) "Current studies of Aizoaceae … collectively amount to several thousand pages of insight, prescience, hard-won data, and metaphor. Condensing this rich and troublesome legacy into a handbook was a massive task, which could only have been marshaled by Dr. Heidi Hartmann. … the black and white graphics … are beautifully done. The books are well-bound … . The work as a whole will become an indispensable reference for anyone with a serious interest in these seriously and wonderfully peculiar plants." (Steven Hammer, Plant Systematics and Evolution, Vol. 232 (3-4), 2002) "The Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants, published under the supervision of the IOS (International Organisation for Succulent Plant Study), aims to provide a comprehensive up-to-date lexicon of all succulent plants … . two ponderous volumes dealing with the family Aizoaceae have now appeared. … we can only confirm the positive judgement expressed on the first volume of the series. An enormous mass of knowledge is packed and organised in the Handbook, producing an impressive data bank and undoubtedly a standard reference for future research." (Lino Di Martino, Cactus & Co., Vol. 6 (2), 2002) From the Back Cover The Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants represents the first comprehensive taxonomic treatment of succulents in thirty years. It covers over 9000 taxa of all succulents except Cactaceae. This up-to-date work is ideally suited for anyone interested in these fascinating plants, including hobbyists, plant scientists, horticulturalists and herbarium staff. Members of the iceplant family Aizoaceae are appreciated by farmers for their browsing stock. Hobbyists like to grow the stone plants and tourists enjoy the flowering of annuals. This first complete treatment of the leaf-succulent family Aizoaceae includes an inventory of 136 accepted genera of the 234 described ones and of all species ever placed in the family. Almost 800 colour photographs illustrate mainly rarely shown species.