Botanists and seed collectors Rod and Rachel Saunders set out on what
seemed to some to be an impossible mission - to find and photograph, in
full bloom, all gladioli species found in South Africa and to collect
and share their observations in a field guide. They had found all but
one species before their untimely deaths at the hands of kidnappers in a
forest in KwaZulu-Natal.
In the wake of this tragic event, friends and colleagues collaborated to
keep the Saunders' dream alive. This book is the result their collective
efforts.
Gladioli are showy bulbous plants that fall within the Iris family, and
the bulk of species are endemic to South Africa. Comprehensive and
lavishly illustrated with more than 1,300 photographs, this guide covers
the 166 Gladiolus species known to occur in the region.
The book is divided into seven taxonomic sections, according to the
species' distinguishing features. Each species is presented on a
double-page spread, with a full plate of color photographs, including
close-ups of diagnostic features, different color forms and habitats.
Botanical descriptions cover identification (corm, cataphyll, spike,
bracts, anthers, pollen, capsules, seeds, and scent), distribution,
pollination, conservation status, and notes on ecology and the authors'
personal observations in the field. Distribution maps and flowering
periods are given for each species, and tables highlight differences
between similar-looking gladioli.
There are almost 300 recognized species, widely distributed across
Africa, Europe and the Middle East, with more than half of the species
found in southern Africa, making this book useful to botanists
world-wide, as well as to horticulturist, propagators, students,
gardeners and anyone with an interest in natural history.
