Plant Life in the World's Mediterranean Climates: California, Chile, South Africa, Australia, and the Mediterranean Basin - Tapa dura

This book provides a wonderful overview of the landscapes, vegetation types, and plants of the five regions of the world that have a Mediterranean climate. This climate of mild, rainy winters and dry, warm summers is found in California, Central Chile, the Cape Region of South Africa, the southwestern part of Australia and the Mediterranean Basin. The regions are widely separated and the flora of each is distinctive, having for the most part developed independently. Nevertheless, the plants share remarkably similar characteristics which allow them to thrive in these unusual conditions.

Peter Dallman's non-technical prose is complemented by numerous maps, tables, and figures, and the book is richly illustrated with photographs of landscapes, plants, and flowers. With its detailed information on some of the world's most resilient plant life, this book will serve as an excellent reference for everyone interested in growing drought-resistant plants and as a naturalist's guide to these beautiful and unusual bioregions.

For the growing number of travelers whose vacations focus on learning about and appreciating natural history, Dallman also includes a chapter on planning trips to the five Mediterranean regions.

"Many people will enjoy this book: students and instructors in geography, ecology, climatology, and plant biology have a superb text; gardeners who emphasize native plants have a valuable field guide and reference; and those individuals who simply want to know more about the environment in which they live will be educated and entertained."Michael Barbour, author ofCalifornia's Changing Landscapes

"Dallman has mastered the enormous literature on the subject and has distilled the important points into an engaging, readable, and beautifully illustrated book. His tips on exploring these areas will be invaluable to prospective ecotourists."Robert Ornduff, author of Introduction to California Plant Life