Fynbos – South Africa’s Unique Floral Kingdom by Richard Cowling and Dave Richardson

Fynbos – South Africa’s Unique Floral Kingdom by Richard Cowling and Dave Richardson, with photography by Colin Paterson-Jones, was first published by Fernwood Press in 1995. It is a large-format hardcover of 156 pages, illustrated in full colour throughout.

The authors cover every aspect of the fynbos environment, from the origins and age of this remarkable vegetation to its plants, animals and ecosystems. The Cape Floral Kingdom holds more than 8,600 plant species, most of them found nowhere else, in a small corner of the Western Cape, making it one of the richest floral regions on earth. The book also looks at the threats fynbos faces and argues for its wise use as an economic resource. Paterson-Jones’s photographs capture both the grand mountain landscapes and the delicate detail of the flowers.

Richard Cowling held the Leslie Hill Chair of Plant Conservation at the University of Cape Town and founded its Institute for Plant Conservation, where Dave Richardson was Senior Research Officer. Colin Paterson-Jones was the photographer for Marie Vogts’ standard works on the Proteaceae.

A beautiful and authoritative book for botanists, gardeners, hikers and conservationists, and for anyone who loves the Cape mountains and their flowers.

Condition – Very Good

Hardcover in green boards with gilt lettering and a gilt flower device on the front board, in a laminated pictorial dust jacket. The jacket is bright with light shelf wear to the edges and some light foxing to the inside of the flaps. There is light foxing to the half-title and preliminary pages. The binding is firm and the colour plates are clean.