MEET THE AUTHORS
Dr. Elsa Pooley (DSc honoris causa) (UKZN), author of The complete Field guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand & Transkei (1993); A Field Guide to Wildflowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region (1998); A Field Guide to the Flora of the Drakensberg and Lesotho (2003) and Forest Plants – in the Forest and in the Garden (2006) is a skilled botanical artist and practical botanist with more than 40 years experience in the field.
Originally based in the game reserves of Zululand, her research has included pioneering work on the traditional uses of plants by the people of Maputaland. She has established many corporate and individual indigenous gardens, also a wild flower nursery and currently also conducts indigenous plant tours. Her knowledge and versatility bridges the divide between the popular and the academic.
She has worked closely with the National Botanical Institute, in particular the Natal Herbarium in preparation of the Flora publications Trust’s books. Her scientific advisers are Olive Hilliard and Bill Burt, Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, UK. OliveHilliard was curator of the University of Natal Herbarium before her retirement when she worked for many years with Bill Burt publishing works on the flora of South Africa..
Richard Boon is responsible for biodiversity planning in the Environmental Management Department of the eThekwini Muncipality. Prior to working for the municipality, he worked in the Conservation Division of the Wildlife and Environment Society and taught environmental education with the provision education department.
He is a trained biologist and a keen field botanist with over 20 years field experience. He also enjoys photographing plants and other natural subjects.