The savannas : biogeography and geobotany /

Tropical savannahs extend over 20 percent of the earth's surface, covering the majority of land area in Africa and Australia, and nearly half of South America. An understanding of the biology and distribution of these natural communities is of great practical significance as well as of academic interest. Cole, a noted authority on savannah geography, has attempted to develop a unified classification scheme for worldwide savannah environments-a formidable task, considering the great diversity of community types that are grouped under the term-ranging from nearly pure grassland to open parklands, deciduous woodland, and dry scrub. The proposed classification, based on physiognomy and floristic composition, is successfully applied to the savannahs of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia, with particular attention given to the physical, biotic, and human factors that influence savannah distribution and dynamics. The text is extensively accompanied by excellent photographs, maps, and diagrams. A concluding chapter discusses savannahs as indicators of agricultural, mineralogical, and forestry potential. A detailed bibliography and a list of plant species associated with savannahs worldwide. Recommended.-D.A. Falk, Arnold Arboretum/Harvard University