BOTANICAL EXPLORATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

An illustrated history of early botanical literature on the Cape Flora. Biographical accounts of the leading plant collectors and their activities in southern Africa from the days of the East India Company until modern times.

400 pages, colour frontispiece - painting of a baobab by Thomas Baines, illustrated throughout, green cloth, a good copy in the dust jacket.

‘The story of plant collecting and early illustrations of our flora and, bound up with it, the emergence of the science of botany up to about the 1750’s is told in part one, lavishly illustrated with 81 reproductions of old botanical pictures and maps.

In part two there is a wealth of information on the often colourful and adventurous travellers, soldiers, missionaries, VOC officials and master gardeners, naturalists and professional collectors attracted to this fascinating country of exceptional floral diversity awaiting exploration.’ Editor’s note.