Marine Plants of Australia: Second Edition

By John M. Huisman

Pre-order the revised and updated, smaller format edition here. (Stock due September 2023)

To most people, the mention of marine plants conjures up images of rotting seaweeds piled high on the beach, or slithering threateningly around bare ankles during a paddle in the shallows. Certainly, the seaweeds do not inspire the imagination or the romanticism that is usually associated with the sea. Marine Plants of Australia might well alter that perception.

This second edition illustrates over 600 species of Australia’s underwater plant life, mostly using underwater photographs that reveal the amazing colours and intricate patterns found in this largely unknown realm of life. Imagine plants with blue foliage that turns red in the dark, or iridescent plants, or plants that look like rocks painted in shades of pink. There are seaweeds with the consistency of jelly, or with fronds that form an intricate mesh that rivals the best lace. These plants have evolved a startling myriad of shapes, colours and patterns that will impress everyone who views them — underwater, or through the pages of this book.

Praise for Marine Plants of Australia

Arguably the first scientifically rigorous “coffee-table” book devoted to a broad region’s seaweed flora. “Scientific” owing to the accuracy and detail of its descriptions, “coffee-table” because of its large format and wealth of beautiful drawings along with underwater photographs of species taken in their natural habitats.

Click here to read Gerald T. Kraft's review of the book in the Journal of Phycology.

Book details

PUBLICATION DATE: December 2019
FORMAT: Large Format Soft Cover
EXTENT: 350 pages
SIZE: Large format paperback
ISBN: 9781760800338
RIGHTS: World
CATEGORY: John Huisman, Natural History,