Impatiens of Africa

Impatiens of Africa by Christopher Grey-Wilson is a comprehensive monograph published in 1980 by A.A. Balkema (Rotterdam) that presents an authoritative treatment of the African species of the genus Impatiens. According to the title page, the work covers 110 species of African Impatiens, and it offers detailed morphological descriptions, distribution maps, ecological and phytogeographic commentary, pollination and hybridisation notes, keys to species, line drawings and colour photographs.

Grey-Wilson’s book is structured to serve botanists, horticulturalists and collectors alike: it begins with an overview of the genus in Africa, the morphological variation of flowers, seed and root systems, then dedicates individual systematic treatments to each species including synonyms, typification, habitat and range. The inclusion of colour plates and maps enhances its value as both a reference work and a visual survey.

For anyone building a library of African botanical literature, a large-format, well-illustrated hard-cover monograph such as this occupies a special place. The focus on wild species rather than horticultural cultivars, the regional specificity, and the depth of treatment make Impatiens of Africa a significant and collectible volume within the field of Afriçana natural history.