Aloes in Southern Africa

Title: Aloes in Southern Africa
Author: Gideon Smith; Braam van Wyk
Publisher: Struik Publishers
Cape Town, South Africa 2008
ISBN 9781770074620 / ISBN 978-1-77007-462-0
Softcover, 21 x 23 cm, 136 pages, throughout colour photos

About: Aloes in Southern Africa

Aloes are the flagship plants of Africa, vividly defining the landscapes in which they occur. In garden settings, these stately succulent plants capture the allure of the African savanna and serve as excellent focus plants around which other indigenous plants can be successfully grouped. Aloes in Southern Africa explores the character and biology of African aloes, describing their habits, characteristic features and distribution in nature. It also details 58 aloe and related species across several vegetation zones.

Aloe cultivation and propagation is discussed too, providing insight into optimum growing conditions, gardening styles and plants that flourish in different regions. A feature on medicinal, cosmetic and culinary uses reveals the special properties of these intriguing plants. 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.

Gideon Smith is South Africa’s most prolific author on succulent plants. He has authored and co-authored numerous scientific papers, as well as popular works such as Gardening with Succulents (2005), Cacti and Succulents (2006) and First Field Guide to Aloes (2003). He is chief director for Biosystematics Research and Biodiversity Collections at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).

Content: Aloes in Southern Africa

Preface
Part One: Aloes and their kin
Introducing aloes
The family Aloaceae and its genera
Understanding aloes
Aloes and extreme environments
Part Two: Aloes by habitat
Desert and semi-desert
Fynbos (Cape shrublands)
Thicket (valley bushveld)
Tropical, subtropical and Afromontane forests
Grasslands of the Highveld and central interior Savanna (bushveld)
Non-discriminating aloe species
Part Three: Gardening with aloes
General principles for growing aloes
Aloes and gardening styles
Growing aloes in containers
Growing and propagating aloes
Part Four: Uses of aloes
References
Index