Aloes are the flagship plants of Africa, vividly defining the landscapes in which they occur. In garden settings, these stately succulent plants capture the allure of the African savanna and serve as excellent focus plants around which other indigenous plants can be successfully grouped. Aloes in Southern Africa explores the character and biology of African aloes, describing their habits, characteristic features and distribution in nature. It also details 58 aloe and related species across several vegetation zones. Aloe cultivation and propagation is discussed too, providing insight into optimum growing conditions, gardening styles and plants that flourish in different regions. A feature on medicinal, cosmetic and culinary uses reveals the special properties of these intriguing plants. Whether you are starting a garden, redeveloping one or simply looking to expand your knowledge of these fascinating succulents, Aloes in Southern Africa will prove an invaluable guide.
GIDEON SMITH is Chief Director: Biosystematics Research and Biodiversity Collections at the SA National Biodiversity Institute. He is involved in various national and international environmental associations and advisory committees. His interests are in the biology and classification of succulent plants, as well as landscaping and horticulture. South Africa's most prolific author on succulent plants, he has authored or co-authored ±40 books, and more than 500 research and popular papers, mostly on succulents. Braam van Wyk is a member of the lecturing staff at the University of Pretoria, where he is a professor in the Department of Plant Science. He did his tertiary training at the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and the University of Pretoria. Braam is a plant taxonomist and has authored or co-authored numerous publications on the botany of southern Africa, including several books. Among his published works are Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of the Highveld (Struik, 1997), How to Identify Trees in Southern Africa (Struik, 2007) and Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa (Struik, 2013).
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