by E. Soepadmo

Archipelago Press, 1998

The Encyclopedia of Malaysia is the first authoritative single reference source to be produced on Malaysia, one of Southeast Asia's most vibrant developing countries. Over 400 academics and subject specialists from Malaysia and overseas have contributed to the encyclopedia, which has been developed with the guidance of a distinguished editorial board. To date, seven titles have been published in the 15-volume series. Each volume explores a single subject area, bringing to life details of Malaysia's history, politics, economy, natural history and culture. Great emphasis is placed on the visual content of the series, which is illustrated in full color throughout. Each volume features photographs, archival material, artwork, maps, diagrams and charts, which help bring to life the thematic double-page spreads which form the encyclopedia's core structure. In addition, each volume contains a general introduction, glossary, bibliography and index.

Malaysia abounds in botanical riches. About one-third of the world’s flowering plants, including at least 2,500 species of flowering trees, are found in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. Among these are some of the most fascinating and beautiful plants in the world. Different vegetation types reflect a variety of ecosystems, from the humid lowland rainforest dominated by the family Dipterocarpaceae, to health forests and large tracts of mangrove forest in Sarawak, and the rich mountain flora of Mount Kinabalu in Sabah. In this volume, we explore this exciting diversity of plants and vegetation which provide us with not only timber, food and medicines, but a variety of other useful products.

The first three sections of the volume introduce the reader to the geological history of Malaysia, setting the stage for a description of the country’s diverse habitat and vegetation types and varied plant life forms. The fourth section focuses on the socioeconomic importance of both native and introduced species, and the interaction of plants with people, animals and the environment. The volume concludes with a discussion of the future of Malaysia’s rich plant heritage and its dependence on the delicate balance between conservation and the controlled exploitation of forest resources.

Over 750 full-colour illustrations, including specially commissioned drawings prepared under the guidance of experts from the various botanical fields, complement the text, which is written by a number of well-known botanists and foresters.