The Chinese flora, with an estimated 31,000 species, is of immense scientific and horticultural importance. Noteworthy, too, is Chinese traditional medicine, which is based on the remarkable plant resources of the country. Descriptions and identification keys for this diverse flora, until now unavailable in English, have been published over the past 16 years in the Flora of China, in conjunction with a separate series, the Flora of China Illustrations. Thirty three of the total of 48 text and illustration volumes have already been published, thanks to an unprecedented and long standing collaboration between Western and Chinese scientists.

Volume 7 of the illustrations series is devoted to 11 plant families; many of them have economic and horticultural importance, and almost all of them are sources of medicine. Menispermaceae provide medicines, including the drug curare, and rattan; Illiciaceae are used for timber, ornamental plants, medicine, culinary spices, and perfume; Schisandraceae are known for their ornamental plants, medicine, fruit, fibers for rope, and volatile oils; Magnoliaceae supply medicine and ornamental plants; Calycanthaceae are used for horticulture, medicine, and tea; Myristicaceae are known for nutmeg and mace, fat used for candle making and industry, and medicine; Lauraceae provide cinnamon, bay leaves, camphor, medicine, timber, fruits, and oil used for perfumes; Hernandiaceae are used for timber and medicine; Papaveraceae supply medicine, including opium, edible seeds, oils used in soap manufacture, and ornamental poppy plants; Cleomaceae have horticultural and medicinal uses; and Capparaceae furnish us with capers and garden plants.