This volume was first published in 1997, providing a comprehensive, botanically detailed survey of this beautiful group of plants since publication of The Genus Iris by W. R. Dykes. Following the pattern of the original Dykes monograph, botanical details, cultivation suggestions and general comments are supplied, and the work is generously illustrated with accurate line drawings, pictures of unusual species and distribution maps. This survey takes into account the many changes in classification which have taken place in the group. Information scattered in the literature is brought together in one volume to provide an authoritative reference for professional botanists and growers, and a mine of useful information for amateur gardeners and iris enthusiasts. A 2010 preface has been written especially for the re-issue of this important text. The colour plates have been removed for this printing and placed on the web at www.cambridge.org/9780521206433.

Review of the hardback: ' … useful, distilled and succinct … Contributors to this book include most of the authors working on and growing irises in the United Kingdom … as well as some from abroad … It should please gardeners and botanists alike.' Stephen Anderton, The Horticulturalist
Review of the hardback: ' … the Guide is an achievement to be celebrated and should be a standard reference work for many years'. The Hardy Plant Society
Review of the hardback: ' … a beautifully produced book which will no doubt be of interest of keen Iris growers everywhere … a valuable publication for the identification of species in this wonderful genus'. Richard Wilford, Bentham-Moxon Trust
Review of the hardback: '… clearly and simply written with abundant useful information'. Douglas Darnowski, Plant Science Bulletin
Review of the hardback: '… a very consciously written result of a criticla sutdy of literature, synthesised with systematic, planned, long time collected personal experience and continuous mutual exchange of experience of authors belonging to a wide range of professions - from pure scientists to keen amateur gardenerrs … The Guide to Species Irises is a very important manual for anybody who will work seriously with this genus and a resource of extremely valuable garden plants - one of the basic perennials in the moderate climate of all parts of the world.' M. Blazek (Pruhonice), Biologia Plantarum