06 / book review - guide to aloes of South Africa

Authors: Ben-Erik van Wyk, Gideon Smith
Photographs: individual photographers
Illustrations: Ilse van Oudtshoorn
Publisher: Briza Publications
ISBN: 1 875093 41 9

All I knew about Aloes was that we had three different species in our gardens. They have attractive flowers and are fairly water wise. Then along came this beautifully illustrated full colour guide. It informs the reader of the different species of aloes and helps to make it easier to identify aloe plants either in gardens or in the wild.

The introductory chapters detail aloe like plants, medicinal, cosmetic and tonic use. Conservation, cultivation and propagation, gardening and landscaping with aloes are also discussed as well as pests and diseases that attack the plants.

The various aloes are divided into ten groups: Tree aloes, single-stemmed aloes, multi-stemmed aloes, rambling aloes, creeping aloes, stemless aloes, speckled aloes, spotted aloes, dwarf aloes, grass aloes. There is also a further reading page as well as an alphabetic index to names. If these particular plants are of interest to you, the book is certainly worthy of a place on your bookshelf.