Saunders’ Field Guide to Gladioli of South Africa

Title: Saunders’ Field Guide to Gladioli of South Africa
Authors: Rod Saunders; Rachel Saunders; Fiona C Ross
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
Imprint: Struik Nature
Cape Town, South Africa 2021
ISBN 9781775847618 / ISBN 978-1-77-584761-8
Softcover, 15 x 21 cm, 383 pages, throughout colour photos

About: Saunders’ Field Guide to Gladioli of South Africa

Southern Africa, comprising the countries of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini, the former Swaziland, is the centre of diversity for gladioli; 169 kinds are scattered across its grasslands and savannas, succulent shrublands and fynbos, from the seashore to the highest peaks. They range from the sturdy and upright to the delicate and unassuming, and all have a charm and attraction of their own. Indeed, gladioli exert a fascination among plant fanciers that sometimes defies explanation. And somehow the gladioli have a poise that sets them apart from the rest of their family, an indefinable elegance or an eccentricity that is captivating. Like many of us, Rod and Rachel Saunders fell under the gladiolus spell. They combined their deep and intimate knowledge of plants with a love of exploration. It was only later that they conceived the idea of formalising their fun into a field guide. In a remarkably short space of time they succeeded in locating and photographing the great majority of the species, sometimes under extreme and challenging conditions. Each trip they made uncovered something interesting or novel. Saunders’ Field Guide to Gladioli of South Africa is a testament to them, who were murdered in 2018 while on an expedition in the oNgoye Forest, both and to a group of plants that brought them great joy, which it will surely do for all who page through it. (John Manning)

Content: Saunders’ Field Guide to Gladioli of South Africa

Preface
Introduction
The Gladiolus in history
Gladiolus morphology
Reproduction and pollination
About this field guide
Gladiolus taxonomy
How to use this book
SPECIES ACCOUNTS
DENSIFLORI
OPHIOLYZA
BLANDI
LINEARIFOLII
HETEROCOLON
HEBEA
HOMOGLOSSUM
Glossary of terms
Bibliography
Sources and photographs
Index to Gladiolus species