Author: Li Guangzhao
Language: Chinese with Latin name
ISBN/ISSN: 7806665021
2004; Hardcover;210x305mm;229 pages, 125 color photographs

Aspidistra Ker-Gawl. Is a bigger genus in Liliaceae. There are 62 species Aspidistra in the world, in which 4 species are distributed in Japan, Thailand, India and Burma, and 13 species are distributed in both China and Vietnam, 45 species accounting for 72.6% of those species in the world are endemic to China, 27 species accounting for 46.6% of those species in China are endemic to Guangxi. Aspidistra not only grow in granite-based forest soil but also grow in batholithic soil of Karst, and it is found in 5 type of vegetation and 8 subtypes of vegetation in tropical and subtropical zones in China. The genus is also valuable in medicine, horticulture and environment protection. The researches on Aspidistra has strong native characteristics of China and Guangxi province because of intense differentiation of species and varieties of fruit and flowers especially in flower structure among species. The genus also has significance in the researches of plant diversities, sustainable utilization and evolution.

Flora of Aspidistra is the first monographic book referring to plants of Aspidistra in the world. It is also a summary of the research achievements on Aspidistra by the authors in a long time. This book deals with many research fields such as taxonomy, geography, community, morphology, palynology, cytology, molecular biology, phytochemistry, cultivation and soil science, etc, and illustrated by 72 sketch pictures, 65 maps of plant distribution and 170 black and white photographs and 125 color photographs. It is a good reference book to botanical studies with rich contents, combination of pictures and text and easy-reading writing. This book also provides scientific information to the protection, researches and rational utilization of Aspidistra in the future. The morphologies of stigmas of Aspidistra and other three closer genera (one only found in Vietnam) are so complex that the systematic researches on those genera should be further conducted. It looks as if necessary and possible for the authors with favor local conditions.