This photographic guide describes and illustrates more than 330 different species of commercially important flowers, foliages and potted flowers. The emphasis is on flowers that are commonly used in the cut flower industry and Cut Flowers of the World gives useful hints about the selection and handling of these flowers.
The book includes: Detailed descriptions of more than 330 plant species and their close relatives. For each flower, the following information is given: description of the plant; geographical origin; historical overview; cultivation; cultivars; properties such as colours, scent and vase life; quality criteria (how to select for quality); and the proper care and handling of the flowers. More than 700 excellent full-colour photographs, showing the beauty, colour variation and diversity of the flowers. Important foliage plants and potted flowers are also included, making this a useful reference guide for florists, retailers and wholesalers.
Introductory chapters on basic aspects such as cultivation methods, harvesting and shipping techniques, cultivar development, modern trends in marketing (including the role of colour in customer preferences) and perhaps most importantly, the basic principles of the selection, handling and use of flowers and foliage. Separate common name indexes to the most familiar and well-known cut flowers, foliages and potted flowers, a comprehensive index to all the scientific and common names mentioned in the text, a glossary explaining specialist terms and a list of references for further reading.
1: Preface
2: Introduction
3: History of flowers
4: The language of flowers
5: Regions of origin
6: The modern cut flower industry
7: Main production areas
8: From breeder to consumer
9: Cultivars and breeding
10: Cultivation of cut flowers
11: Harvesting of cut flowers
12: Post-harvest treatment of cut flowers
13: Marketing of cut flowers
14: Properties of cut flowers
15: Quality criteria
16: Care and handling of fresh cut flowers
17: Care and handling of dried flowers
18: Care and handling of cut greens and foliage
19: Care and handling of potted flowers
20: Cut flowers in alphabetical order
21: Concluding material, including common name indexes; Overview of cut flower production; Glossary of terms Quick guide to commercial florist flowers
Johannes Maree holds a masters degree in Plant Physiology, as well as an MBA. He has considerable experience in the flower industry and is a regular contributor of magazine articles about cut flowers and related topics.
Ben-Erik van Wyk is a professor of Botany at the University of Johannesburg. He has a research interest in systematic botany and plant utilisation.