The book includes information on 270 species of vascular plants observed during our surveys conducted in more than 50 islands in Maldives. It deals with the common native as well as all alien plants which are currently occuring in the Islands. Information provided includes the current valid name of the plant, most popular synonyms, names in Dhivehi and a few common English names. Plant descriptions given include data on vegetative characters avoiding confusing scientific terms, as far as possible. Data collected from the fi eld are the source of information on the occurrence and pattern of distribution in different islands. Threats and damages caused by invasive alien species are also included. Ethnobotanical information collected during the study is given under uses. However, use of any plant/plant parts for medicinal purposes, based on the information provided in this book, cannot be recommended for want of evidence on the non-toxicity of the plant/ plant parts. So, the readers of the book are advised to refrain from use of the plant/ plant parts for medicinal purposes. It is hoped that this book will be used as a field guide for identification of native, nonnative and invasive plants of Maldives by specialists and non-specialists alike.

The definitive guide to botanical Latin Unlock the secrets of botanical Latin with this beautifully illustrated encyclopedia. The Gardener's Botanical contains definitions of more than 5,000 plant names—from abbreviatus ("shortened") to zonatus ("with bands")—along with more than 350 color illustrations. Scientific plant names are an invaluable tool for those who understand them. Formed from Greek and, more commonly, from Latin root words, not only do they make it possible for gardeners and botanists to communicate, they also contain a wealth of hidden information. The Gardener's Botanical is the key to unlocking these secrets. This guide contains a breathtaking array of botanical names in alphabetical order. Each word is listed with a pronunciation guide, definition, example plant, and, where appropriate, etymology. Also included in this illuminating guide are special features on important plant genera, fact boxes, essays focusing on the history and importance of Latin names and botanical illustrations, and an index of common names with more than 2,000 popular plants, cross-referenced with their binomial name in Latin.

"Through beautiful photographs and a broad range of information - including traditional knowledge about plant use complied through interviews with Inuit elders - readers will learn about the appearances, adaptations, and life cycles of the diverse array of plants that grow in the North." - Back cover.

A superb reference for anyone interested in the world's tropical flora.

Tropical fruits such as banana, mango, papaya, and pineapple are familiar and treasured staples of our diets, and consequently of great commercial importance, but there are many other interesting species that are little known to inhabitants of temperate regions. What delicacies are best known only by locals? The tropical regions are home to a vast variety of edible fruits, tubers, and spices. Of the more than two thousand species that are commonly used as food in the tropics, only about forty to fifty species are well known internationally. Illustrated with high-quality photographs taken on location in the plants' natural environment, this field guide describes more than three hundred species of tropical and subtropical species of fruits, tubers, and spices.In Tropical Fruits and Other Edible Plants of the World, Rolf Blancke includes all the common species and features many lesser known species, including mangosteen and maca, as well as many rare species such as engkala, sundrop, and the mango plum. Some of these rare species will always remain of little importance because they need an acquired taste to enjoy them, they have too little pulp and too many seeds, or they are difficult to package and ship. Blancke highlights some fruits—the araza (Eugenia stipitata) and the nutritious peach palm (Bactris gasipaes) from the Amazon lowlands, the Brunei olive (Canarium odontophyllum) from Indonesia, and the remarkably tasty soursop (Annona muricata) from Central America—that deserve much more attention and have the potential to become commercially important in the near future.Tropical Fruits and Other Edible Plants of the World also features tropical plants used to produce spices, and many tropical tubers, including cassava, yam, and oca. These tubers play a vital role in human nutrition and are often foundational to the foodways of their local cultures, but they sometimes require complex preparation and are often overlooked or poorly understood distant from their home context.

Combines the species and habitat approaches to plants and vegetation. This book features 700 plant species that are selected as those which are common, conspicuous or useful ecological indicators; species which collectively make up most of the vegetation in Britain and Ireland.

Common Names of Angolan Plants presents an updated and expanded catalogue of several thousand common names recorded for the indigenous and exotic floristic riches of Angola. Separate alphabetical lists of common names and accepted scientific names are provided and reference is made to the synonyms under which they were recorded. Where known, the languages are given throughout. The book provides biodiversity specialists and researchers in a broad spectrum of scientific and other endeavors, linguists, students and other stakeholders with the basic information on the common names of Angolan plants that has been unavailable for a long time. It represents a further critically important step towards assembling the knowledge of the flora of the country into a single, modern, easily accessible and scientifically sound framework.