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 the book 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.

Ben-Erik van Wyk is a professor of botany at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. His scientific field of interest is in plant classification, ethnobotany, and useful plants. Michael Wink is a professor of pharmaceutical biology and a director of the Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. He is an authority on secondary metabolites of plants and their pharmacological effects.

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.

Preface
Introduction
History of flowers
The language of flowers
Regions of origin
The modern cut flower industry
Main production areas
From breeder to consumer
Cultivars and breeding
Cultivation of cut flowers
Harvesting of cut flowers
Post-harvest treatments of cut flowers
Marketing of cut flowers
Properties of cut flowers
Quality criteria - how to select a superior flower
Care and handling of fresh cut flowers
Care and handling of dried flowers
Care and handling of cut greens and foliage
Care and handling of potted flowers
Common name indexes
Cut flowers
Cut greens, foliage and fillers
Potted flowers
Cut flowers in alphabetical order
Glossary of terms
Further reading
Acknowledgements
General index