Botany and plant sciences Books

Book SynopsisTable of ContentsUNIT I SYSTEMATICS 1. Plant Systematics: An Overview 2. Phylogenetic Systematics UNIT II EVOLUTION AND DIVERSITY OF PLANTS 3. Evolution and Diversity of Green and Land Plants 4. Evolution and Diversity of Vascular Plants 5. Evolution and Diversity of Woody and Seed Plants 6. Evolution of Flowering Plants 7. Diversity and Classification of Flowering Plants: Amborellales, Nymphaeales, Austrobaileyales, Magnoliids, Ceratophyllales, and Monocots 8. Diversity and Classification of Flowering Plants: Eudicots UNIT III SYSTEMATIC EVIDENCE AND DESCRIPTIVE TERMINOLOGY 9. Plant Morphology Chapter 10. Plant Anatomy and Physiology 11. Plant Embryology 12. Palynology 13. Plant Reproductive Biology 14. Plant Molecular Systematics UNIT IV RESOURCES IN PLANT SYSTEMATICS 15. Plant Identification 16. Plant Nomenclature 17. Plant Collecting and Documentation 18. Herbaria and Data Information Systems UNIT V SPECIES CONCEPTS AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 19. Species and Conservation in Systematics Appendix 1. Plant Description 2. Botanical Illustrations 3. Scientific Journals in Plant Systematics 4. Statistics and Morphometrics in Plant Systematics

Read more less

Book SynopsisAcomprehensive and entertaining historical and botanical review, providing an enjoyable and cognitive read.Nature The foods we eat have a deep and often surprising past. From almonds and apples to tea and rice, many foods that we consume today have histories that can be traced out of prehistoric Central Asia along the tracks of the Silk Road to kitchens in Europe, America, China, and elsewhere in East Asia. The exchange of goods, ideas, cultural practices, and genes along these ancient routes extends back five thousand years, and organized trade along the Silk Road dates to at least Han Dynasty China in the second century BC. Balancing a broad array of archaeological, botanical, and historical evidence,Fruit from the Sandspresents the fascinating story of the origins and spread of agriculture across Inner Asia and into Europe and East Asia. Through the preserved remains of plants found in archaeological sites, Robert N. Spengler III identifies the regions where our most familiar crops were domesticated and follows their routes as people carried them around the world. With vivid examples,Fruit from the Sandsexplores how the foods we eat have shaped the course of human history and transformed cuisines all over the globe.Trade Review“An excellent example of a comprehensive and entertaining historical and botanical review, providing an enjoyable and cognitive read for scientists, general public, students and policy makers.” * Nature *“Combines the studies of history, archaeology, and botany in an excellent account of where many of our foodstuffs originate, showing how they became distributed over most of Eurasia.” * CHOICE *“Spengler tells a fascinating tale of a culinary past that is just beginning to come into focus. . . .Provides lots of food for thought.” * Science News *"An entertaining and thought provoking historical, botanical and archaeological review of a vast swathe of the Old World. It is accessible for specialists and the general public alike, and should be read by policy makers as well, with a mind to thinking about agricultural diversity and sustainability." * Central Asian Archaeological Landscapes *"A book that you are likely to turn to again and again for that extra bit of insight into the story behind the food on your plate, which is the true test of great plants-and-people ‘story-telling’." * Botany One *"The volume is truly a mine of information. This book is a must for anybody interested in food, cultural diversity, archaeology, exchange networks and the impact of modern globalisation on food and cultural homogenisation." * Antiquity *"The acts of buying, cooking, or studying food are enriched by the historical and scientific background that the author provided after serious consideration of aspects related to botany, history, and geography." * Graduate Journal of Food Studies *"The unique contribution of this book is its ability to bring evidence from archaeological plant remains to life, in a style that could be readily appreciated by readers with a variety of interests." * Plant Science Bulletin *"Fruit From the Sands stands most definitely as a solid analysis of early Asian food origins and exchanges, and as such is a welcome addition to the literature on Asian cultural history, but should find resonance in other spaces as well." * Asian Review of World History *"Filled with details about plant and human movements and adaptations, Fruit from the Sands speaks to scholars from a wide range of fields in humanities, social sciences and biological sciences." * Food, Culture & Society *Table of ContentsA Word on Semantics A Note on Dates Map of Central Asia part i. how the silk road influenced the food you eat 1. Introduction 2. Plants on the Silk Road 3. The Silk and Spice Routes part i i. artifacts of the silk road in your kitchen 4. The Millets 5. Rice and Other Ancient Grains 6. Barley 7. The Wheats 8. Legumes 9. Grapes and Apples 10. Other Fruits and Nuts 11. Leafy Vegetables, Roots, and Stems 12. Spices, Oils, and Tea 13. ConclusionAppendix: European Travelers along the Silk Road Acknowledgments Notes References Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis pocket guide allows the identification of all species of orchid in the British Isles.The orchid family is one of the largest plant families in the world, reaching its highest diversity in the tropics where their exotic and colourful flowers are often truly breathtaking. Britain and Ireland have just 52 species of wild orchid, some of which are rare or scarce, whilst others are surprisingly inconspicuous. Yet, whether large or small, all orchids share flamboyant flower structures and incredible beauty.It has concise text highlighting ID criteria as well as notes on biology, habitat and conservation, along with stunning colour photographs and accurate range maps based on maps compiled by the Biological Record Centre. This book provides the perfect guide to these beautiful and evocative plants, and is a must for any field naturalist.Trade ReviewThe 52 species are covered in good detail with plenty of information on identification, habitat and the current status of the plant. The photographs are superb and made me want to rush out straightaway and start hunting. I wish I had had this book to gloat over in early hunting days and would recommend it to all. * Wild Flower Magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction Why this book? What is an orchid? Orchids and Fungi Orchid Seeds Pollination Orchid Conversation Notes on the species accounts Species Accounts Additional species Glossary Index of species

