[.uk] The Cactus Family (ISBN 0881924989)

Book Description:
The most comprehensive single resource on the subject available today, this monumental work includes more than 1000 color photographs in addition to other illustrations. It is both scientifically accurate and highly readable, and includes a chapter by Roger Brown on the cultivation of cacti, making the book useful to anyone interested in succulent plants.

I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD ABOUT THIS WORK:
I can start with the old line "I I had only one book on cacti....." Well, this would certainly be the one. I spend a great amount of time traveling and photographing flowering and interesting plants, cactus being among them. I also collect this type of plant. I have found this work to be almost absolutely necessary for identification purposes and it certainly enhances by hobby of collecting and attempting to raise. As one reviewer points out, this is not a simple book of pretty plants. This is the real thing. There is absolutely a wealth of information here. I never travel area where cacti grow without it. The text is quite readable. There are indeed many, many wonderful color plates. It makes by hobby much more interesting and enjoyable. Recommend this one highly.

A must have for cactus collectors:
This is considered the 'Bible' for cactus collectors and researchers alike. Well worth the money for the information and photos.

The Cactus Family:
The Cactus Family This book was a big disappointment to me. I paid the high price because it said it had growing information about the different cacti. In fact, it only had a general growing chapter that gives overall information instead of information for the individual cactus. I needed to know growing information such as light, temperature, moisture, and kind of soil as well as the identity of cactus I have. For a book with this price tag that says it has that information, I expected more than a chapter on general growing conditions that are available anywhere.

Splendid - comprehensive:
"The Cactus Family" is a handsome and impressive publication which lists 1810 species of cacti. The first chapter, Distinctive Features of Cacti, considers what identifies the cactus. Chapter Two: Ethnobotany of Cacti, describes the various practical, religious and recreational uses of a number of cacti. Chapter Three considers the Conservation of Cacti and Chapter Four, the Cultivation of Cacti. Chapter Five discusses the Classification of Cacti. The alphabetically listing the The Cacti commences on page 105 and runs to page 681. The book concludes with Appendix One: MAPS, and Appendix Two: Botanic Gardens and Herbaria with Significant Collections of Cacti; a Glossary; Literature Cited; Index of Scientific Names and Index of Common Names. The main section The Cacti lists the plants alphabetically by Genera and then species. Each Genera has a general introduction discussing its characteristics, habitat, taxonomy and discovery. The listing for each species includes its date of finding, common names and synonyms, a botanical description and additional relevant information such as comments regarding variation, uses or habitat. Many of the species are illustrated with the illustrations appearing on the same page spread, the majority seem to be of plants in their habitat. The size of the illustrations varies from about 5cm x 8cm (2" x 3") up to half-page. There are over 1,000 colour photographs in The Cacti section in addition to the many photographs of cacti and their associations in the other chapters. The presentation is excellent, it is well laid out and the typography adds much to the clarity and understanding of the information; the result is a page which looks appealing and invites reading. The introductory chapters make interesting and informative reading. I was a little surprised that the chapter on cultivation is somewhat brief and prescriptive, and that it does not consider different growing environments enthusiasts have to contend with or availability of materials which must inevitably apply locally; it is nonetheless informative. The obvious up to date comparison for "The Cactus Family" must be "The New Cactus Lexicon" complied and edited by members of the International Cactaceae Systematics Group. While the latter two volume work does not pretend to be more than a descriptive list of cacti, their being nothing to compare with the first five chapters of "the Cactus Family" it does boast more than twice the number of illustrations, again mostly in habitat. The two publications do not agree 100%; "The New Cactus Lexicon" lists 124 Genera, 1816 species, "The Cactus Family" 125 Genera and 1810 species; and the difference is probably greater as the latter lists some as a separate species which the former considers merely as a form of one variable species. However "The Cactus Family" is the more accessible and certainly the better typographically, "The New Cactus Lexicon" text pages are unappealing and confusing by comparison. On its own or in comparison, this is a splendid tome and indispensable for any serious collector.

Not really worth the current market price.:
Wow !! What happened to this book .. a great cactus book gone out of print and now being offered at $280. used ?? Cactus are not the only things that bite .. the cactus sharks are out !! I bought my copy at about $100. and it is a great work on cactus family but it is however not the most detailed work .. Lyman Benson's work is still by far the template for a true classic botanical work. Unlike Benson's work this book cover all cactii and unlike Benson's work it does not have taxonomic keys which I feel limit this work from becoming a true classic. It does have lots of color photographs but all to often the images lack taxonomic detail to make a solid identification .. looking for an unknown taxa is a bit of a task. At least a key to the genus level would of been much appreciated. Although photos are abundant detailed drawings are lacking. This puts this book in a semi pro classification .. in my humble opinion. The index is well done .. the listing of synonyms is very useful but the binding of the book is a bit cheap .. my copy seems to be getting a bit old before it's time. In general it's a great book at the original asking price of $100.. At $280. .. well it's to bad if you have to pay that much .. use the library copy and hope that Mr. Anderson is working on a true complete classic. I do so hope that happens in my life time. It's just not worth $280..