Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Sicily catalogues the rich and varied flora of the largest and most populous island in the Mediterranean. Featuring over 1,300 colour photographs, it provides clear descriptions of each species, including dimensions, distribution, habitat flowering period and extensive synonymy.At the centre of the Mediterranean, the island of Sicily has highly coveted as a strategic base for dynasties from antiquity to the modern era. This varied history of colonisation makes Sicily home to a huge variety of archaeological sites and a blended culture shaped by mixed Sicel, Greek, Phoenician and Roman influences. Tourists from the rest of Italy and around the world are attracted by this unique culture, history, architecture, scenery and sunny, dry climate.The geological landscape of Sicily is dominated by Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe, and one of the most active in the world. Its higher slopes of black volcanic scree support a unique mountain flora that often appear as floral 'islands' in the ashy aftermath of volcanic eruptions. It is also home to the oldest and largest sweet chestnut in the world, known locally as the Castagno dei Cento Cavalli, the 'Chesnut of a Hundred Horses'.

A broad variety of wild flower species can be identified across the region, in limestone mountain ranges, dense forests, volcanic terrain, beaches and agricultural land.With minimal scientific language, the book communicates useful information with clarity and is accessible to plant-lovers of all backgrounds. Concise species accounts are complemented by an overview of the island's major habitats, making this most comprehensive and uptodate field guide to Sicilian wild flowers an essential companion for amateur and professional botanists and ecologists alike.