Read more less

Book Synopsis"Anyone purchasing a greenhouse should read this book first." -Home Greenhouse Magazine Do you want homegrown tomatoes in the dead of winter? Or to grow succulents and cacti in the coldest parts of the world? All you need is a greenhouse. In The Greenhouse Gardener's Manual, Roger Marshall shares the secrets of successfully growing vegetables, fruits, flowers, and houseplants in a well-maintained greenhouse. You'll learn how to choose the right design, create a healthy environment, use the space for propagation, and maintain the greenhouse year-round. Marshall also includes a plant directory of the 70 best fruits and vegetables and the 88 best ornamental plants for growing in a greenhouse.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCalling all budding explorers! The Animal Explorers series will inspireyou to follow your dreams. In Lola the Plant Hunter,Lola the adventurous polar bear follows her passion for plants. . . all the way to the Amazon jungle! Mini biographies at the endof the book tell the amazing stories of three real-life plant-huntingexplorers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis wonderfully illustrated book is a snapshot of our extensive national collection of botanical books, herbarium specimens and archival material. With more than three million preserved plant specimens and 70,000 books to choose from, the selection is just a sample of the treasures we hold, offering a glimpse into this unique collection. From objects that tell tales of daring plant collectors, to specimens of plants now extinct, historical maps and diaries, a letter from Charles Darwin and innovative nature printing techniques, this book showcases an international collection that reflects the rich scientific history of Scotland and is still used every day in our work to explore, explain and conserve the world of plants. This book won runner up in the Best New Publications category of the Association for Cultural Enterprises Awards 2015.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE TS ELIOT PRIZE FOR POETRY 2020 WINNER OF THE SCOTTISH BOOK AWARDS' POETRY BOOK OF THE YEAR A POETRY BOOK SOCIETY RECOMMENDATION SHORTLISTED FOR THE JOHN POLLARD FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL POETRY PRIZE "Whip-smart, sonically gorgeous" - Rae Armantrout, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning Versed When Louis Pasteur observed the process of fermentation, he noted that, while most organisms perished from lack of oxygen, some were able to thrive as 'life without air'. In this capricious, dreamlike collection, characters and scenes traverse states of airlessness, from suffocating relationships and institutions, to toxic environments and ecstatic asphyxiations. Both compassionate and ecologically nuanced, this innovative collection bridges poetry and prose to interrogate the conditions necessary for survival.Trade ReviewLafarge's is a fierce, clear-eyed poetry that expresses the sticky relationality between human pain and non-human destruction; the unsettling intimacy of our shared afflictions * Guardian *Startlingly fresh, at once assertive and tender, light and dark, she manages to be consistently surprising-often in unexpected ways. The range of work showcased here is impressive in itself; add the dry wit, a flare for the surreal and bright flashes of lost reality [...] and try not to be wholly engaged, refreshed and enthused -- Janice Galloway'Daisy Lafarge's Life Without Air is a whip-smart, sonically gorgeous exploration of the personal, cultural, and historical ties that bind us in literally and figuratively toxic relationships. From the marram beach grass that supports the dunes that threaten to choke it in "Desecration Air" to the toxic lakes created by rare earth mining that power our "green" technologies in "Dredging Baotou Lake," Lafarge shows us how deeply embedded we are with what harms us. These poems are as subtle and complex as the insidious relationships they illustrate. Life Without Air is the right book for our far-gone moment -- Rae Armantrout, author of Pulitzer Prized winning * Versed *The eye's visual field is only 5%, only 5% of what we see is in focus. Daisy Lafarge's poems specialise in reclaiming what we lose to habitual perception, and her language has the directness and exactitude of a specialised lexis; not jargon, but a methodical application to its subject. Daisy's poems look through a microscope: her language like a lens delicately rendering to make sense of things; a view so complicated by its alert optics and detailing that we lose an ordinary sense of what it is we're looking at; but what we gain is a heightened sense of its surfaces, its light, its mechanics. We exchange the outlines of life for a small, truer piece of the matter itself. Like pond water pushed through a soda stream, or language diffusing through the permeable membrane of the wall of the cell, exchanging complex sugars, changing its behaviour -- Jack Underwood, author of * Happiness *Warm-blooded and intimate as much as it is mind-expanding * New Statesman *A vivid and evocative collection... Fusing science, literature and art, Lafarge intellectually explores the ecosystem that human environments can permeate... Lafarge has set the bar high with this wonderful debut collection * The Fountain *This book's poetry deftly melds nonhuman, environmental exploration with biting considerations of misogyny and toxic relationships. It's fiercely original, strange and vital -- Books of the Year * Ignota *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 1975 the Royal Government of Bhutan commissioned the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to produce the first-ever Flora of this fascinating country.The 9 published volumes provide in-depth information on 230 families of plants including descriptions, keys

Read more less

Book SynopsisVolume 2 of this revised edition of Tropical Fruits examines the more specialist tropical fruits such as guava, durian, mangosteen, passion fruits and palm fruits. With growing interest in the cultivation, production, study, sales and marketability of these specialist fruits, this is a timely and informative book. Topics like botany, soil and climate requirements, cultivar development, world production and harvesting and postharvest handling are covered in-depth for each crop. This practical and accessible book is an ideal text for Horticulture academics, researchers, extension workers, students, breeders, growers and policy makers.Table of Contents1: Annonas: Soursop and Rollinia 2: Breadfruit, Jackfruit, Chempedak and Marang 3: Carambola and Bilimbi 4: Durian 5: Guava 6: Mangosteen 7: Rambutan and Pulasan 8: Passion Fruit and Giant Passion Fruit 9: Palms 10: Other African Fruits: Tamarind, Marula and Ackee 11: Other Tropical Asian and Pacific Fruit 12: American Fruit 13: Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisNow it's the turn of wild shrublands to stimulate naturalistic planting design. Shrubs have a raw beauty and wild otherness that make them a striking presence in the landscape and a rich source of inspiration for gardeners. Shrubs are tough: they thrive in the hottest of deserts roadcuts, make homes in abandoned pasture, and march reliably northward as we warm the earth. Shrubs excel at sharing communities with other living things and this book demonstrates how their adaptability and reciprocities are so valuable in a time of global climate change. Shrouded in Light takes us on a journey through a glorious underworld of wild shrublands including blasted heathland, rolling sagebrush and bone-dry steppe. The authors capture the spirit of each place, consider the key protagonists in each plant community, and propose multiple garden design applications. This book is a thrilling call to create gardens and landscapes that emulate wild shrublands and celebrate their ability to surprise

