Caudiciform and Pachycaul Succulents: Pachycauls, Bottle-,Barrel-And Elephant-Trees and Their Kin a Collector's Miscellany Hardcover – January 1, 1987

The one and only Bible for caudiciform lovers and collectors, with unique pictures of specimens in nature. Thank you very much Gordon Rowley!

For fanatic of caudex and pachycaul plants, this book was perfect.

Absolutely beautiful book in pristine condition. Could not be happier, thank you.

I was very pleased. I lost my other copy in Hurricane Katrina.

Great book if you are into these types of plants. I read it cover to cover in 1 sitting :)

“Caudiciform...” is the defining book on the field of fat-bottomed arid-adapted plants. Rowley is hands-down the most important author on succulents of the last 70 years, in part because he has written so many books (articles, etc) of such high quality, in previously neglected fields. This mid-career entry really began what I think was his golden age. The focus is not on identifying each individual species, but on grappling with the enormous complexity of the concept, and distilling it into a manageable framework. Unlike many other succulent specialties, the caudiciforms are not easily defined by taxonomy. It makes almost no sense to the collector to talk about them that way, so Rowley correctly chose lifestyle + form as the organizing principles. He then proceeds through each group and spoils us with amazing photos, insights into what collectors like about the plants, historical anecdotes, and his characteristic dry humor. The reason this book is so expensive is that it is a timeless classic, long out of print, and still the most important book on the subject.If you aren’t sure about spending so much on this book, you can get a taste of Rowley’s style from his “Encyclopedia of Succulents”, a more general interest popular book from the 70s, which is available used for $10 or less. If you are a fan of history, or the social aspects of plant discovery, literature, and societies, his “History of Succulent Plants” is my personal favorite (from the 90s), and is still available at reasonable prices for a 400-page hardback.

I am a long time collector on the east coast of those magical caudiciforms. I have purchased them on the west coast. This author is the definitive master when it comes to the knowledge of these specific plants. I am proud to finally own a copy. This group is scultptural and not for the impatient. I have had many of my caudiciforms or pachys over 15 years.This book is a treasure and a must have for the serious collector and anyone who admires this specialty.

The caudiciforms - a most fascinating and photogenic group of plants are sometimes beautiful, sometimes comical-looking, but always interesting. This guide, a superbly crafted masterpiece written by expert Gordon Rowley, could serve as either a coffee table treasure trove of expertly crafted photos or a valuable reference, with text and pictures providing a wealth of information to even the most serious student of botany. This book, written by a true expert, should certainly be held as a prized possession of both the casual nature aficionado and the specialist alike.

This is a beautiful book and has been on my wishlist for many years. It certainly does not come cheap but is a must have for the aficionado of caudiciform and pachycaul plants.I can recommend it to everyone!