Aloes in Southern Africa, by Gideon Smith and Braam van Wyk

Aloes in Southern Africa, by Gideon Smith and Braam van Wyk. Struik Publishers. Cape Town, South Africa 2008. ISBN 9781770074620 / ISBN 978-1-77007-462-0

Images from Aloes in Southern Africa by Gideon Smith and Braam van Wyk.
In Aloes in Southern Africa Gideon Smith and Braam van Wyk present selected aspects of the intriguing biology of members of the genus Aloe in Africa and beyond.
Commonly known as aloes, we describe and illustrate how they function at both the individual and environmental levels. We also refer to some of their closest and more distant relatives. The intention is to satisfy the curiosity of both the amateur and professional biologist by telling the stories behind these fascinating species and their kin. We deliberately also refer to other representatives that are included in the family of Aloe relatives (rather than the Aloe family). But this book is predominantly about aloes; stately, sometimes miniature, succulent plants that vividly define the landscapes in which they occur - perhaps the ultimate group of African flagship plants. We also discuss a number of the most common species likely to be encountered in South Africa. Once equipped with knowledge about aloes, the urge to grow them successfully becomes all-consuming. One of the main reasons is because gardening with succulents in general, but aloes in particular, allows the gardener to break free from the chore of seasonally replacing thick drifts of annuals planted in a neatly raked bed. The predominantly chilli-red and vibrant orange hues of aloe flowers contrast with the verdant greens of their sword-shaped leaves and the surrounding plants. This combination creates a peaceful, calming unity in the garden. In a rockery, or any garden for that matter, shrubby, tree-like aloes form an impressive backbone. Aloes respond positively to the vernacular African landscape - its prevalent climate and the earthy, roughshod hardscaping accessories created from local materials, like natural rocks and pieces of wood. These sturdy plants embody the creative allure of the African savanna (bushveld) and karroid landscapes, and the satisfaction that comes from creating a natural, indigenous garden. Part of the book is dedicated to the cultivation and propagation of aloes, and numerous tips are given on how to make the most of these plants in human-made environments. Finally, we look at the many uses of aloes today, from contemporary and traditional medicinal preparations to their use in cosmetics, foodstuffs and in the rural environment.
Desert and Semi-desert
The term 'desert' is not widely used to describe the often exceptionally dry western parts of southern Africa. For example, we virtually never hear reference to the 'Richtersveld Desert', just the Richtersveld. Even the Karoo, of which there are several distinct regions, is not called the Karoo Desert, despite the word being derived from the Khoekhoe word 'garo' meaning 'land of thirst'. In South Africa, semi-desert conditions are often described as 'karroid' conditions. Locally, 'desert' tends to be reserved for arid and hyper-arid sandy regions, like the Kalahari and the Namib, respectively. Note, however, that because of its often tree-dominated vegetation cover, the so-called Kalahari Desert (covering most of southern and central Botswana) is best described as savanna, as is shown in the map on page 55. In southern Africa, desert-like areas occur in both winter- and summer-rainfall regions, as well as in regions that receive sparse rainfall at any time of the year. The winter-rainfall dry areas (or deserts) are probably the best-known, thanks to the mass displays of spring wildflowers in Namaqualand (see box on Mediterranean climate, page 48). The most common contributors to this floral showcase belong to the Asteraceae, the daisy family, while among the succulents, the Mesembryanthemaceae (vygie family) contributes a significant number of species. However, over 20 per cent of southern Africa's Aloe species occur here. [...]
This is an excerpt from Aloes in Southern Africa, by Gideon Smith and Braam van Wyk.
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
Smith, Gideon F. und van Wyk, Braam im Namibiana-Buchangebot
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