Encyclopaedia Botanica
Australian Flora Textbook Natural History Ecology Botanical Reference Environmental Science Indigenous Knowledge Gardening & Landscaping
Encyclopaedia Botanica (1993, first-edition hardcover with dust jacket) is the landmark Australian reference that turns a casual interest in plants into a lifetime passion. Written by Frances Bodkin—respected Dharawal elder and botanist—this 816-page, fully-illustrated volume distils decades of fieldwork and Indigenous ecological knowledge into one beautifully organised A-to-Z. From rainforest giants to suburban weeds, every entry couples precise botanical data with First-People uses, cultivation tips and landscaping ideas, making it indispensable for students, gardeners, environmental educators and anyone who wants to work with Australian flora rather than fight it.
What sets this vintage copy apart is its enduring authority: no later reprint matches the original 1993 colour plates, fold-out maps or the thick, matte-art paper that lets the 1 400-plus photographs and line drawings pop off the page. Readers repeatedly report that Bodkin’s dual perspective—Western science woven with Aboriginal custodianship—finally “connects the dots” between plant names, behaviours and Country, a revelation missing from modern field guides. Whether you need to identify a coastal Banksia, design a water-wise backyard, or teach curriculum-linked botany, this single book replaces a shelf of smaller references.
Collectors value the first-edition hardcover for its rarity; practical users love the lay-flat Smyth-sewn binding that survives decades of outdoor consultation. This particular copy comes from a smoke-free home and presents in acceptable vintage condition: the dust jacket is intact, the boards are square and tight, and the famous foxing is confined to a few early and scattered pages—common in 30-year-old Australian paper stock and never obstructing text or images. Secure this copy now and own the reference that eco-professionals call “the plant bible of the Southern Hemisphere.”
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
Buy Now