The flowering plants, or angiosperms, are the dominant group of plants on Earth today. Comprising more than 250,000 species, they are our main sources of food crops, timber, fibers, vegetable oils, gums, herbs, spices, flavorings, drugs, stimulants, and narcotics. They also adorn our parks, gardens, streets, and other public places as trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Flowering Plants of the World is an essential reference on angiosperms. Taxonomically arranged and generously illustrated, it includes entries on more than 300 families of plants, from Acanthaceae to Zygophyllaceae. The entry on each family of plants consists of a concise and readable account of the distribution, diagnostic features, classification, and economic uses of its members.

Each entry also includes a quick-reference panel giving the number of genera and species as well as details of their general distribution and economic uses. For extra clarity, geographic distribution is shown on an accompanying map. Over 200 families of flowering plants are illustrated by specially commissioned full-color plates, notable for their beauty - as well as their scientific accuracy

1. Written by members of a panel of internationally recognized authorities in the field under the guidance of V. H. Heywood, and now with some updates, the main text entries are supplemented by an extensive glossary and a helpful introduction to the forms, structure, ecology, uses and classification of flowering plants. A comprehensive index includes plant names in both botanical Latin and common English forms.

Flowering Plants of the World will appeal to plant lovers of all varieties, from professional botanist to amateur gardener. Providing a wealth of information, it is at once useful to the specialist and fascinating to the general reader.