This 2001 book provides a selective annotated bibliography of the principal floras and related works of inventory for vascular plants. The second edition was completely updated and expanded to take into account the substantial literature of the late twentieth century, and features a more fully developed review of the history of floristic documentation. The works covered are principally specialist publications such as floras, checklists, distribution atlases, systematic iconographies and enumerations or catalogues, although a relatively few more popularly oriented books are also included.
The Guide is organised in ten geographical divisions, with these successively divided into regions and units, each of which is prefaced with a historical review of floristic studies. In addition to the bibliography, the book includes general chapters on botanical bibliography, the history of floras, and general principles and current trends, plus an appendix on bibliographic searching, a lexicon of serial abbreviations, and author and geographical indexes.
Prologue
Acknowledgements
Part I. General Introduction:
1. An analytical-synthetic systematic bibliography of 'standard' floras: scope, sources, structure
2. The evolution of floras
3. Floras at the end of the twentieth century: philosophy, progress and prospects
Part II. Systematic Bibliography: Conventions and abbreviations
1. Conspectus of divisions and superregions
2. Division 0: World floras, isolated oceanic islands and polar regions
3. Division 1: North America (north of Mexico)
4. Division 2: Middle America
5. Division 3: South America
6. Division 4: Australasia and islands of the south west Indian Ocean (Malagassia)
7. Division 5: Africa
8. Division 6: Europe
9. Division 7: Northern, central and southwestern (extra-monsoonal) Asia
10. Division 8. Southern, eastern and southeastern (monsoonal) Asia
11. Division 9: Greater Malesia and Oceania
Appendix A. Major general bibliographies, indices and library catalogues covering world floristic literature
Appendix B. Abbreviations
Author Index
"[...] an extraordinary achievement."
– John Manning, South African Journal of Botany
"[...] invaluable as a library resource."
– Nature
"[...] an important landmark in floristics, helping to define the area's current status and setting the scene for the new century."
– R. Atkinson, Edinburgh Journal of Botany
"[...] very valuable [...]"
– Journal of Biogeography
"[...] an essential tool for all scientists working in biodiversity research or using its results. [...] any research institution or library in the field of plant science must have it!"
– Feddes Repert