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA beautifully illustrated natural history memoir that reminds the reader that re-storying our relationship with the plants of home can be our first step in restoring the world.In a world made precarious by human mobility, all of us can learn from those who root in place. Plants surround us, yet all too often we ignore their quiet and complex lives. When a new job brings botanist and artist Lyn Baldwin back to her childhood home in southern British Columbia, she is challenged to confront both the cost of her mobility and the assumptions of her profession. If nearly three decades spent in motion gave Lyn scientific credentials and a career, it also made her a stranger to home and country. Lonely and homesick, Lyn runs outside. She doesn't go farrarely more than a day's drive from Kamloops, BCbut within the pages of her field journal, the slow confluence of art and science allows Lyn to learn not just about but from the green wisdom of her neighbours.Tutored by the plants of forest and garden, wilderness and wetland, Lyn realizes that her botany never has been, and never will be, a placeless science. Instead, Drawing Botany Home gives Lyn the metaphors to reconcile the dark horror of settler/Indigenous relations and the hard edges of her own childhood: poverty, a traumatic fire, unwanted stepfathers, a hippie mother.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA plant's botanical name does more than give it a unique label. The name can often reveal where it originated, who discovered it, what shape it is, and more besides. This book is an indispensible guide, making the subject accessible and enjoyable, showing not only how plant names work, but also how you can make use of them in practical ways.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCharles Darwin is best known for his work on the evolution of animals, but in fact a large part of his contribution to the natural sciences is focused on plants. His observations are crucial to our modern understanding of everything from the amazing pollination process of orchids to the way that vines climb. Darwin and the Art of Botany collects writings from six often overlooked texts devoted entirely to plants, and pairs each excerpt with beautiful botanical art from the library at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, creating a gorgeously illustrated volume that never existed in Darwin's own lifetime, and hasn't since. Evolutionary botanist and science historian James Costa brings his expertise to each entry, situating Darwin's words in the context of the knowledge and research of the time. The result is a new way of visualizing Darwin's work, and a greater understanding of the ways he's shaped our world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow herbaria illuminate the past and future of plant scienceTrade Review“This book opens a window on a fascinating, rarely explored subject.”—Jack Watkins, Country Life“Access to most herbaria is restricted: biologist Maura Flannery knew ‘almost nothing’ about them until 2010, when a US curator took her behind the scenes at one and she fell in love with them. Her history dramatizes this revelation, discussing global collections and collectors using fine period drawings.”—Andrew Robinson, Nature“This book is the fruit of [Flannery’s] exploration into [plant’s] vital importance but also what they tell us about history, culture, aesthetics and ethnobotany.”—Ursula Buchan, The Spectator“An enchanting travelogue ranging across centuries of plant collecting, In the Herbarium is also an urgent reminder of the value of natural history collections to science, the humanities, and art.”—Yota Batsaki, Dumbarton Oaks“In this engaging, never-before-told story, Maura Flannery shows us how the herbarium has been at the center of our centuries-long quest to understand the world of plants.”—Peter Crane, author of Ginkgo and president, Oak Spring Garden Foundation“Maura Flannery’s love of all things botanical permeates through her writing, creating a story of botany past, present, and future seen through the lens of the herbarium.”—Caroline Cornish, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew“A stimulating and informative book to be read (and re-read) from cover to cover as a source of enjoyment, enlightenment and inspiration.”—D. S. Ingram, joint lead author/editor of Science and the Garden“A very useful and timely overview of the long history of engagement with botanical knowledge.”—Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis, author of Unifying Biology: The Evolutionary Synthesis and Evolutionary Biology

