Based on many years' experience as a grower, collector and lecturer, this is a detailed guide to the plants native to harsh environments that present special problems - and special rewards - in cultivation. The book includes choice species from over 90 genera, the species that are, in the opinion of the author, the most special. This work is in two parts - a complete overview of cacti plus a more detailed examination of the "aristocrats" such as "ariocarpus" and "aztekium", as well as the popular "gymnocalcium", "lobivia" and "rebutia", the focus always being on the most rewarding and exciting species for the grower or collector. The book contains numerous photographs for identification. There is a general introduction dealing with cultivation, followed by a section on distribution and morphology. The main commentary on genera consists of a general description of each genus, a listing of good and rejected species, and further details of those species particularly recommended. The commentary is supplemented by a glossary of terms, a pronunciation guide and a bibliography.
John Pilbeam is also the author of "Mammillaria: A Collector's Guide", "Haworthia and Astrolabia: A Collector's Guide" and "Sulcorebutia and Weingartia: A Collector's Guide".
- ISBN10 071344861X
- ISBN13 9780713448610
- Publish Date 26 February 1987
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 14 May 1992
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Pavilion Books
- Imprint Batsford Ltd
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 167
- Language English