Collins Photo Guide - Tropical Plants [antikvár]

Preface This book is an introduction to the colourful world of tropical plants. It deals mainly with decorative and economic plants common in all regions of the tropics. Because of their beauty ornamental plants, especially, have been spread by man from their native lands to all parts of the world. We have therefore tried to select the most striking and widespread species from this bewildering profusion. The book is intended for amateurs as well as for professional botanists, and particularly for those travelling in the tropics who may find themselves in a world of strange plants, not only in gardens and parks, in streets and by the sea, but in markets too. In addition to a botanical description the systematic relationships of each plant are given, together with the meaning of its name, and its flowering time, origin, distribution and ecological requirements. In the case of economic plants details of their use and an account of their distribution and production are also given. The text is headed by the identifying number of the relevant photographs. Using both the pictures and the text it will be possible for the amateur to identify individual species. The number of tropical species is very large, making it impossible for all species to be included. This is especially true for timber trees and medicinal plants, of which new kinds are still being discovered. This state of affairs makes it clear how important it is to put a stop to further destruction of tropical vegetation. For the sake of clarity ornamental plants have been divided into trees, palms, shrubs, climbers, and herbaceous species. Economic plants have been arranged according to their uses and products. In the naming of plant species the scientific name is essential, for these plants may be known by several common names. In a number of cases difficulties arise with Enghsh names since the plants do not occur in Britain. However, as the native name for the same plant may vary from country to country, the English name has been given whenever possible. In spite of the necessary limitations imposed by the choice of species we hope that the selection is representative, and that the book will be useful to many plant-lovers on their tropical journeys, and will reveal to them the strange and fascinating variety as well as the beauty of exotic plants.