Sasol First Field Guide to Grasses of Southern Africa provides an introduction to grasses and a guide to 44 southern African species. These represent conspicuous, widespread grasses, weedy roadside species, invasive aliens, and horticulturally useful grasses as well as important indigenous food species. Full-colour photographs, distribution maps and easy-to-read text make this a useful guide for the beginner and budding naturalist and a pathway to discovering the unique features and uses of some of the large variety of southern Africa's grasses.

With over 40 books and hundreds of papers to his name, Gideon F Smith is South Africa's most prolific author on aloes and other succulent plants. He is Chief Director for Biosystematics and Collections at the South African National Biodiversity Institute, professor of plant science at the University of Pretoria, and a research associate at the University of Coimbra, Portugal and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Through his interests in the biology and classification of succulent plants, as well as landscaping and horticulture, he is involved in various national and international environmental research associations.