Botany and plant sciences Books

Book SynopsisIn the present era, rapid industrialization and urbanization has resulted in unwanted physiological, chemical, and biological changes in the environment that have harmful effects on crop quality and productivity. This situation is further worsened by the growing demand for food due to an ever increasing population. This forces plant scientists and agronomists to look forward for alternative strategies to enhance crop production and produce safer, healthier foods. Biotic and abiotic stresses are major constraints to crop productivity and have become an important challenge to agricultural scientists and agronomists due to the fact that both stress factors considerably reduce agriculture production worldwide per year. Silicon has various effects on plant growth and development, as well as crop yields. It increases photosynthetic activity, creates better disease resistance, reduces heavy metal toxicity, improves nutrient imbalance, and enhances drought Table of ContentsSilicon mineralization in plants: Transport, structure and function. Silicon deposition in monocot plants and its recycling: an overview. Silicon and lignin deposition in plants: an overview. Silicon and proteomics: an overview. Silicon uptake and translocation in plants: recent advances and future prospective. Effect of silicon application under drought stress: Focus on agricultural aspects. Role of silicon under metal stress: an emphasis on root biology. Silicon and its role in management of tissue damage under metal toxicity. Silicon and Horticulture crops: evaluation of silicon uptake and deposition in floristic crops. Silicon and alleviation of salt stress in crops genotypes differing in salt tolerance. Silicon and pathogen resistance in crop plants: an overview. Silicon and insect- pest resistance in crop plants: an overview. Silicon and rust diseases in plants: recent advances and future prospective. Silicon isotopes study in plants: Role and future prospective. Silicon and nanotechnology: role in agriculture and future prospective. Silicon fertilizers: an overview. Silicon and plants: beneficial or essential element? Silicon deposition in dicot plants: an overview. Silicon and nutrient regulation in plants under abiotic stress. Silicon uptake and dynamics in plants: and overview. Advances in silicon research against blast disease. Interaction of silicon and UV-B radiation in plants. Silicon and silicified cells in plants: an overview. Silicon status and its relationship with major physiochemical properties of soils. Effect of silicon on oxidative stress under abiotic stress. Silicon and chromium toxicity in plants: an overview. Silicon and boron toxicity in plants: an overview. Silicon and aluminum toxicity in plants: an overview. Silicon and cadmium toxicity in plants: an overview. Silicon and arsenic toxicity in plants: an overview. Role of silicon under nutrient deficiency: recent advances and future perspective. Role of silicon in plants: present scenario and future prospects. Silicon and heat stress tolerance: an overview. Silicon and antioxidant defense system against abiotic stress in plants: an overview. Silicon and antioxidant defense system against biotic stress in plants: an overview. Mechanisms of silicon-mediated alleviation of abiotic stress in plants: Recent advances and future perspective. Biochemical and molecular mechanisms of silicon-mediated alleviation of biotic stress in plants: Recent advances and future perspective. Silicon and apoplast and symplast talk in plants under metal stress: Recent advances and future perspective. Silicon nutrition and crop improvement: Recent advances and future perspective.

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Book SynopsisApproaching the contributions of a world-wide sector of scientific institutions to addressing the extinction crisis, Botanical Gardens and Their Role in Plant Conservation brings together a diversity of perspectives. There are more than 3,600 botanical gardens worldwide, where trees, shrubs, herbs, and other plants are studied and managed in collections. They are foremost among efforts to conserve the diversity of living plant species and ensure that crucial biodiversity is available for the future of humanity.This book is a showcase for plant conservation, restoration, biodiversity, and related scientific and educational work of botanical gardens around the world, featuring both thematic overview chapters and numerous case studies that illustrate the critical role these institutions play in fighting extinction and ensuring plant diversity is available for sustainable use.FEATURES A wide range of case studies derived from practical Table of ContentsChapter 1. The Role of Botanical Gardens in Plant Conservation: An Introduction Chapter 2. Creating Communities of Practice for Plant Conservation and Catalyzing Action Chapter 3. Botanic Gardens Contribute to Food Security through Education, Conservation, and Research Chapter 4. The Millenium Seed Bank Partnership: A Global Network of Seed Banks Conserving Wild Plant Species and Supporting Agriculture, Forestry, Livelihoods, and Restoration Chapter 5. Botanic Gardens and the Access and Benefit Sharing Regime Chapter 6. The Role of Botanical Garden in Education and Plant Conservation toward the New Biodiversity and Plant Conservation Strategy Chapter 7. Conservation through Propagation and Dissemination Chapter 8. The Role of Botanical Gardens in Plant Diversity Conservation of Sierra Leone Chapter 9. Botanical Gardens in Tanzania and Their Role in Plant Conservation Chapter 10. The Role of Egyptian Botanical Gardens in Germplasm ConservationChapter 11. Botanical Gardens in Ghana and Their Role in Plant Conservation Chapter 12. Plant Rescue, Care and Restoration after Bushfire: A Few Recent Examples from Australia Chapter 13. Evolving to Address the State of the Environment – Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, South Australia

