Grasses of South Australia – An illustrated guide to the native and naturalised species John Jessup Illustrated by Gilbert R. M. Dashorst and Fiona M. James ISBN 1862546940, published in 2006 by Wakefield Press, b&w illustrations and colour plates, hard cover, 554 pages Price $A49.95 plus $A11 postage within Australia, overseas postage please request a quote

In Grasses of South Australia, for the first time, all of the State’s grasses have been carefully drawn to show their salient features, including more than 450 exquisite line drawings and 20 coloured paintings illustrating typical members of each tribe. In recent years there has been an enormous growth in interest in grasses for agricultural and horticultural purposes. After South Australia’s Native Grass Resources Group identified a need by land managers for up-to-date information, the State Herbarium of South Australia agreed to undertake the preparation of this handbook. Descriptions, illustrations and identification keys provide the essential information, while special features such as ecological notes provided by field workers and brief statements of distribution for Australia and overseas are also included. Provides accessible and valuable information for everyone with an interest in grasses, whatever their expertise, including people living and working in rural areas and those involved in conservation and revegetation.

About the author and illustrators

John Jessup has been interested in grasses for some 35 years. In 1974 he joined the curatorial staff of the State Herbarium of South Australia and contributed to two editions of the Flora of South Australia, collaborating with Gilbert Dashorst on the second of those editions and on The Plants of the Adelaide Plains and Hills. In his retirement, John continues to help with the grasses at the Herbarium.

Gilbert R.M. Dashorst trained at the Adelaide School of Art and has been the scientific illustrator at the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium since 1983. He is widely known for the high standard and wide range of techniques he brings to bear on his art.

Fiona M. James has long been interested in botanical art and acquired some experience working with Gilbert Dashorst on illustrating a handbook called Citrus for Everyone for the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide. She interrupted her studies at the Adelaide Central School of Art to work full-time on this book.

Table of contents

• Introduction: history of the project, using this book
• The grass plant
• Glossary
• Family Gramineae (Poaceae): descriptions, keys, illustrations and colour plates [pages 33-536]
• Index