About the Author

A. Culham is a plant geneticist in the School of Plant Sciences, University of Reading, England.

0. Seberg is professor of Molecular Systematics at the Natural History Museum of Denmark and has published works on a wide range of botanical topics.

V.H. Heywood is professor emeritus in the School of Plant Sciences, University of Reading, England. He co-edited all five volumes of Flora Europaea and is a member of several international taxonomic and plant conservation organizations.

R.K. Brummitt is a plant taxonomist and the coauthor of The Authors of Plant Names, considered to be the worldwide standard in taxonomic description.

Reviews

A must for those who are studying botany and horticulture [and] a complete encyclopedia... For the quality of the book and the fascinating artwork the price ... is well worth it.-- (07/29/2007)

Beautiful colored, detailed illustrations are included for each family.... This is a book that anyone with an interest in flowering plants will enjoy. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels.-- (02/01/2008)

Every page contains beautiful color photographs in addition to the wealth of complete information on the plants.--Making Scents (09/01/2007)

If you want to delve further into [the area of plant classification], don't miss this book. The glorious botanical illustrations are a bonus.-- (12/18/2007)

It still came a shock to me when I discovered this book and realized what an absolute treasure it is. In one large volume, all of the world's 500 plant families are described, mapped and meticulously illustrated.... In one gorgeous text, this book allows you to come to grips with plants and their families and obtain a further appreciation of their relationship. This book has already become one of my most beloved natural history books.-- (12/01/2008)

Originally released in 1978, this [updated] reference has remained the definitive guide to flowering plants for amateur and professional gardeners and students.--Science News (04/14/2007)

The book is an authoritative reference work, but also a fascinating and comprehensive introduction to the world's most colorful flora. [Its] specially commissioned botanical illustrations by professional artists are both beautiful and scientifically accurate.-- (04/01/2007)

The book is not perfect, but it comes close. ... You will not find a better source for these data.-- (02/01/2008)

The original edition of this reference appeared in 1978, and was updated and revised in 1994. Now, a completely new team of editors and authors has compiled a third iteration of this valuable resource. The original edition discussed 306 families; this one has 506.... General references are included now in addition to those after individual families, a major improvement over the earlier books. The Classification segment has been updated in the past 13 years and recognizes a consensus arrangement of the families markedly different from earlier books. The illustrated glossary is republished and remains a prime short resource for botanical terms... Colors too have been changed on the distribution maps, and it is easier to see where some gaps exist in ranges... The book is not perfect, but it comes close... You will not find a better source for these data.-- (06/01/2011)

The predecessor of this book, Flowering Plants of the World, was published to great acclaim in 1978. It became an essential reference for anyone interested in plant life because of its depth and presentation. Its successor, with a slightly different title, treats 506 families compared to the 306 in the original and incorporates significant advances in knowledge, including DNA sequencing, over the past several decades.-- (04/15/2008)

Useful and wonderful to browse through ... breathtaking detailed diagrams... Flowering Plant Families of the World is a steal for the price and highly recommended for collections that already have the previous work. Large public libraries, academic libraries, and horticulture libraries will find this a core reference title for both avid leisure gardeners and professionals.-- (12/01/2007)

Flowering Plant Families of the World is an essential reference work for academic libraries, and will be indispensable for the botanist, horticulturist, and gardener.--Danielle Marie Carlock"American Reference Books Annual 2008" (01/01/2008)