Botanists, students and gardeners will delight in these two stunningly illustrated, encyclopedic tomes by photographer Phillips and botanist Rix, pioneers in their respective fields and collaborators on 23 previous titles (most recently Perennials). The lavish compendia contain scientific facts and lore about temperate plants like the Pseudocydonia (a shrub with delicate red or pink blossoms cultivated in China and Japan), the Cornus (better known here as the dogwood) or the dozens of members of the daisy family (the most evolutionarily advanced of flowering plants). Each entry includes a basic description of the plant plus categories like "Key Recognition Features," "Evolution and Relationships," and "Ecology and Geography." Some of the listings also include advice on cultivation. But that's assuming readers can tear their eyes away from the 4,000-some color photographs, which show remarkable detail and are carefully arranged so that seed, fruit and important identifying parts can be seen up close. They display the specimens at various stages of development, from blossom to fall foliage, to stunning effect. (Sept.)