Read more less

Book SynopsisA revealing exploration of mosses and lichens, unsung heroes of the natural world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMosses have a spectacular diversity of beautiful and surprising forms. They are nearly always, what we as humans would consider, small; but they play a critical role in climate change prevention and have an ability to hold and control water in forests, uplands and valleys. Hidden World of Mosses explores the tiny, intriguing environments of these plants that have their own miniature forests filled with grazers and predators, and their own ecological norms and mechanics.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe smash-hit Sunday Times bestseller that will transform your understanding of our planet and life itself.'Astonishing ... it seems somehow to tip the natural world upside down' Observer'Completely mind-blowing ... reads like an adventure story' Sunday Times*WINNER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY BOOK PRIZE 2021**WINNER OF THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR CONSERVATION WRITING 2021*The more we learn about fungi, the less makes sense without them. They can change our minds, heal our bodies and even help us avoid environmental disaster; they are metabolic masters, earth-makers and key players in most of nature's processes. In Entangled Life, Merlin Sheldrake takes us on a mind-altering journey into their spectacular world, and reveals how these extraordinary organisms transform our understanding of our planet and life itself.'Dazzling, vibrant, vision-changing' Robert Macfarlane'Urgent, astounding and necessary' Helen Macdonald'Gorgeous!' Margaret Atwood (on Twitter)'Wonderful' Nigella Lawson'This book is like one surprise after another' David Byrne'Uplifting' Jeanette Winterson*SHORTLISTED FOR THE RATHBONES FOLIO PRIZE 2021**SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021** A Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, New Statesman, The Times, Evening Standard, Mail on Sunday, BBC Science Focus and Time Book of the Year *Trade ReviewAfter this book, nothing will seem the same again . . . beautifully written and illustrated . . . dazzling . . . reveals a world that's both more extraordinary and more delicate than could be imagined * Mail on Sunday *Riveting and surprising at every turn . . . A sensory as well as an intellectual pleasure * New Statesman *Wondrous . . . Humans should consider fungi among the greatest of earth's marvels * Time, Books of the Year *Mind-boggling . . . It's tempting . . . to see fungi as the biological model for a better world * Telegraph *Truly astounding . . . An engrossing, captivating journey * Spectator *Gorgeous, intelligent, utterly absorbing . . . it expands our world, and makes us look up from the page with renewed wonder * Irish Times *One of those rare books that can truly change the way you see the world around you . . . revelatory . . . astounding . . . and brimming with infectious joy -- HELEN MACDONALD, author of H is for HawkA true masterpiece, a thrilling and fascinating insight into the living world . . . I hope and trust that it will become an instant classic -- GEORGE MONBIOTBlew my mind . . . Essential reading. Go and get swept up in a new world -- ANDREA WULF, author of The Invention of NatureAstonishing . . . it's impossible to finish this book without feeling awestruck -- ANDREW MOTION, TLS Books of the YearDelightful to read but also grand and dizzying in how thoroughly it recalibrates our understanding of the natural world -- ED YONG, author of An Immense WorldSentence after sentence stopped me short. I ended it wonderstruck at the fungal world - the secrets of which modern science is only now beginning to fathom - and the earth-shaking, hierarchy-breaking implications of Sheldrake's argument. A remarkable work by a remarkable writer -- ROBERT MACFARLANE, author of UnderlandA revelation . . . Changes the way we need to look at life, the planet and ourselves -- ISABELLA TREE, author of WildingWonderfully written . . . surprising . . . The best science writing invites people to view the world around them in a new way, and Entangled Life is a perfect example -- BRIAN COXThis is a book that, by virtue of the power of its writing, shifts your sense of the human . . . It will inspire a generation -- MICHAEL POLLAN (Bay Area Book Festival, 2020)I have been working on and reading and writing about fungi for a decade. And yet, nearly every page of this book contained either an observation so interesting or a turn of phrase so lovely that I was moved to slow down, stop, and reread . . . This book rocked me into remembering that nature, especially fungal nature, is big and encompassing and creative and destructive. It reminded me that fungi are, like the Universe, sublime -- Rob Dunn * Science *A magical journey deep into the roots of Nature by an expert storyteller . . . a must-read for citizen scientists hoping to make a positive difference on this sacred planet we share -- PAUL STAMETS, author of Mycelium RunningReading this book, I felt surrounded by a web of wonder. The natural world is more fantastic than any fantasy, so long as you have the means to perceive it. This book provides the means -- JARON LANIER, author of Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right NowYou may never look at fungi in the same way . . . an eye-opening exploration of this mysterious taxonomic kingdom . . . a journey into an untapped world. It is both a wonderful collection of fungal feats . . and a personal account of Sheldrake's experiences with these miraculous organisms * New Scientist *Brilliant . . . entrancing . . . when we look closely [at fungi], we meet large, unsettling questions . . . Merlin Sheldrake . . . carries us easily into these questions with ebullience and precision . . . challenging some of our deepest assumptions * Guardian *A joy . . . a captivating trip into the weird and wonderful mycorrhizal world around us - and inside us . . . full of startling revelations * Daily Mail *The oddest and most uplifting book . . . It is, to say the least, rare to find such a vast area of life on Earth - fungi - about which one knows almost nothing, and which gives promise of being so important to human life during our next century -- ANDREW MARR * New Statesman Books of the Year *If you had told me a book about fungi would be both enthralling and completely mind-blowing, I wouldn't have believed you. And yet. Dazzlingly good -- INDIA KNIGHT, Sunday TimesA triumph and a thing of vast beauty -- TOM HODGKINSON, The IdlerFungi are everywhere, and Merlin Sheldrake is an ideal guide to their mysteries. He's passionate, deeply knowledgeable and a wonderful writer -- ELIZABETH KOLBERT, author of Under A White SkyDeeply engaging and constantly surprising . . . the magic of mushrooms is not merely mind-expanding . . . it might expand the very concept of mind -- PHILIP BALL * Prospect *As hard to put down as a thrilling detective novel, and one of the best works of popular science writing that I have enjoyed in years -- DENNIS MCKENNA, author (with Terence McKenna) of Psilocybin: Magic Mushroom Grower’s GuideIt is impossible to put this book down. Entangled Life provides a window into the mind-boggling biology and fascinating cultures surrounding fungal life, as well as fungi’s innumerable uses in materials, medicine and ecology. Sheldrake asks us to consider a life-form that is radically alien to ours, yet vibrant and lively underfoot -- HANS ULRICH OBRISTThis is not just for mushroom-heads - it is science at its most uplifting -- JEANETTE WINTERSON * The Times *Playful, strange, intensely philosophical ... Until very recently, human knowledge of this most mysterious lifeform, neither plant nor animal, has been extremely limited. This is astounding, given ... their seismic impact on life on earth ... [Sheldrake's] central vision of the interconnectedness of all life-forms feels shiveringly prescient' * Telegraph *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis delightful celebration of the dahlia reads like a “very smart love letter to cultivating beauty” and features 60+ vintage-inspired full-color botanical illustrations (Seattle Times).“Next time you are lucky enough to be someone’s houseguest, consider arriving with a bouquet of either one of the Little Book of Flowers.”—The New York TimesDahlias are the showboats of the flower world—colorful, flamboyant, and spectacular. They're also one of the most satisfying flowers to grow, with a long season, plentiful blooms, and are adaptable to most climates with proper care. They're very easy to propagate, and can be hybridized. There are numerous dahlia flower forms and more than 50,000 recognized cultivars!This charming little hardcover book includes: 60+ full-color botanical illustrations basic botany and history everything you need to know to grow gorgeous blooms in the garden (including dividing tubers to propagate more flowers) tips for creating beautiful arrangements and preserving flowers quotes, lore, and notable gardens and growers Like a bouquet of dahlias, this book is an affordable little luxury for gardeners and flower lovers—the perfect hostess gift or Mother's Day present. It’s part of the collectible mini gift book series Little Book of Natural Wonders.Trade Review"Next time you are lucky enough to be someone’s houseguest, consider arriving with a bouquet of either one of the Little Book of Flowers. . . Each book includes snappy discussions of the origins of the species, cultivation techniques and suggestions for display. The charm lies in Poole’s art. . . there’s a distinctly retro appeal to the watercolors here, which slow you down to linger over crinkled petals and bombshell flower heads. These books don’t pretend to be encyclopedic; rather, Weaver is discerning in her choices."—New York Times"In 'A Little Book of Flowers,' a new series of single bloom titles, author Tara Austen Weaver weaves together basic botany and culture. Each posey-size volume reads like a very smart love letter to cultivating beauty. . . Charming illustrations by Emily Poole and numerous quotes tug at our horticultural heartstrings, while a serviceable glossary and resource section at the back of each book indulge our yearning to grow more flowers and deepen our knowledge of the natural world."—Seattle Times, Pacific NW Magazine"If the words "hidden gem" make you sit up and pay attention, this just may be the perfect book for the nature lover on your list!...It’s a must for flower fans. If you wanted to give a lavish gift, pair this with a fresh flower subscription."—Modern Mrs. Darcy

