In this book are fifty-two compelling tales that will lead the reader on a journey of discovery of the African continent. It tracks the ancient grail of traditional African medicine or muthi. The journey takes one year, with one story for each of the fifty-two weeks. Many of the stories inherited through Africa’s compelling oral tradition are between these covers: committed to paper for the first time ever. The ancient African people were the first aromatherapists who well understood the effect of plants on the human body, mind and soul. Innately spiritual, the thousands of lineages of African people across thousands of years have all used plant medicines for healing, always with the blessing of their ancestors. Knowledge of African plant mythology and its associated healing practices is most certainly a grail because on this great continent we call Africa; knowledge has always been an oral tradition. Because it was never written down, thousands of years of healing wisdom and intelligence have been lost in the transference from one generation to the next. This book endeavors to bring to light the deep history of fifty-two of the thousands of indigenous medicinal plants of Africa before it is too late. The focus is towards Southern Africa because this region is a hotspot of cultural and botanical diversity. Unlike the healing knowledge of other ancient cultures, such as India or China, little of Africa’s healing history is recorded. As you read the stories about fifty-two of the continent’s prominent indigenous plant cures, the authors hope you, too, will experience some of the magnetism, mystery and wisdom of Africa. They hope it will help you understand a bit more about yourself and about our species: the human being.

Muthi & Mysths from the African Bush

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Van Wyk, Ben-Erik

Dugmore, Heather

Alternative Medicine

Briza Pubns

Magic is not a too strong term for the appeal of this unique group of plants, the Mesembs. Radiant in flower and highly diverse in form and stature, this fascinating group includes plants as small as wheat grains or as big as a rhinoceros. Their fruits are as complex as any in the floral kingdom or as simple as saltshakers. Mesembs have captured the imagination of botanists, horticulturalists and travelers for many centuries. This beautifully produced book is a must for anyone who wants to experience the magic of mesembs. It includes the distribution and ecology, conservation, uses, cultivation, identification, genera and guide to the groups of mesembs. To facilitate easy identification, the genera are divided into groups exhibiting more or less similar external characters. The aim of this book is to provide a well-illustrated, easy-to-read overview of all the 123 mesembs genera that are currently recognised. Illustrations are provided for a representative selection of species.

Mesembs of the World

Science & Math

Hammer, Steven

Van Jaarsveld, Ernst J.

Smith, Gideon F.

Hartmann, Heidi

Chesselet, Pascale

Biological Sciences

Grasses were the first plants to be cultivated by man for food and are still the most important food crop. Grass also plays a vital role in the ecology in terms of food for animals and protecting the soil from erosion. Guide to Grasses of Southern Africa is the only full color guide to the common grasses of southern Africa and includes descriptions of the 300 most important grasses in southern Africa. Other features are: an easy-to-use grass identification key, more than 800 excellent color photographs and a series of icons that enable the reader to obtain key information at a glance.

Guide to the Grasses of Southern Africa

Van Oudtshoom, Frits

A photographic guide to the most commonly used and best known South African plant medicines, including their botany, main traditional uses and active ingredients. This second edition has been fully updated to incorporate the latest research findings. The book includes: * Detailed species descriptions of more than 150 medicinal plants and their close relatives, or other species used in a similar way. Each entry includes the following information: a description of the plant, the plant parts used, medicinal uses, preparation and dosage, active ingredients and pharmacological effects. * In addition, each entry includes a distribution map and a diagram of the chemical structure of the main active ingredient * More than 500 excellent photographs of the plants, plant parts used and products * Introductory chapters on, among others, cultural aspects of healing, methods of collection and storage, methods of preparation and administration * A plant list according to ailments * A glossary, detailed index and comprehensive references for further reading This remarkable book is a must for anyone with an interest or involvement in health care and botany.

Medicinal Plants of South Africa

Van Oudtshoom, Bosch

Gericke, Nigel

Margaret Roberts' awe-inspiring knowledge in the field of herbs has long been an inspiration to serious gardeners and commercial growers. The Lavender Book is a succinct yet comprehensive guide to the lavender types and varieties suitable to local conditions and is intended to get you outdoors and growing your own lavender without further ado. Using her own trials at the Herbal Centre, she offers practical instruction on propagating, planting, nurturing and harvesting lavender. Also included in this collection of lavender wisdom is a treasure trove of original recipes and craft ideas. Recipes follow a clear step-by-step format and are interwoven with useful hints and tips. The use of lavender medicinally, in aromatherapy and as an insect repellant will appeal to the growing body of concerned people who aspire to a more natural organic way of life. This is the ultimate book on lavender for the gardener, the commercial grower, the craftsman, the cook, the beauty therapist and for everyone else in between.

