Picking up where the classical texts of Culpeper and Grieve left off, The Penguin Modern Australasian Herbal takes our understanding of herbs into the modern world. A reference to varieties found in Australia, New Zealand and surrounding islands, it takes a look at old favourites from a contemporary perspective, and at more recently introduced herbs such as ginseng, sweet annie, chia and epazote. Drawing on current scientific research, Kim Fletcher offers a comparison of traditional and up-to-the-minute uses for herbs in medicines, food, pesticides and crafts. Detailed botanical descriptions and line sketches aid identification, and there are instructions for propagation and cultivation. An indispensable resource for gardeners, herbalists, scholars and the general reader, this compendium also offers some delightful excerpts on the mythological and cultural associations of herbs through the ages.