Read more less

Book SynopsisKoberwitz, Whitsun 1924: Rudolf Steiner had just completed his momentous lecture course on biodynamic agriculture and was waiting for a car to take him to the station. Suddenly he was approached by two of his pupils with an urgent question: Would his new indications for treating soil and vegetables be sufficient to provide, '...nutrition appropriate to our times and in accordance with the spirit?' Steiner's frank response was somewhat surprising: 'It will not be sufficient even in the most favourable circumstances. What should be done is to cultivate the Dioscorea batatas in Europe so that it can take over from the potato as the staple diet.' In the many decades since that conversation, various attempts have been made to cultivate Dioscorea batatas - the 'light root' - in Europe, initially by Steiner's close colleague Guenther Wachsmuth. More recently, biodynamic farmer Ralf Roessner began to research the plant and its background, but soon discovered problems with the specimens available in Europe. Unsatisfied with the standard of the plants, in 2002 he travelled to the original growing areas of Dioscorea batatas in China, where he was able to form a comprehensive picture of the best planting methods and conditions. 'The nodules which I found and brought back with me', he writes, 'showed similar light ether characteristics to the original plants of Wachsmuth's'. Having successfully cultivated and marketed this light root, Roessner presents some carefully assembled introductory materials based on his experiences and those of a colleague. This small book, illustrated with colour images, is intended for people who wish to discover more about the plant's being and spiritual mission as a 'helper of progress'. Roessner explains how the light root stores 'light ether' in a unique manner, making it not only a valuable food, but also a 'carrier of the spirit'. This light root could even '...decisively influence the development of humanity and the earth'. Aside from studying esoteric aspects, he gives answers to frequently-asked practical questions about the plant and its cultivation.Trade Review'This plant is the only one which is in a position to store light ether; this will be indispensable for people in future.' - Rudolf SteinerTable of ContentsForeword Initial approaches Beginnings Historical aspects The plant Special characteristics of the light root, compared with ordinary yams Methods of cultivation Nutritional significance The light root: considerations based on spiritual scientific research - thesis (2005) Tips for cooking and processing Healing Properties A Consideration of the plant being of the light root - thesis (2005) Concluding thoughts Bibliography

