The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Succulents [antikvár]

ForewordSome ten thousand species of flowering plants are included beneath the umbrella-name of succulentsthree or four percent of all known species, and representative of about twelve percent of all recognized Families. They possess certain features in common which catch the eye and evoke immediate reactions of admiration or distaste as do no other plants. They are diversified by seemingly endless variations in pattern and adornment, texture and colour, making them an ideal subject forcollectors and enthusiasts. Their solidity and statuesque pose give the illusion of timeless immutability, but the observant cultivator finds delight in watching their continual changes throughout the seasons.An encyclopedia is defined as a "literaiy work containing extensive information on all branches or one particular branch of knowledge " I quote this lest anyone should be disappointed at not finding here an alphabetical catalogue of all the known species. For them, there are alreadyhandbooks by Jacobsen, Backeberg, Rauh, Haage and others, as cited in the refences starting on page 247. Most of the extensive literature on succulents, apart from strictly scientific monographs, is concerned with just two aspects: describing species, and expounding cultivation. Here the aim is different. It is to take an overall view of succulents as one element of the world flora, noting their distinguishing features in structure, mode of life, habitat, reproduction and survival, their evolution and