This comprehensive guide to the ferns of southern Africa (covering South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia) throws new light on a category of plants that's little described or featured. User-friendly and accessible, it will enable quick and sure identification of all 315 ferns known to occur in the region. The book features: a double-page spread per species with a full plate of multiple; photographs, including close-ups; informative line drawings where necessary; detailed but clear descriptions; tables that highlight differences between similar-looking species; distribution maps based on years of intensive fieldwork; and, identification keys to families, genera and species. In compiling this unique and beautiful volume, the authors travelled extensively, even finding several new species of ferns. They are all treated in this guide - some described here for the first time. "Ferns of Southern Africa" will become the standard reference book on local ferns, and will likely become sought-after Africana.

Author Biography

Neil Crouch is an ethnobotanist with SANBI. He recently co-authored Guide to Succulents of Southern Africa. Ronell Klopper is curator of the fern collection at the National Herbarium, SANBI. John Burrows is a nature conservationist. He authored Ferns and Fern Allies of South and South-central Africa. Sandra Burrows is an acclaimed botanical illustrator and natural history author who has collaborated on several works, including Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies.