Canistrum - Bromeliads of the Atlantic Forest Elton M. C. Leme Salamandra Consultoria Editorial Ltda. ISBN 85-281-0202-5 Published 1997

This book is the first volume of the "Projeto Nidularium". The other two volumes are: Canistropsis - Bromeliads of the Atlantic Forest, and Nidularium - Bromeliads of the Atlantic Forest. Collectively, the three volumes constitute a major taxonomic revision of the genus Nidularium and related species.

The book has 107 pages and over 60 colour photoographs. Detailed botanical descriptions, as well as a commentary on their distribution and habitat, are presented for seven Canistrum , three Edmundoa, five Wittrockia, and four Aechmea species. A photograph of a flowering plant is provided for each species and, in some cases, a habitat photograph as well.

While many of the species are of limited horticultural appeal, some are very attractive. Examples include: Canistrum seidelianum, fosterianum, and triangulare; Wittrockia superba, tenusiepala, and gigantea; and Aechmea echinata.

The second part of the book consists of a discussion on the defining charecterisics of Hylaeaicum, a neoregelia sub-genus (photographs of some of the species in this sub-genus are included); commentary on Aechmea aculeatosepala; followed by black and white photographs of the "type specimens", and line drawings of the defining characteristics, for many of the species described in the book. A comprehensive list of references and an index complete the book.

While an understanding of botanical terms will help you when reading this book, such knowledge is by no means essential. Further, the book contains the most comprehensive published descriptions of the species in the Canistrum, Edmundoa, and Wittrockia genera, in a consolidated form. The book is well worth reading just for this information.

Year of Review: 2002