Read more less

Book SynopsisMit der komplett überarbeiteten Neuauflage dieser seit Jahrzehnten bewährten und ständig aktualisierten Exkursionsflora können Gefäßpflanzen und nun erstmals auch Armleuchteralgen sicher bestimmt und Wissenswertes über ihre Verbreitung, Ökologie und Soziologie nachgeschlagen werden.Besondere Vorzüge des Werkes sind: Bestimmungshilfen auch für schwierige Gruppen Bestimmungsschlüssel für Armleuchteralgen aktuelle wissenschaftliche Nomenklatur mit Angabe der korrekten Betonung vollständig überarbeitete Angaben zur Verbreitung in Deutschland, differenzierte Informationen über Status und Häufigkeit aktualisierte Daten zu Standort und Soziologie Kurzdiagnosen zum Gesamtareal der Arten Angaben zu Wuchsform, Biologie und Chromosomenzahl in Deutschland Zusammen mit Atlasband und Kritischem Ergänzungsband bildet der vorliegende Grundband die umfassendste aktuelle Darstellung der deutschen Flora. Für die 22. Auflage wurden alle Angaben durchgesehen und aktualisiert, zahlreiche Arten wurden neu aufgenommen. Trade Review“... Gerade für Deutschland wohl unbestritten, unübertroffen und unverzichtbar. Aber auch außerhalb der deutschen Grenzen ist der Rothmaler ein wichtiger Ergänzungsschlüssel zu den regionalen Florenwerken. Das Buch wird von uns somit als Must-have eingestuft!” (Steffen Boch & Christophe Bornand, in: Kochia, Jg. 16, 2023) “… ein aktuelles und zuverlässiges Bestimmungswerk für die deutsche Flora.” (A. Fleischmann, in : Berichte der Bayerischen Botanischen Gesellschaft, Jg. 92, 2022)“... Der Grundband des ‚Rothmalers‘ ist auch in der aktuellen Auflage ein hervorragendes, kompaktes Bestimmungswerk und ermöglicht einen umfassenden Zugang zur Pflanzenwelt Deutschlands. ... Das Werk liegt auch nach dem Herausgeberwechsel in den Händen ausgezeichneter Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler, die mit den behandelten Arten und manchen Tücken der Bestimmung bestens vertraut sind und ist uneingeschränkt zur Nutzung zu empfehlen ...” (Peter Schütze, in: Mitteilungen zur floristischen Kartierung in Sachsen-Anhalt, Jg. 27, 2022) Table of ContentsEinleitung.- Ordnung und Benennung der Pflanzen.- Bau der Pflanzen.- Biologie der Pflanzen.- Verbreitung der Pflanzen.- Vergesellschaftung der Pflanzen.- Naturschutz.- Anleitung zum Bestimmen.- Tabellen zum Bestimmen.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSeit 120 Jahren liegt die Stärke des STRASBURGERs in der ausgewogenen Darstellung aller Teilgebiete der Pflanzenwissenschaften. In der vorliegenden 38. Auflage sind besonders die Teile Struktur und Entwicklung stark überarbeitet worden. • Der Teil Struktur beschreibt den pflanzlichen Aufbau ausgehend von der Ebene der Zelle über die Gewebe bis hin zur Ebene der Organe. Bei der Neufassung dieser Kapitel war es ein besonderes Anliegen, Struktur als Ausdruck von Funktion sichtbar zu machen. Neben einer Beschreibung der Formen wurde versucht, die Erklärung dieser Formen stärker zu gewichten. Der Teil Genetik wurde neustrukturiert und aktualisiert. • Der Teil Genetik wurde neustrukturiert und aktualisiert. Insbesondere die Bereiche Epigenetik und Gentechnik wurden erweitert. Hier spielen Weiterentwicklungen der Gentechnik zur gezielten Genomveränderung eine Rolle. Die methodischen Hintergründe werden im neuen Abschnitt Genomeditierung beschrieben.Der ebenfalls neu gestaltete Teil Entwicklung spiegelt die im Teil Strukturbehandelten Ebenen (Zelle, Gewebe, Organ, Organismus) wider, wobei das Werden dieser Ebenen im Mittelpunkt steht. Es werden zentrale Konzepte der Entwicklungsbiologie an Beispielen aus dem Pflanzenreich geschildert. In den anschließenden Kapiteln geht es dann um die Steuerung dieser Vorgänge durch Phytohormone und den Einfluss endogener und exogener regulatorischer Faktoren.• Im Teil Physiologie werden ausgehend von der Beschreibung grundlegender Transport- und Stoffwechselprozesse die Anpassung des pflanzlichen Stoffwechsels an entwicklungs- und umweltbedingte Veränderungen betrachtet. Die Abschnitte zum Primärstoffwechsel wurden ergänzt und überarbeitet und die übrigen Teile aktualisiert.• Der evolutionäre Prozess, die Phylogenie und Systematik der Pflanzen und anderer photoautotropher Eukaryoten sowie die Geschichte der Vegetation der Erde sind Inhalt des Teils Evolution und Systematik. • Im Ökologie-Teil wird die Pflanze in Beziehung zu den Lebensbedingungen am Wuchsort gesetzt. Pflanzliche Reaktionen auf Klima und Bodenfaktoren, Prozesse in Populationen und Artengemeinschaften sowie die großen Vegetationszonen der Erde werden erklärt. In dieser neu überarbeiteten Auflage wurden einige Abbildungen und Textstellen hinzugefügt sowie die Literatur aktualisiert.Der Tradition dieses einzigartigen Standardwerkes entsprechend soll es Studierenden als vierfarbig bebildertes Lehrbuch und Dozenten aller bio-, umwelt- und agrarwissenschaftlichen Fachrichtungen als verlässliches Nachschlage- und Referenzwerk dienen.Trade Review“… Insgesamt ist das Buch allen Studierenden in verschiedenen Modulen der grünen Biologie zu empfehlen, angefangen von der Allgemeinen Botanik über Pflanzenphysiologie, Zellbiologie oder Ökologie bis hin zur Systematik. Für die Lehrenden in der gymnasialen Oberstufe oder im biologischen Grundstudium ist der neue Strasburger eine sichere und umfassende Informationsquelle …” (Christian Wilhelm, in: BIOspektrum, Heft 1, 1. Februar 2022)Table of ContentsTeil I Struktur.- 1 Struktur und Funktion der Zelle.- 2 Die Gewebe der Gefäßpflanzen.- 3 Funktionelle Morphologie und Anatomie der Gefäßpflanzen.- Teil II Genetik.- 4 Die genetischen Systeme der Pflanzenzelle.- 5 Grundlagen der Genaktivität.- 6 Grundlagen der Biosynthese und des Abbaus von Proteinen.- 7 Grundlagen der Vererbung.- 8 Mutationen.- 9 Epigenetische Regulation.- 10 Gentechnik.- Teil III Entwicklung.- 11 Von der Zelle zum Organismus - Prinzipien der pflanzlichen Entwicklung.- 12 Kontrolle der Entwicklung durch Phytohormone.- 13 Kontrolle der Entwicklung durch Außenfaktoren.- Teil IV Physiologie.- 14 Stoffwechselphysiologie.- 15 Bewegungsphysiologie.- 16 Allelophysiologie.- Teil V Evolution und Systematik.- 17 Evolution.- 18 Methoden der Systematik.- 19 Stammesgeschichte und Systematik der Bakterien, Archaeen, "Pilze", Pflanzen und anderer photoautotropher Eukaryoten.- 20 Vegetationsgeschichte.- Teil VI Ökologie.- 21 Grundlagen der Pflanzenökologie.- 22 Pflanzen im Lebensraum.- 23 Populations- und Vegetationsökologie.- 24 Vegetation der Erde.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn informative and entertaining look at why plants have been used in magic and what that tells us about people and plants in a post-magic world.

