Aroids: Plants of the Arum Family

by Deni Brown

Originally published in 1988 as the first truly comprehensive review of one of the largest and most popular plant families, Aroids was enthusiastically welcomed by botanists and horticulturists alike for its attention to scientific detail and delightful writing style.

Now in this completely updated second edition, we learn of discoveries made in the last decade as the family has grown from about 2500 species to nearer 3200. The latest taxonomic and nomenclatural revisions are noted in the checklist of genera, and all the original drawings are included plus twice as many color photos. A new guide to the cultivation of ornamental aroids completes this well-rounded introduction to a remarkable family.

Genres: Plants, Gardening, Nonfiction

392 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1988

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natural history writers must look to Deni Bown on how to not suck at their craft. Aroids is a tour de force of botanical literature, expertly crafted into a book that is compelling and exciting to read. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to cover a topic as big as the family Araceae but Deni pulls it off with expertise. This is (thankfully) not a reference book. You will not find keys or endless, tedious descriptions. What is printed on these pages is a celebration of an expert's love for aroids. To be able to craft a narrative for each genus and species is no small task. What Deni has done is make you want to read more and more until the unfortunate time in which there are no pages left. My only complaint is that she hasn't written books on other plant families. This is the kind of book I would recommend to anyone who wants to actually understand plants. 10/10 would read again!