Carnivorous  Plants

John Skillcorn

Author: Adrian Slack
Publisher: Marston House, Yeovil, Somerset
ISBN: 1-899296-13-1
Price: £18.95

The Publisher says
... far from being fantasy, these extraordinary organisms are fact, and this book explains the astonishingly subtle manner in which each entices, catches and digests its prey.

The charge that 'nature is red in tooth and claw' is seldom brought against such lovely, innocent-looking flowers as those in Slack's astonishing book.  But his detailed drawings and diagrams and Gate's superb photos show many plants that can match the great predators in ruthlessness.  The fascinating text describes the wily ways of ...exotics that feed on insects and even some bigger creatures. - Publisher's Weekly

My comments
So says the back cover of this extremely useful book.  Some 240 pages in its entirety, it is crammed with indispensable details concerning the culture of these incredible plants.  It is all the more valuable information when one considers who wrote it.  

Adrian Slack is the country's leading authority on the cultivation of carnivorous plants, and in this he is every inch a plantsman.  He is one of those writers who's work and who's recommendations you just know you can trust.  However, I find it amazing that his skills as an artist have not been more fully appreciated.  

This book contains many, many of his line drawings, every one a little gem.  That to the right is Drosera cistiflora, while those below show the upper (left) and lower pitchers of Nepenthes bicalcarata.  Apart from Slack's wonderful artwork, the book is further enhanced by the photographs of Jane Gate.  

Together they have produced a book which is worth its space on anyone's book shelf.