Read more less

Book Synopsis A practical card deck packed with traditional and modern discoveries to help you explore life-enhancing medicinal plants Organised by common health complaints: From arnica for aching muscles to sage for the mind and memory, many common garden plants have provided relief in traditional medicine, and continue to be useful in home-grown remedies Supported by experts at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK.  Packaged in an attractive gift box containing 60 cards organised into tabbed sections.  The perfect gift for gardeners and anyone who wants to support their health with herbal and medicinal plant knowledge  Discover the power of plants!Explore the flowers, leaves, roots, and seeds that have been used for millennia to improve health and wellbeing. Which plants are thought to promote healthy digestion, or have anti-inflammatory properties? Which have been used to treat skin issues or acheing muscles? And what about a stubborn cough? Organized by common complaints, each of the 60 cards offers insights into a plant''s traditional uses, as well as modern discoveries and details of how it grows. The box opens with a hinged lid to reveal eight categories: circulation, digestion, inflammation, infection, skin issues, aches & pain, respiratory conditions, and mind & wellbeing, and 60 illustrated plant cards. Endorsed by experts at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this deck provides an enlightening introduction to the world of medicinal plants.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPossibly the most comprehensive and user-friendly ethnobotanical guidebook available in the Pacific Northwest, Gifted Earth features traditional Native American plant knowledge, detailing the use of plants for food, medicines, and materials.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLichens make excellent material for field studies throughout the year and are valuable for the detection and mapping of pollution. This book provides an overview of the value of lichens for monitoring a range of potentially harmful substances including sulphur dioxide, fluorides, PCBs, metals and radioactive elements. In each section background information is provided and case studies briefly described to enable the reader to appreciate the potential applications of lichens for monitoring each type of environmental pollutant. To help with the problems of identifying lichens, coloured illustrations are provided of species that commonly grow on trees together with an identification key and direction to more advanced texts for lichens growing on other surfaces. This book is a digital reprint (without updates) of ISBN 0-85546-289-5 (1992).Table of ContentsIntroduction Natural history, Sulphur dioxide and acid rain Fluorides Aromatic hydrocarbons Metals Transplant studies Radioactive elements Invertebrate fauna Identification Original work: techniques and approaches References and further reading Useful addresses

Read more less

Book SynopsisFind edible wild plants in this seasonal foraging guide for beginnersA friendly, honest guide for wary would-be foragersOnly plants that are easy to find, easy to identify and tastyClear photographic guides to the speciesWe all love the idea of foraging as a way of being connected to nature and discovering new tastes. But in reality, most of us are very wary, and sometimes a bit underwhelmed when we do try. What's needed is this totally honest, safety-first guide for softy first-time foragers. This book concentrates on 40 plants that are easy to identify and worth the effort plants that are tasty and abundant in the wild or in gardens and parks. There are simple recipes to try as well. This isn't an armchair guide for people dreaming of being Ray Mears or Bear Grylls. It's for everyday people who lives in towns and suburbs as well as the countryside, and who want to get a little closer to nature and discover new tastes, without stress.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis one-semester text is designed for an upper level botany course. Plants in our World emphasizes how people use plants; including fundamental information on morphology, anatomy, and taxonomy as a foundation of general botany. Now in full color, the fourth edition includes molecular data that has immensely altered the understanding of relationships among flowering plants and recently pinpointed the origin of numerous crops. Taxonomy of species has been updated to discuss the system of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group.Table of ContentsChapter 1 Plants in Our World Chapter 2 Origins of an Agricultural Way of Life Chapter 3 Human Manipulation of Plants Chapter 4 Fruits and Nuts of Temperate Regions Chapter 5 Fruits and Nuts of Warm Regions Chapter 6 Old World Grains Chapter 7 New World Grains and Forage Grasses Chapter 8 Legumes Chapter 9 Foods from Stems and Leaves Chapter 10 Foods from Roots, Tubers, and Rhizomes Chapter 11 Vegetable Oils and Waxes Chapter 12 Hydrocolloids, Elastic Latexes, and Resins Chapter 13 Herbs, Spices, and Perfumes Chapter 14 Medicinal Plants Chapter 15 Psychoactive Drugs and Poisons from Plants Chapter 16 Stimulating Beverages Chapter 17 Alcoholic Beverages Chapter 18 Fibers, Dyes, and Tannins Chapter 19 Wood, Cork, and Bamboo Chapter 20 Ornamental Plants Chapter 21 Future Trends

