Page 44 - Waterfall Issue 9 2021

Waterfall Book Review

souTH AFRiCAn sPECTACuLAR

By James Clarke
A nother exquisite volume found only in remote and difficult spots.

Such an example is at a remote site
has been added to South
Africa’s mushrooming array
of natural history books. This in Mpumalanga where a rare species
grows and to which the Saunders
latest, Saunders’ Field Guide to Gladioli of climbed six times yet still failed to find
South Africa, is a 400-page, high quality it in flower. Many species flower only
volume dedicated to this country’s after a veld fire, or only when a certain
unrivalled variety of a certain flower – amount of rain occurs at a critical time.
the gladiolus. The genus first captivated
the world of botany in the mid-1600s In addition to the hundreds of
when Europe’s first plant hunters began photographs, illustrations and botanical
combing the world for plants that would information, the book carries some
interest science and wow gardeners. excellent introductory contributions
by world-renowned plant hunters.
As long ago as the beginning of the
1700s, gladioli from southern Africa were Their book was published posthumously,
being introduced into many European for the couple was abducted and
gardens and botanical collections, murdered in KzN in 2018.
especially in Holland and Britain. The profusely illustrated book is a
monument to a fascinating couple – Part of the book’s fascination is to see
There are today at least 270 known Rod and Rachel Saunders who set out, the original native plants and compare
species of them in the world – 166 years ago, to photograph every species them with the ‘glads’ we have today
are found in South Africa. of gladioli in South Africa. Many are after four centuries of hybridisation.

Rod and Rachel Saunders photographed every species of gladioli in South Africa Gladiolus debilis, Saunders’ Field Guide to Gladioli of South Africa, page 315

Gladiolus microcarpus, Saunders’ Field Gladiolus delpierrei, Saunders’ Field Guide to Gladiolus ornatus Spear shaped, Saunders’ Field
Guide to Gladioli of South Africa, page 64 Gladioli of South Africa, page 354 Guide to Gladioli of South Africa, page 321

42 Waterfall Issue 9 2021