A Guide to Botanical Survey Work (Botanical Survey of South Africa Memoir No. 4)

Published in 1922 during the Union of South Africa period, A Guide to Botanical Survey Work is the fourth memoir issued by the Botanical Survey of South Africa and represents an important milestone in the scientific documentation of the country’s remarkable flora. Produced under the direction of the Advisory Committee for the Botanical Survey of South Africa, this government publication was intended as a practical handbook for botanists, naturalists, collectors and researchers engaged in the systematic study of South African vegetation.

A Guide to Botanical Survey Work brings together contributions from several of the country’s leading botanical authorities of the early twentieth century, including I. B. Pole Evans, A. W. Rogers, Rudolf Marloth, Louisa Bolus, John Bews and Selmar Schönland. Topics include the physical geography of South Africa, climate and rainfall, the country’s principal botanical regions, collecting techniques, botanical survey methodology, plant nomenclature, photographic guidance for recording plant specimens and an overview of South African botanical literature.

Today this memoir remains an important historical reference for researchers studying the development of botanical science in Southern Africa. A Guide to Botanical Survey Work also holds considerable appeal for collectors of Africana, early government publications, botanical history and South African scientific literature. Original copies are becoming increasingly difficult to source, particularly in well-preserved condition.

Whether acquired as a research reference, a collectible government publication or an addition to a specialist botanical library, this scarce Union of South Africa botanical memoir represents an important piece of South African scientific heritage.

Condition – Very Good

1922 stapled booklet. Light rusting to the original staples. Clean, complete and well preserved overall.