Yunnan Ferns Of China (Supplement) [English / Chinese]

About this book

Language: Bilingual in English and Chinese

The investigation of Yunnan ferns has been carried out for more than 10 years. Ferns and their allies are often a relatively neglected component of plant life in many parts of the world, but Yunnan is fortunate in that the exceptionally diverse pteridophytes of the region have received considerable attention and are becoming increasingly well documented. In the authors were able to describe, and document more than 170 species of ferns and fern allies. In particular, the superb colour photographs of both gametophytes and sporophytes were truly remarkable. In Yunnan Ferns of China (Supplement) the authors add a further 290 species, representing more than 46 different families to their previous synthesis.

The ferns and fern allies covered in this range from the distinctive club mosses of the genera Lycopodium and Selaginella, to representatives of ancient fern groups such Marattiaceae and Osumndaceae, to extraordinary forest epiphytes such as Elaphoglossum and Platycerium. Every one of the species is important, and as a result of the information presented in Yunnan Ferns of China (Supplement), based on many years of hard work in the field and in the laboratory, what we know about them has been significantly increased.

The extensive use of detailed colour illustrations has meant that the descriptive material can be kept to a minimum, so that the presentation has an immediacy to readers in any language.