Field Guide to the Palms of New Guinea

New Guinea is one of the world's greatest palm diversity hotspots. With around 270 species, the island is home to some of the most beautiful and varied palms, many of which are of great economic importance to rural communities. Field Guide to the Palms of New Guinea is the first identification aid for the palms of the entire island. It aims to help field workers, conservationists, students and horticulturists to identify New Guinea palms to genus level regardless of their experience or botanical expertise. Many of the most important species are illustrated. This detailed and richly illustrated book will be an invaluable resource for all with interests in the rich biodiversity of New Guinea, the largest tropical island in the world.

William J. Baker has worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew since 1998 and is an authority on the diversity and evolution of the palm family. William is head of Kew's palm research programme and leads the Palms of New Guinea project, a collaborative research and capacity building initiative on the island's palm diversity. He has travelled extensively to study palms in the wild, especially in New Guinea, has published widely on palm biology and is currently co-authoring the second edition of Genera Palmarum.
John Dransfield was head of palm research at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew from 1975 until his retirement in 2005. John is a leading specialist in the systematics of palms and an experienced fieldworker. He is co-author of Genera Palmarum, the standard scientific reference book for palms, and the World Checklist of Palms and currently co-edits PALMS, the Journal of the International Palm Society.