Description

A scientific book on botany, accompanied by highly decorative illustrations, is one of rare botany books originally written in Esperanto.

The author Paul de Neergaard (1907-1987) was a Danish Esperantist and agronomist, also known as the father of seed pathology. He was a member of Academy for Esperanto, and a professor in Beirut and Mysore. In 1967 he became the first director of the Danish Government Institute of Seed Pathology of Developing Countries. Neergaard was also a member of the Indian National Academy of Sciences, the French Academy of Agriculture, and the New York Explorers Club. He was also vice president of International Science Association of Esperantists and editor of several Esperanto magazines. He was responsible for translation of botanic and agricultural terminology to Esperanto. 

The black and white illustrations were made by a Danish artist Mads Stage (1922 – 2004). Stage was educated at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen and later became known as illustrator and designer. He was especially known for his drawings of animals.

The Esperanto publishing house Stafeto was run by Juan Régulo Pérez in La Laguna, Tenerife Island, between 1952 and 1975, when they publshed 93 books. This book was printed in 2000 examples.

References: Geoffrey Sutton, Concise Encyclopedia of the Original Literature of Esperanto, 2008, pp. 219-220.