Product Description

This guide covers more than 400 of the most commonly cultivated ornamental plants found in the tropics, identified and beautifully photographed by an expert in tropical botany.The color photographs and accurate descriptions make this book ideal for identifying plants grown in the tropics or cultivated in greenhouses in temperate climates. The characteristics of habit, leaves, flowers, and fruit useful for distinguishing one plant from another are emphasized in the descriptions, which also include discussions of plant relationships, the correct scientific and common names, geographical ranges, any poisonous properties, and other useful and interesting information about each plant.Published at $59.95 Our last copies available at $29.98

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2196293 in Books
• Published on: 2000-07-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 542 pages

Review
Fascinating reading. -- John Van de Water, Newark Star-Ledger, November 5, 2000

Lavishly illustrated. -- Stephanie Kendrick, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, October 20, 2000

No other book comes close to filling the niche that this book fills. -- Clear Englebert, Fungshway.com, November 7, 2000

On nearly every page there's a photograph with information about the genus and species to aid in identifying these plants. -- www.gardenclub.org, November 28, 2000

This book should be on the shelf of all who love tropical plants. -- John E. Bryan, Gardening Newsletter, September 2000

From the Publisher
The two main sources of tropical plants are the islands and mainland of southeastern Asia and tropical America between Mexico and Brazil. Whatever their origin, tropicals tend to be distributed widely, and many of the same plants will be seen from the Caribbean to Singapore. This guide features more than 400 of the most common ornamentals and should allow the reader to identify the majority of ornamental trees, shrubs, and herbs to be encountered in the tropics worldwide. Many of the species covered may also be found in the warm temperate regions, or may be grown as greenhouse plants in colder climates.

From the Author
W. Arthur Whistler is an adjunct associate professor at the Lyon Arboretum in Honolulu.

Customer Reviews

A basic reference text for tropical plants
This is a basic reference text for admirers of tropical plants, and was the inspiration for my Ornamental Plants & Flowers of Tropical Mexico. Limited to plants grown for their appearance rather than utility, and primarily grown in the tropical regions of the world, this reference guide includes more than 400 ornamentals. Photographs of many of the included plants provide detail, supplementing the informative text, which gives identifying descriptions of leaves, flowers, and fruit, if any, as well as basic cultivation and propagation advice. The book's usefulness for identifying plants would be enhanced, however, with full-size photos, in addition to the flower close-up shots. The utility of the book is greatly aided by the index, which cross-references common names, scientific names, and alternative names for these lovely plants.

Picture glory for tropicals
Tropical Ornamentals is a wonderful book for all growers but it is even helpful for Hawaii residents. Especially useful is the cross reference for plant classifications and use of pictures to aide in idenitification.

Not for the novice gardener
I was very disappointed with the purchase of this book. Living on a tropical island I am surrounded by most, if not all of the plants in this guide. I was looking for a book to help me identify plants in my surroundings that I see on a day to day basis. While there are colour photographs with each plant description, it was difficult to recognise plants because the photos tended to focus mainly on the flowering part of the plant. This is especially frustrating when one wants to identify a tree or shrub.

The Poinciana, (here it is called Flamboyant) is an unmistakeable tree with flame red floweres and feathery leaves. The photo shows a close detail on the tree's flowers and leaves. I have never actually inspected the floweres of this tree up close, having only seen it's distinctive shape and of course flame red colour in parks and along roadways. Now that I have seen them in this book, I notice that they closely resemble those of a shrub called Barbados Pride! This could lead to confusion with someone who is totally unfamiliar with either plant!

The tree would be easier recognized if a picture of the tree itself was included. There is of course a magnificent photo of a Flamboyant on the back cover but I use this as only an example. No other tree or shrub is featured this way.

In short this book is completely useless to me in identifying plants. Everything looks familiar but I'm left with the feeling that I'm sure I've seen that plant somewhere but I don't know what it is:-(