Few books on any subject have been produced
with such loving detail. This is simply the most comprehensive volume on these
plants that could be imagined. Every Engleria and Kabschia species, subspecies and
variety and every single hybrid cultivar is described in detail. And the level of
detail is staggering, and the work behind this is almost unimaginable. Assembling a
reference collection alone is a stupendous effort - to then describe and illustrate every
one is something for which every enthusiast can only be profoundly grateful.
There are very few who would quibble in any major way with the volume but
I suppose the biggest single drawback is that the printing of the illustrations, which are
reproduced from pencil drawings by Eva Zoulova, is just not strong enough. It is
also a pity that the amalgamation of S.caesia and S. squarrosa and the
Oppositifoliae species, and the associated hybrids and cultivars was not felt appropriate.
One last comment must be that the beautiful cover of this volume with
watercolour paintings of individual plants printed in full colour on cloth make this a
spectacular addition to any shelf of books whether about plants or not and the efforts of
all concerned can only be applauded as much today as when this volume first appeared.
A beautiful book which is simply indispensable.
- Malcolm McGregor
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