The 'Cacti of Eastern Brazil' is a floristic monograph that has been 15 years in the making. The book covers the histories of both discovery and classification, phytogeography and palaeoclimates, conservation (some species being amongst the rarest in the family), identification and documentation. Identification aids in the form of dichotomous keys and coloured illustrations are provided for all named, accepted taxa, together with descriptions, ecological data, conservation assessments, full synonymy, bibliography, vernacular names, a glossary of specialised terms and documentation of geographical distribution and specimen data. The latter data have been used to create 51 full colour distribution maps, which account for the known ranges of the 130 species and 32 heterotypic subspecies currently named and recognised. Introduced and naturalised cacti are also treated and illustrated.<BR>This is the first comprehensive account of the family in the region to be published since the Flora Brasiliensis in 1890 and will be the standard work on Brazilian cacti for many years to come.