This is My Story

My intention here is to provide interested persons with details that, due to space restraints, are not all available collectively in text books or on all websites at the moment. In brackets, I have included explanations for some of the fairly formidable vocabulary used in many descriptions. Even though I trained in Botany, I still found this a time-consuming task. Some of the websites are difficult for the non-professional to understand. I am also currently attempting to include more detailed flower descriptions and of pictures of leaves against the sun. Many of these photos are not in most text books or on the web. All photos can be enlarged.

So far, this has been completely my own effort and has taken since January 2014 to start up loading on the web. However, the photographic sections will never be complete and here you can help. If you send me your relevant pictures, any that are included on this web site will also be accompanied by your name. I would also include pictures of pollen grains and so on. Even though my training is in Botany, most of my pictures have been taken at botanical gardens or nature reserves where there is, hopefully, less chance of ID errors.

I have now had an inkling of what the many people have had to go through in preparing a text book and am very grateful for all their work – without which my task would have been almost impossible. I am also grateful to those who are tree custodians – I salute you all. Also, a special thank you to Jason Sampson whose enthusiasm inspired me to do this project. Thanks, is also due to Alice Notten who has patiently answered my many, many questions. Thanks also to Richard Boon, Robert H Archer, Alice Aubrey and Andrew Hankey for their encouragement and help with I.D. Finally, to my wife and family for their support – including Mark, my son, who organised the web site.

If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown, please provide me with feedback so that I can correct or extend the information provided. I have avoided saying where Cycads and other critically endangered species have been photographed or are located for security reasons.