The tablelands of the Guiana Highlands are among the most spectacular yet least explored mountains of our world. Each is an immense sandstone plateau known locally as a `tepui' that is encircled on all sides by gigantic vertical cliffs up to 1,000 metres tall. The summits of these unique mountains have remained isolated for millions of years, and today harbour plants, animals and landscapes that occur nowhere else on Earth. This work examines the story of the discovery and exploration of these remarkable mountains and considers the unique plants, animals and landscapes atop of these mysterious lost worlds. The introductory chapters of Lost Worlds outline the remarkable processes that led to the formation of the tepuis of the Guiana Highlands. The following chapter, The Discovery and Exploration of the Guiana Highlands, first reviews the Amerindian presence around, and perceptions of, the tepuis prior to the arrival of Europeans, and then moves to the discovery and description of these tablelands by Europeans from the 16th Century to the exploration of Mount Roraima early in the 20th Century. The next chapter, Some Strange Country of Nightmares provides an overview of the remarkable physical landscape of the summits of the tepuis with a focus on some of the most surprising geological features that are found on the plateau tops and in the nearby lowlands. The following chapter, Islands Above the Clouds, examines the unique evolutionary and ecological processes that have shaped and now give character to the biological landscapes of the tepui summits. The next chapter, Life Above the Clouds, looks at the remarkable diversity of organisms found on the summits of the tepuis and the diverse ways in which plants and animals have adapted to the demanding environmental conditions that occur in these highland environments. The final chapter, As a New Century Begins, reviews the current conservation and management issues relating to the future of Guiana. Lost worlds is the first and only comprehensive study of the remarkable natural history of the tepuis of the Guiana Highlands. The strengths of this book include (1) its uniquely detailed content; (2) the 248 spectacular figures including breath taking images, maps, historical illustrations and photo (3) the very first published images of several species of tepui dwelling plants and animals in their natural habitats. Lost Worlds is up-to-date, comprehensive, focused, well illustrated, and visually beautiful. It is technically written yet is accessible to specialist and non-specialist audiences and will be a valued source of information for all interested in the natural history of the remarkable tablelands of the Guiana!

Lost Worlds of the Guiana Highlands

Stewart McPherson

Redfern Natural History Productions Ltd.

The seven genera of sticky-leaved insect-eating plants are uniquely beautiful and captivate the interest of all who behold them. Each produces shimmering leaves lined with glistening droplets of glue that attract, trap and kill insects and other small animals. Complimented by 279 spectacular images, this work examines all seven genera of sticky-leaved insect-eating plants (Byblis, Drosera, Drosophyllum, Ibicella, Pinguicula, Roridula and Triphyophyllum) and documents their wild ecology and natural diversity in full detail and in many cases, for the very first time.  The first chapter of Glistening Carnivores focuses on the research of Charles Darwin and the implications of his findings relating to the carnivorous plants of the world. The next chapter, entitled The Sticky-Leaved Insect-Eating Plants, identifies all of the known sticky-leaved insect-eating plants and discusses their classification. The following chapters entitled The Evolution of the Sticky-Leaved Insect-Eating Plantsand Mutualistic Arthropods respectively handle the evolution of the seven genera and the known relationships with arthropod partners involving these plants.  Each of the following seven chapters then individually focus on one genus of sticky-leaved insect-eating plants. Each genus is considered in terms of its taxonomy, botanical history, morphology and ecology. In the following chapter, entitled Habitat Loss and the Threat of Extinction, the book then moves to consider the conservational status and future outlook for these remarkable plants and examines their place in the 21st century in the context of changing landscapes across the world. The final chapter, entitled Cultivation and Horticulture considers the cultivation of the sticky-leaved insect-eating plants with recommendations of responsible and ethical nurseries where the reader may acquire responsibly and legally produced sticky-leaved insect-eating plants to grow and study at home.  Glistening Carnivores is the first and only study of the sticky-leaved insect-eating plants and represents an unparallel source of information on the subject. The strengths of this book undoubtedly include (1) its uniquely detailed content; (2) the 279 spectacular figures including breath taking images and useful distribution maps and (3) the very first published images of dozens of species of sticky-leaved insect-eating plants.  Glistening Carnivores is up-to-date, uniquely detailed, focused, and visually beautiful. It is technically written yet is accessible to specialist and non-specialist audiences and will be a valued source of information for all interested in the sticky-leaved insect-eating plants and carnivorous plants in general!

Glistening Carnivores: The Sticky-leaved Insect-eating Plants

Pitcher plants include the largest and most spectacular of all carnivorous plants. So-called because they produce highly specialised foliage that takes the form of hollow, water-filled "pitchers", these extraordinary plants lure and prey upon arthropods and other small animals. The pitcher plants of the Old World also trap the largest prey of all carnivorous plants, including on rare occasions, vertebrates as large as frogs, mice and even rats. This two volume work examines both genera of Old World pitcher plants (Nepenthes and Cephalotus) and documents the ecology and natural diversity of every known species for the first time and in unparalleled detail... Pitcher Plants of the Old World Volume One consists of the following chapters; Introduction, Carnivorous Plants of the World, The Pitcher Plants of the Old World, The Evolution of the Pitcher Plants of the Old World, Trapping Processes, Infauna, Nepenthes of Borneo and Nepenthes of Peninsular Malaysia and Indochina.

