tropical plant guide

There are quite a few guidebooks on tropical plants out there in the bookstores, but none I feel, can quite compare to this publication: 'Tropical Flowering Plants - A Guide to Identification and Cultivation' by Kirsten Albrecht Llamas. It is probably one of the most comprehensive guides around, containing more than 1500 colour photographs of tropical and sub-tropical flowering plants with descriptions of the families, genera, species and cultivars, including country of origin, general maintenance, propagation and horticultural use. This is truly a bible and a definite must have for any die-hard gardener!

plants that changed the world

I came across this at Borders yesterday and was immediately taken by its extremely beautiful cover. However, its contents are even more captivating. The author, John Newton fills this book with anecdotes on plants which have changed or influenced mankind. It is also accompanied by beautiful illustrations of botanical art. In John's own words, this book offers a guided tour of the intersection of both flora and fauna in all their complexity and variety, with all the wonders and woes that we have experienced along the way. This definitely deserves a space in my collection of books on plants.