Southwestern Australia is unique as it contains the world’s most nutrient-impoverished soils, experiences a prolonged-summer period and the vegetation is extremely fire-prone. It is also world-renowned for its relative high level of flora biodiversity. This book focuses on the diverse range of morphological and physiological adaptations evolved by the flora to survive in the harsh Mediterranean-type climate.

"A thorough revision and expansion of Pate and Beard's Kwongan--Plant Life of the Sandplain (1984)"--Page 4 of cover.

Dr. John S. Beard came to Western Australia in 1961 as Foundation Director of the Botanic Garden being established in Perth's King's Park. The garden, which officially opened in 1965, has become one of Perth's major attractions for visitors and the local population. It has a scientific as well as a popular function, being principally devoted to study of native plants. First published in 1990, Plant Life of Western Australia grew out of a project that was developed with the assistance of Dr. Beard. The project became known as the Vegetation Survey of Western Australia, with the aim of mapping the plant life of the entire state. Any ecologist travelling through this stretch of country is not only aware of the plant species that are present and their arrangement into communities, but of the whole structure of the landscape, its geology, its forms in mountains, hills, and plains, and the climate, both past and present. Dr. Beard acquired an unrivalled knowledge of the landscapes and their plant cover over the immense area of Western Australia. Through the project, a series of vegetation maps were produced and the project was finally completed in 1981. About 200,000 km of land were covered by vehicle over the course of 17 years. This was more than an ordinary degree of awareness, therefore the first edition of the book was published with the desire of sharing the remarkable plant life of Western Australia with others. Following the death of Dr. John S. Beard in 2011, this new edition has been revised by Alex George and Neil Gibson. Dr. Beard originally took about 2,000 color slides over the course of his extensive botanical field work, and a selection of the best color illustrations are featured prominently in the book. *** Librarians: ebook available on ProQuest and EBSCO [Subject: Botany, Ecology, Horticulture, Australian Studies]

Victoria Laurie offers us in words and pictures the southwest of Australia, a land triangle that encompasses a multitude of natural worlds.

Here is a wonderful overview of the landscape and vegetation of the five regions of the world that have a Mediterranean climate. In addition to the Mediterranean Basin itself, this climate of mild, rainy winters and dry, warm summers is found in California and parts of Chile, South Africa, and Australia. 30 maps. 18 tables. 46 line illustrations. 75 color and 90 b&w photos.

The city of Perth is well known and treasured for its areas of protected bushland in the heart of the city. Kings Park and Bold Park represent a significant part of the natural heritage of the Swan Coastal Plain and are an important part of city life. The city is also a gateway to the incredible biodiversity to be found in south-west Western Australia. Perth Plants provides a comprehensive photographic guide to all plants known to occur in the bushlands of Kings Park and Bold Park, both native plants and naturalised weeds. There are 778 species included, representing approximately one-quarter of all the plants in the greater Perth region, and one-tenth of all species known for the south-west of Western Australia. This new edition contains 22 additional species and updated photography throughout. It is an essential reference for anyone interested in the plants of south-west Western Australia, and particularly the Swan Coastal Plain.

To most people, the mention of marine plants conjures up images of rotting seaweeds piled high on the beach, or slithering threateningly around bare ankles during a paddle in the shallows. Certainly, the seaweeds do not inspire the imagination or the romanticism that is usually associated with the sea. Marine Plants of Australia might well alter that perception. This third edition illustrates over 600 species of Australia's underwater plant life, mostly using underwater photographs that reveal the amazing colours and intricate patterns found in this largely unknown realm of life. Imagine plants with blue foliage that turns red in the dark, or iridescent plants, or plants that look like rocks painted in shades of pink. There are seaweeds with the consistency of jelly, or with fronds that form an intricate mesh that rivals the best lace. These plants have evolved a startling myriad of shapes, colours and patterns that will impress everyone who views them -- underwater, or through the pages of this book.