Australian succulents the unfriendly ones

Australia is a succulent haven, home to at least 2,900 species, and more than 100 of these are spiny.

These distinctive and integral plants dotting the roadsides of mostly drier areas, serve as a gateway into the ecology and natural history of Australia's vast drylands.

Approximately 70% of the continent is arid or semi-arid, with low fertility soils and sparse vegetation; yet, it is in these regions where the greatest succulent diversity can be found.

Succulents are well-adapted to these climates, having evolved water storage tissue in leaves, stems, trunks and roots, enabling them to survive even the most parched conditions.

This book aims to provide researchers and students alike with an insight into these intriguing species and to foster further exploration and study.