chapter 1 General introduction to the genus Lavandula / chapter 2 The taxonomy of the genus Lavandula L. / chapter 3 History of usage of Lavandula species / chapter 4 History of nomenclature of Lavandula species, hybrids and cultivars / chapter 5 Lavender growing in England for essential oil production / chapter 6 The retail lavender nursery / chapter 7 Lavender growing in Australia / chapter 8 Naming and misnaming of lavender cultivars / chapter 9 Phytochemistry of the genus Lavandula / chapter 10 Distillation of the lavender type oils -- Theory and practice / chapter 11 Lavender essential oil -- Standardisation, ISO; adulteration and its detection using GC, enantiomeric columns and bioactivity / chapter 12 Lavender oil and its therapeutic properties / chapter 13 Pharmacology of Lavandula essential oils and extracts in vitro and in vivo / chapter 14 The psychological effects of lavender / chapter 15 Antimicrobial properties of lavender volatile oil / chapter 16 Lavender oil and its use in aromatherapy / chapter 17 Perfumery uses of lavender and lavandin oils / chapter 18 Miscellaneous uses of lavender and lavender oil -- Use in hair products, food flavouring, tissanes, herbal pillows and medicinal products / chapter 19 New research into Lavandula species, hybrids and cultivars / chapter 20 Further research into Lavandula species -- Cell cultures of L. vera and rosmarinic acid production / chapter 21 Lavandula x heterophylla and L. x allardii -- A puzzling complex / chapter 22 Comparative study of essential oil quantity and composition from ten cultivars of organically grown lavender and lavandin / chapter 23 Chemical profiles of lavender oils and pharmacology / chapter 24 Chemical composition of essential oils from different species, hybrids and cultivars of Lavandula