Publisher's Synopsis
The sheer scope of this book is remarkable. It covers the major plants of three-quarters of the continent of Australia. While it cannot be definitive, it nevertheless features 800 species; those most distinctive, well-known and easily seen throughout inland Australia. Each entry consists of one or two photographs of excellent quality, detailed descriptions, information about habit, habitat, name origins, explorers and collectors, and each with a distribution map. An introductory section of the book covers some fascinating reading about the evolution of the outback flora and the role of Aboriginal and white people in its transformations. There are also chapters on inland plant communities, poisonous plants and the role of fire in the outback with some topical discussion of fire-management issues. There are two very visual appendices. One deals with identifying mass flowerings of plants sometimes seen after good rains alongside certain regional roads and tracks. The other is a quick photographic identification of 100 plants growing along a remote strip of Western Australia between Kalbarri and Shark Bay, a poorly documented - but increasingly travelled - route.
