Eleven plant families are described in this volume. Among these, the Capparaceae include the caper (Capparis spinosa); the Lauraceae include the main source of camphor (Cinnamomum camphora), the spices cassia (C. cassia) and cinnamon (C. verum), and the cultivated bay laurel (Laurus nobilis); the Magnoliaceae include the Asian tulip tree (Liriodendron chinense), found only in China and Vietnam, and some 110 species of magnolias that are treated either in 12 separate genera or all in Magnolia; the Myristicaceae include the source of nutmeg and mace (Myristica fragrans); and the Papaveraceae include the horticulturally important poppies, Meconopsis and Papaver, as well as the very diverse genus Corydalis, which has 357 species in China.