The newsletter consist of the prepublication brochure for this book published by Umdaus Press. In addition, there is a link to the Umdaus Press website for people who would like to order the book from the publisher: http://succulents.net/umdaus/grass_aloes.html

NEWSLETTER.
The book Grass Aloes in the South African Veld will be available in December 2005. The text for the prepublication brochure for this book, published by Umdaus Press follows below.

GRASS ALOES IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN VELD
Text by Charles Craib
Illustrations of the grass aloes by Gillian Condy
Habitat drawings by Murray Ralfe

The Book

Grass aloes are an appealing group of deciduous aloes. As the name implies, they grow mainly in grasslands subject to winter fires. Their leaves and colours resemble their habitat, making them difficult to find when not in flower. These largely miniature aloes have very attractive flowers, making them desirable, if difficult, plants to cultivate. Their growing pattern is closely related to the winter fire cycles of the veld, some species responding directly to burning and producing leaves, flowers and later seed after such events.

This publication is as much a book of art as it is an enlightening study of the veld of the eastern parts of South Africa. Gillian Condy?s illustrations of the species are masterpieces in their own right and make the book a pleasure to behold. She spent many hours in the veld, at times under very difficult conditions, to capture the essence of each species?this she has done magnificently and the process is covered in the text. The book is further enhanced by the attractive and detailed line drawings of the veld by Murray Ralfe, giving a good feel for the grassland habitat

As with so many other plant species in South Africa, the grass aloes are threatened by present-day demands on the veld. The grasslands are often heavily grazed by cattle, vast tracts have been cleared for afforestation, and there are pressures from the mining industry, mainly coal-mining. The remaining, often degraded, veld is furthermore subject to the introduction of alien vegetation, all of this causing a marked decline in the numbers of naturally occurring plants, including the grass aloes.

The book is the product of two decades of travel and research by Charles Craib and provides valuable and useful information on grassland conservation in general and the flora that goes with it in particular. Cultivation of grass aloes is difficult, little information being available. However, this book comprehensively deals with propagating and growing the plants. Chapters on the habitats and growth cycles, pollination, the development and dispersal of seed, the effects of habitat destruction, the role of fire as well as chapters on the artwork itself are included. A glossary and index is also supplied.

Also covered is the monotypic genus Chortolirion, which reasonably conveniently slots in with the grass aloes.

Foreword by Prof Gideon Smith

THE AUTHOR

Charles Craib was educated at St Andrews College in Grahamstown where he developed a keen interest in natural history. He went on to study Law and Social Anthropology at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. After obtaining his honours degree in Anthropology, he went to Cambridge in England where he was awarded his masters degree in Social Anthropology.

He obtained a good grounding in research methodology and also in writing research reports while working for the Chamber of Mines Research Organisation in Johannesburg.

The grasslands have always held a great deal of interest for Charles, especially the unique plants that frequent them, in particular grass aloes. The various species that comprise this interesting group of aloes have been a focus of his field research for the past 20 years.

Charles is mainly interested in plant ecology. In addition, one of his current projects is a detailed study of the knowledge production process in South African botany.

THE WATER-COLOUR ARTIST

Gillian Condy has been an active botanical artist for more than 20 years, exhibiting her work in some 80 group exhibitions worldwide.

She has been employed as the resident botanical artist at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) in Pretoria (formerly the Botanical Research Institute and National Botanical Institute) since 1983.

Gillian is a founding member of the Botanical Artists Association of Southern Africa established in 1999 and has held the position of National and Gauteng Chairperson.

Other than her contributions to SANBI publications, she was a major contributor to the biographical section of the book Peeling back the petals, SA botanical art, published in November 2001. She also illustrated Geophytic pelargoniums by Charles Craib.

Gillian has received many awards for her work. In 2002, she was awarded the Cythna Letty Medal by the Botanical Society of South Africa, for her "significant contribution to the promotion of the South African flora through the medium of botanical illustration".

Three paintings done for this book and exhibited at the Kirstenbosch Biennale Botanical Art Exhibition in 2004 won gold medals. These works feature Aloe chortolirioides, the newly described Aloe craibii and Aloe dominella.

THE PENCIL ARTIST

Murray Ralfe was born in Durban but grew up in Port Elizabeth, where he had a special interest in natural history from an early age. His particular passion for wild birds resulted in much of his youth being spent exploring the wilderness areas of the Eastern Cape. Studies on the Roseate Tern led to two scientific publications and a science expo gold medal before he left high school.

After his schooling at Trinity College, Murray trained in art at both the PE Technikon and the Johannesburg Art Foundation. A brief stint in advertising was followed by a position as a display artist at the Port Elizabeth Museum, an environment that enabled Murray to foster his interest in natural history. In 1994 Murray left the museum to pursue a career in fine-art. Around this time his interest in computer graphics and technology also began to develop.

Murray currently lives in Shingwedzi in the Kruger National Park, where his wife runs a research project. His portfolio has diversified to include cutting-edge computer technology, including the development of natural history CD-ROMs, video editing and digital photography.

Publication Details
Specifications

Book size: 230 x 320 mm (portrait), approximately 150 pages, 42 paintings in full colour, 17 pencil drawings, 28 distribution maps
The book will be printed on acid-free paper.
Print run will be limited to 2000 copies, including Sponsors, Collectors and Presentation copies.

Publication Date

Intended publication date is December 2005.

The Editions
Pre-publication orders:
Names of subscribers to the Sponsors, Collectors and Standard Editions reaching the publishers before 10 September 2005 will be included in the book.

Sponsors Edition
Limited to 10 copies, numbered 1 to 10, half-bound in English Goatskin with hand-marbled boards and supplied in a matching slipcase. The name of each subscriber will be hand-lettered in the front of the copy and each copy will be signed by both the author and the artists.

Each Sponsors copy is accompanied by an original painting of a grass aloe painted in habitat by botanical artist Gillian Condy.
ISBN 1-919766-39-1

Collectors Edition
Limited to 50 copies, numbered 11 to 60, half-bound in English Goatskin with hand-marbled boards and supplied in a matching slipcase. The name of each subscriber will be hand-lettered in the front of the copy and each copy will be signed by both the author and the artists.

Collectors will receive a numbered print (limited to 75 copies) of the combined painting and drawing by Gillian Condy and Murray Ralfe featuring Aloe woolliana in habitat, signed by both artists.
ISBN 1-919766-40-5

Standard Edition
This edition will be bound in fine cloth with hardcover and laminated French fold dust cover. The Standard Edition will comprise 1935 copies, numbered 66 to 2000 (numbers 61 to 65 will be reserved for presentation copies).
ISBN 1-919766-41-3

Mail, fax or e-mail orders to:

UMDAUS PRESS
P.O. Box 11059
0028 Hatfield
South Africa
Tel. ++27-11-880-0273
Fax. ++27-11-788-1498
E-mail: umdaus@succulents.net
Web site: www.succulents.net