A Fragile Eden: Portraits of the Endemic Flowering Plants of the Granitic Seychelles with the Biogeography of the Seychelles Islands Contributed by Malcolm Coe by Rosemary Wise soon to be presented for sale on the sparkling BookLovers of Bath web site!
Published: Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1998, Hardback in dust wrapper.
Contains: Colour plates; Black & white drawings; Colour drawings; Glossary;
From the cover: This is an extraordinary book, filled with beautiful full-colour illustrations of some of the worlds most unusual plants. It transports readers to a band of ancient and remote islands located a thousand miles off the coast of Africa. These islands, the Seychelles, have been geologically isolated for more than seventy million years. They include the only islands in the world that are formed of granite. In their long isolation, the native flora of these thirty-two granitic islands remained untouched until the late eighteenth century. Since then, however, inroads have been made in their natural environment by human settlement, by the introduction of cinnamon and its rapid spread over many of the islands, and by present-day tourism. Slowly these fragile plants have been overrun and many are now endangered.
Most of the plants first described one hundred years ago are still found today, but many are becoming increasingly rare. Some cling to existence with only a few specimens to be found, often in remote locations. In 1985 the Oxford University Biological Expedition to the Seychelles studied the vegetation on several ol the islands. Rosemary Wise, the departments artist, was asked to accompany the expedition. She became alarmed that the rapidly disappearing species might go unrecorded and made it her mission for the next ten years to paint all of the endemic flora in their natural habitat. She has written an accompanying text (with a contribution by Malcolm Coe) to describe this unique flora.
The Seychelles are home to plant species found nowhere else. Perhaps the most famous is the double coconut (Lodoicea maldivica), a photogenic tree that has become synonymous with the islands. The illustration of this unique palm, like all of the illustrations contained in the book, was painted from first- hand observation. The large format, superb printing, and informative descriptions of A Fragile Eden allow the reader to appreciate the authors obvious passion for these plants. The book will appeal to a wide audience, including professional botanists, ecologically-minded travellers, and anyone who enjoys tropical plants or botanical art.
Good+ in Good+ Dust Wrapper. A little rubbing to the edges of the dust wrapper, nicked at the tail of the spine and a little faded overall. Several small dings to the upper panel, lightly marking the upper board. Edges of the text block lightly tanned. Text complete, clean and tight.
Green boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. [XVI] 216 pages. Index. Bibliography. 10¾” x 9¾”.
Of course, if you don’t like this one, may I enchant you with top-drawer choices of my Botany catalogue?
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- a fragile eden portraits of the endemic flowering plants of the granitic seychelles with the biogeography of the seychelles islands contributed by malcolm coe rosemary wise princeton u
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- a fragile eden portraits of the endemic flowering plants of the granitic seychelles with the biogeography of the seychelles islands contributed by malcolm coe rosemary wise princeton u
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- a fragile eden portraits of the endemic flowering plants of the granitic seychelles with the biogeography of the seychelles islands contributed by malcolm coe rosemary wise princeton u1
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- a fragile eden portraits of the endemic flowering plants of the granitic seychelles with the biogeography of the seychelles islands contributed by malcolm coe rosemary wise princeton u2
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