Pitcher Plants of the Old World Volume One

Pitcher plants include the largest and most spectacular of all carnivorous plants. So-called because they produce highly specialised foliage that takes the form of hollow, water-filled "pitchers", these extraordinary plants lure and prey upon arthropods and other small animals. The pitcher plants of the Old World also trap the largest prey of all carnivorous plants, including on rare occasions, vertebrates as large as frogs, mice and even rats. This two volume work examines both genera of Old World pitcher plants (Nepenthes and Cephalotus) and documents the ecology and natural diversity of every known species for the first time and in unparalleled detail... Pitcher Plants of the Old World Volume Two comprises Nepenthes of the Philippines, Nepenthes of Sumatra and Java, Nepenthes of Sulawesi, Nepenthes of New Guinea and the Maluku Islands, Nepenthes of the Outlying Areas, Nepenthes Hybrids, Cephalotus follicularis, Habitat Loss and the Threat of Extinction and Cultivation and Horticulture, Appendix, Glossary, Bibliography, Index.

Pitcher Plants of the Old World Volume Two

Growing in some of the most barren and extreme habitats of our world, carnivorous plants are adapted to very specific environmental conditions which must be understood for their successful cultivation. This work profiles the natural habitats and environmental requirements of each genus of carnivorous plants to provide horticulturists with a clear and focused understanding of the specific conditions which these remarkable plants require. By understanding the strange worlds in which these unusual and often spectacular plants naturally grow, horticulturists will be better equipped to successfully cultivate and study them. Volume one covers introductory chapters, chapters on the evolution, distribution and habitat of these plants, and genus accounts of the Snap Traps and Pitcher Plants, including Aldrovanda, Dionaea, Darlingtonia, Heliamphora, Sarracenia, Nepenthes, Cepahlotus, Brocchinia and Catopsis.

Carnivorous Plants and Their Habitats: Volume One

Carnivorous plants are the most unusual of all flowering plants. So called because they have evolved the unique ability to attract, trap, kill and digest insects and other small animals. These plants turn the tables of the natural world and prey on fauna in order to augment nutrients that are otherwise not available in the often harsh and extreme habitats in which they grow. This work examines the wild ecology and natural diversity of all known genera of carnivorous plants and examines the remarkable and often spectacular means by which they trap and kill animal prey. Volume two covers genus accounts of the Sticky-Leaved Insect Plants, Corkscrew Plants and Bladderworts, including Triphyophyllum, Drosera, Drosophyllum, Roridula, Byblis, Pinguicula, Ibicella and Proboscidea, Philcoxia, Genlisea, and Utricularia and concluding chapters.

Carnivorous Plants and Their Habitats: Volume Two

"Sarraceniaceae of North America" is one part of a two-part monograph providing the first complete study of the full diversity, ecology and taxonomy of all recognised species of the three genera of Sarraceniaceae, a family of pitcher plants, namely Darlingtonia, Heliamphora and Sarracenia. This volume examines all species of Darlingtonia and Sarracenia from the United States and Canada, and includes the formal descriptions of many recently discovered infraspecific taxa that are introduced here for the very first time. Complete with up-to-date conservation assessments, distribution maps and accounts of the wild ecology and habitats of each species of Sarraceniaceae, this work is a major and definitive taxonomic revision for all three genera of true pitcher plants of the New World. Visually beautiful and comprehensive, these books will appeal to both general readers and specialists who are interested in the natural history, diversity, ecology and relationships of Darlingtonia, Heliamphora and Sarracenia.

Sarraceniaceae of North America

Donald E. Schnell

"Sarraceniaceae of South America" is one part of a two-part monograph providing the first complete study of the full diversity, ecology and taxonomy of all recognised species of the three genera of Sarraceniaceae, a family of pitcher plants, namely Darlingtonia, Heliamphora and Sarracenia. This volume examines all species of Heliamphora from the Guiana Highlands of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana. All known species are illustrated in full detail for the very first time, including many that have been discovered only very recently. Notably, the description of one spectacular new species of Heliamphora is included in the Appendix of this work and is documented in detail. Complete with up-to-date conservation assessments, distribution maps and accounts of the wild ecology and habitats of each species of Sarraceniaceae, this work is a major and definitive taxonomic revision for all three genera of true pitcher plants of the New World. Visually beautiful and comprehensive, these books will appeal to both general readers and specialists who are interested in the natural history, diversity, ecology and relationships of Darlingtonia, Heliamphora and Sarracenia.

Sarraceniaceae of South America

Andreas Wistuba

Andreas Fleischmann

Joachim Nerz

Field Guide to the Pitcher Plants of the Philippines is a beautiful and colourful overview of the twenty seven species of Philippine pitcher plants (Nepenthes). Several species featured in this work have been discovered only in the last two years and are documented here for the very first time. This lavishly illustrated guide book consists of a short introduction to Nepenthes, followed by an overview of the species known from the Philippines (complete with full page map). Each species is then profiled over two pages with the use of three images (most of which have never been published before) and a brief, but detailed text summary written in clear, easy-to-understand English. Concluding sections cover Nepenthes hybrids, conservation of Philippine pitcher plants, a bibliography, and an index.

Field Guide to the Pitcher Plants of the Philippines (Redfern's Field Guides to Pitcher Plants)

Victor B. Amoroso

Never have so many new tropical pitcher plants (Nepenthes) been discovered as during the three years since the publication of the first complete monograph of the genus in 2009. Among them are eighteen new species, two revised species, one new variety, and two new but incompletely diagnosed taxa from across Borneo, Indochina, New Guinea, the Philippines and Sulawesi. The newly discovered plants include many of largest, most extraordinary and colourful carnivorous plants ever found. This work documents all of the new Nepenthes, in many cases for the very first time.

The New Nepenthes

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