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisOutlines how to recognize, treat, and prevent plant diseases. This work covers plant diseases such as abiotic, fungal, viral, bacterial, nematode and others. It includes information on molecular techniques and biological control in plant diseases. It also covers the genetics of resistance and management of these diseases.Trade Review"I have mentioned to numerous undergraduate and graduate students during the past two decades that plant pathologists are indeed fortunate to have the text Plant Pathology by George N. Agrios as an accessible, comprehensive reference on many aspects of phytopathology...The content of the fifth edition (922 pages) represents a significant expansion of content from the fourth edition (635 pages)...there are numerous new sections within individual chapters. Revised chapters contain significant expansion of text, figures, and photographs. A new feature of the book is shaded text boxes that contain brief articles of separate but related topics...Overall, the extensive use of color in the fifth edition readily accomplishes 'the author's dream to have all the figures in color' and is a welcome addition to this new edition...The comprehensive index to the text is very helpful as topics, pathogens, and diseases are all cross-indexed...Overall, the fifth edition is a welcome addition to the literature on plant pathology, and is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in this area of study." --G.J. Boland, University of Guelph, in AGRICULTURE, ECOSYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENT "Plant Pathology by George Agrios is a comprehensive treatise for those within or coming into this field. The fifth edition is partially built on the compilations of the previous editions, however, like following Dorothy from the black and white of Kansas to the color land of Oz, the addition of color has dramatically enhanced the clarity of photos and diagrams. This change is important for correctly identifying the plant disease symptoms. The photos, diagrams and text can be understood by readers ranging from master gardeners to basic researchers. The book's past reputation as the plant pathology "bible" is definitely enhanced and the price remains reasonable...With this book as a text, no excuse remains for a poorly taught plant pathology course." --Lee Hadwiger for PLANT SCIENCE "This has become a very comprehensive book that every plant pathologist should have for reference. All students should be familiar with this book and it should be a part of their educational experience." --Patrick E. Lipps, Ohio State University "Agrios’ text is the standard introductory work for the discipline of plant pathology. There is no single volume which matches it for breadth of topics and detail of coverage." --Jeanne D. Mihail, University of Missouri Praise for the previous edition: "...a classic textbook embracing the whole of plant pathology, ideal for undergraduate courses and for those associated with research and practice of applied plant pathology in all climatic regions. The new, larger format and extensive use of high quality illustrations (including colour plates) and the widespread use of annotated flow diagrams to show pathogen life cycles, the gene-for-gene concept, forecasting of epidemics and procedures for isolation and culture of pathogens are all exceedingly well done. I recommend this book highly for teaching and reference." -- EXPERIMENTAL AGRICULTURETable of Contents1. GENERAL ASPECTS 2. PARASITISM AND DISEASE DEVELOPMENT 3. EFFECTS OF PATHOGENS ON PLANT PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS 4. GENETICS OF PLANT DISEASE 5. HOW PATHOGENS ATTACK PLANTS 6. HOW PLANTS DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST PATHOGENS 7. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLANT DISEASE 8. PLANT DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY 9. CONTROL OF PLANT DISEASES 10. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT CAUSE PLANT DISEASES 11. PLANT DISEASES CAUSED BY FUNGI 12. PLANT DISEASES CAUSED BY PROKARYOTES: BACTERIA AND MOLLICUTES 13. PLANT DISEASES CAUSED BY PARASITIC HIGHER PLANTS, INVASIVE HIGHER PLANTS, AND PARASITIC GREEN PLANTS. 14. PLANT DISEASES CAUSED BY VIRUSES 15. PLANT DISEASES CAUSED BY NEMATODES 16. PLANT DISEASES CAUSED BY FLAGELLATE PROTOZOA

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisContains information on many topics, such as fruit/seed heteromorphism, breaking of physical dormancy and effects of inbreeding depression on germination. This title presents the information on the ecology, biogeography and evolution of seeds provides a thorough overview of whole-seed biology that will facilitate and help focus research efforts.Trade Review"Researchers, students, and professionals will find it invaluable, particularly if they are interested in plant ecology, evolution, diversity, biogeography, or conservation . Summing Up: Highly recommended." --ChoiceTable of ContentsSeeds: Ecology, biogeography, and evolution of dormancy and germination Second Edition Carol C. Baskin and Jerry M. Baskin Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Ecologically Meaningful Germination Studies Chapter 3. Types of Seeds and Kinds of Seed Dormancy Chapter 4. Germination Ecology of Seeds with Nondeep Physiological Dormancy Chapter 5. Germination Ecology of Seeds with Morphophysiological Dormancy Chapter 6. Germination Ecology of Seeds with Physical Dormancy Chapter 7. Germination Ecology of Seeds in the Persistent Seed Bank Chapter 8. Variation in Seed Dormancy, Germination and Size Within and Between Individuals and Populations of a Species Chapter 9. A Geographical Perspective on Germination Ecology: Tropical and Subtropical Zones Chapter 10. A Geographical Perspective on Germination Ecology: Temperate and Arctic Zones Chapter 11. Germination Ecology of Plants with Specialized Life Cycles and/or Habitats Chapter 12. Biogeographical and Evolutionary Aspects of Seed Dormancy References Subject Index Taxonomic Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. A Leaf Cell Consists of Several Metabolic Compartments 2. The Use of Energy from Sunlight by Photosynthesis is the Basis of Life on Earth 3. Photosynthesis is an Electron Transport Process 4. ATP is Generated by Photosynthesis 5. Mitochondria are the Power Station of the Cell 6. The Calvin Cycle Catalyzes Photosynthetic CO2 Assimilation 7. Phosphoglycolate Formed by the Oxygenase Activity of RubisCO is Recycled In the Photorespiratory Pathway 8. Photosynthesis implies the consumption of water 9. Polysaccharides are Storage and Transport Forms of Carbohydrates Produced by Photosynthesis 10. Nitrate Assimilation is Essential for the Synthesis of Organic Matter 11. N2 Fixation Enables the Nitrogen in the Air to be Used for Plant Growth 12. Sulfate Assimilation Enables the Synthesis of Sulfur Containing Substances 13. Phloem Transport Distributes Photoassimilates to the Various Sites of Consumption and Storage 14. Products of Nitrate Assimilation are Deposited in Plants as Storage Proteins 15. Lipids are Membrane Constituents and Function as Carbon Stores 16. Secondary Metabolites Fulfil Specific Ecological Functions in Plants 17. A Large Diversity of Isoprenoides has Multiple Functions in Plant Metabolism 18. Phenylpropanoids Comprise a Multitude of Plant Secondary Metabolites and Cell Wall Components 19. Multiple Signals Regulate the Growth and Development of Plant Organs and Enable Their Adaptation to Environmental Conditions. 20. A Plant Cell has Three Different Genomes 21. Protein Biosynthesis Occurs at Different Sites of a Cell 22. Biotechnology Alters Plants to Meet Requirements of Agriculture, Nutrition and Industry

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. A brief history of forestry and natural resource management 2. Forest regions of the world 3. Forest landowner goals, objectives, and constraints 4. Forest products 5. Wildlife habitat relationships 6. Ecosystem services 7. Forest recreation 8. Forest measurements and forestry related data 9. Tree anatomy and physiology 10. Forest dynamics 11. Common forestry practices 12. Forest harvesting systems 13. Forest and natural resource economics 14. Forest disturbances and health 15. Forest policies and external pressures 16. Urban forestry 17. Ethics 18. Forestry and natural resource management careers

Read more less