An interesting aid program

"Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea" was originally known simply as "Flora of Ethiopia". The very first volume was published in 1989, when Mengistu and his bizarre Communist-fascist military junta were still in power in Addis. Interestingly, the editorial board of the flora continued pretty much as before after the revolution in 1991, when Meles Zenawi replaced Mengistu as the nation's president, while Eritrea declared its independence.

How did the people behind this project manage to be on such a good terms with both sides in a brutal civil war? Let me guess: the Swedish aid money? The flora is financed by SAREC (or SIDA) and one of the editors is Swedish. Well, SIDA sure has some interesting aid programs going!

That being said, I have no particular problem with "Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea". This is the first part of volume 2, covering Magnoliaceae to Flacourtiaceae. The illustrations are all in black and white, and this is obviously a reference for botanists, not a field guide for the general public (or Ethiopian soldiers). Still, it's a tour de force at its own turf and therefore deserves four stars.