Trees of Southern Africa

Keith Coates Palgrave - new edition revised by Meg Coates Palgrave
Struik, 2002. Hardcover, 245x170mm, 1212 pages, line drawings and 314 photographs
ISBN: 1-86872--389-5 R295-95, available from good book shops or http://www.struik.co.za

When it first appeared some twenty years ago, Palgrave's Trees of Southern Africa revolutionised the identification of the region's woody plants. The first comprehensive work of its kind, but still small enough to be taken into the field. Looking now at my trusty, bush-battered copy - held together with binding tape - I am grateful indeed for the help it has given me over so many years in so many places. Certainly, my own knowledge and appreciation of trees would have been very much poorer without it.

Now in 2002, the great work has been reincarnated and it is a somewhat strange feeling. The format and paper is familiar, but the book is much thicker due to the discovery and re-classification of many species in the past twenty years. Spawned by the initial publication, amateur botanists have sprung up across the region to add to the ever growing volume of data on distribution and characteristics of trees. Sister-in-law to Keith, Meg Coates Palgrave is a respected authority and a was also contributor to the first edition. She has done a marvellous job in putting together this new edition which is essential to the library of every botanist and naturalist in the region.

Whether ‘Palgrave's' will reclaim its place as the field guide of choice is, however, unlikely because there are now so many accurate and well-illustrated regional field guides.

- Duncan Butchart -

Posted: Plants by CC Africa, Date: 22 November 2006