The Lavender Book

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

Roberts, Margaret

Gardening & Landscape Design

This illustrated pocket guide has been designed for easy use in the field by botanists, nature lovers, eco-tourists, hikers and farmers, for on-the-spot identifications, making it unnecessary to collect specimens and in this way depleting the countryside of its beautiful natural heritage. Features of the book are: * Full-color illustrations and brief descriptions of 614 species of the most common flowering plants, succulents and shrublets found in the four northern provinces: Limpopo, North-West, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. * For quick and easy identification plants are placed in eight major categories of flower colour, namely white/cream-colored; pink, yellow/orange, blue, mauve/purple, red, brown and green flowers. * Each plant family is briefly introduced, where possible giving characters to distinguish them from each other. * English and Afrikaans vernacular names are included where appropriate. * A botanical glossary make botanical terms more comprehensible to the layperson. * Indexes to scientific and common names.

Illustrated Guide to the Wildflowers of Northern South Africa

Germishuizen, Gerrit

Guide to the Aloes of South Africa is a beautifully illustrated full-color guide that makes it easy for both the layperson and scientist to identify aloes found in the field and in gardens. The book includes: * Detailed species descriptions of all 125 aloes found in South Africa, with information on the plant’s features, flowering period, habitat and distribution, conservation status, the origin of its scientific and common names, as well as general notes on cultivation and traditional uses of the plant. * More than 400 color photographs, showing habitat and growth form, as well as close-up photographs of flowers and leaves, and distribution maps of all the species. * An easy-to-use identification system based mainly on growth habit. * Introductory chapters that focus on aloe-like plants; medicinal, cosmetic and tonic use of aloes; conservation; cultivation and propagation; gardening and landscaping with aloes; pests and diseases; and aloe hybrids. * Indexes to scientific and common names, an illustrated glossary and further reading.

Guide to the Aloes of South Africa

Smith, Gideon

The new edition of this popular field guide has been fully revised and updated, making it one of the most comprehensive guides to the land mammals of the subregion. This edition includes: * An easy-to-use system to identify the mammals in the book * Detailed species descriptions, including information on the conservation status, size, food, life expectancy, enemies, habits, voice and breeding of more than 120 of the most common land mammals of southern Africa * More than 200 excellent color photographs of the male and female animals * Photographs and illustrations of field signs, such as droppings and spoor, as well as distribution maps * A table illustrating the tracks (spoor) of all the animals featured * Illustrations showing the difference in size between each animal and a human * A brand-new section which includes examples from all the families of smaller mammals, such as shrews, elephant shrews, moles, mole rats, bats, rats and mice. The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa is a must for game watchers, hikers and anyone with a love for nature.

The Mammal Guide of Southern Africa

Cillié, Burger

Companion planting is the age-old practice of planting different plants in close proximity so that they can help one another in some way. These plants complement each other by giving off scent or chemicals that repel insects, or they may attract beneficial insects that are predators to harmful insects. Some plants return micro-nutrients to the soil that can be used by other plants.Did you know?* Nasturtiums planted with pumpkins, squash and cucumbers deter beetles, aphids and other insects that attack the plants. And what’s more, they are edible! * Carrots and leeks are excellent companions. Leeks repel carrot fly and carrots repel onion fly and leek moth. The confusion of scents chases the insects away. * Asparagus prevents nematodes from attacking the roots of tomato plants. * Coriander repels insects and can be made into a natural spray to use against red spider mite. * Garlic deters aphids and is a particularly good choice to plant with roses.

Companion Planting

South Africa is home to over 900 bird species of the nearly 9 000 bird species recorded world-wide. Arranged in taxonomic order by bird family, Remarkable Birds of South Africa gives an overview of this huge variety of birds found right on our doorstep. It is not meant to be a field guide, but rather attempts to give birders and would-be birders some insights into our fascinating birdlife. Available field guides supply little additional biological information because this is not their function. In this book the author sheds light on many of the fascinating aspects of bird behaviour and taxonomy and shares interesting anecdotal information collected over a lifetime dedicated to nature conservation. * A fascinating account of South African bird families that gives insight into bird behavior, distribution and taxonomy, with anecdotal information and field observations never published before in popular bird literature. * The book is written in an easy, anecdotal style and is richly illustrated with more than 450 superb full-color photographs. It will appeal to a broad range of readers – from armchair birders to twitchers (birdwatchers who will go far and wide in pursuit of a rare bird to check off of their life-list).* Birding is one of the fastest growing pastimes and this book makes a valuable addition to the available popular literature on South African birds.

Remarkable Birds of South Africa

Milstein, Peter Le Sueur

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