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Book SynopsisThis book is a celebration of the humble gudgeon, the angler's favourite 'tiddler'. This much-loved little fish is long overdue a little book all of its own. Scientist, author and broadcaster Dr Mark Everard tells tales about the biology of the gudgeon, gudgeon fishing, and the diverse social quirks and values of this most popular of little fishes.Table of ContentsIntroduction. What is a gudegeon? Gudgeon fishing. Gudgeon and people. Gudgeon bibliography.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides a critical assessment of conservation in the Anthropocene grounded in the personal, historical, and cultural development of human interaction with nature.The author argues that conservation can no longer be primarily about preserving nature but must adapt its efforts to promote changes through which humans create a landscape that is neither abandoned nor degraded but used well by humans and non-humans alike. The book first reviews the origin of ideas and conditions that have led to the concept and classification of the Anthropocene and explores how the authorâs own interactions with nature were shaped through his experience as a conservation biologist. Next, it considers how humans have come to be the primary drivers of ecological activity, geological events, and climate change. Chapters then focus on the need for new conservation thinking regarding novel ecosystems, urban conservation, the role of Indigenous Peoples in conservation, and the value of protec

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Book SynopsisHorticultural Therapy Methods: Connecting People and Plants in Health Care, Human Services, and Therapeutic Programs was the first text to describe the processes and techniques used to provide horticultural therapy interventions, and the rationale for their use. The first edition was written to positively impact the professional practice of horticultural therapy and provide an array of strategies for horticultural therapy treatment. Prior to its publication, the topics were only addressed by other allied professions, but were not specifically tailored for horticultural therapy. The second edition updated material and added essential information on planning treatment sessions as well as providing techniques to address treatment issues for mental health, physical health, vocational skills and wellness. This third edition revises all chapter content, improves and expands appendices, adds a chapter on building relationships, provides new photos, includes additional case examples

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Book SynopsisNext in the wildly popular Photo Ark franchise, this book uses Joel Sartore’s signature portraits to highlight the amazing features and behaviors of the world’s insects, spiders, and kin.When the pandemic year forced photographer Joel Sartore to stay home in Nebraska instead of traveling to zoos and wildlife centers around the world, what did he do? He went outside and explored bugs. This book reveals more than 100 species of insects, spiders, and related creatures—some exotic, but many common in fields, forests, and neighborhoods. Amazing portraits in Sartore’s signature style—against a black or white background—capture these creatures’ bulbous eyes, probing antennae, and iridescent bodies in living color. Alongside, entertaining text explains the basics of insect bodies, lives, and behavior, rich with unforgettable details. Who knew that a South American butterfly emerges from a chrysalis that glistens like gold? Or that one sp

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Book SynopsisHow to enjoy thriving fragrant plants in your garden, on your balcony or in your courtyard. Smell the roses! Savour the lavender!Sweet, rich orange blossom; heady, aromatic daphne; sharp, refreshing mint; or subtle, alluring roses - nature's perfumes are a wonder. They tantalise the senses, mark the seasons and evoke memories of people, places and occasions. Fragrant plants - from lovely flowers, vines and herbs to showy shrubs and trees - offer some of the purest joys of the garden. And there's a beautiful selection to choose from. Whether you live in the warm tropics or in a cool climate, whether you have a large backyard, a narrow passageway or a compact balcony/courtyard, there's a scented plant to suit your place. This book brings together the top 50 fragrant plants to stimulate your senses. With information about soil needs, feeding and climate, and stunning, inspirational photos, this handy reference puts growing fragrant plants within reach of everyone, whatever your gar

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Book SynopsisThe second edition of this volume focuses on applied bioinformatics with specific applications to crops and model plants. Plant Bioinformatics: Methods and Protocols is aimed at plant biologists who have an interest in, or requirement for, accessing and manipulating huge amounts of data being generated by high throughput technologies. This book would also be of interest to bioinformaticians and computer scientists who would benefit from an introduction to the different tools and systems available for plant research. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and software, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.Authoritative and thorough, Plant Bioinformatics: Methods and Protocols helps researchers with the increasing volume and diversity of data from different plants aTable of Contents1. Using GenBankEric W. Sayers and Ilene Karsch-Mizrachi2. UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot, The Manually Annotated Section of the UniProt KnowledgeBase: How to Use the Entry ViewEmmanuel Boutet, Damien Lieberherr, Michael Tognolli, Michel Schneider, Parit Bansal, Alan J. Bridge, Sylvain Poux, Lydie Bougueleret, and Ioannis Xenarios3. KEGG Bioinformatics Resource for Plant Genomics and MetabolomicsMinoru Kanehisa4. Plant Pathway DatabasesPankaj Jaiswal and Björn Usadel5. The Plant Ontology: A Tool for Plant GenomicsLaurel Cooper and Pankaj Jaiswal6. Ensembl Plants: Integrating Tools for Visualizing, Mining, and Analyzing Plant Genomics DataDan Bolser, Daniel M. Staines, Emily Pritchard, and Paul Kersey7. Gramene: A Resource for Comparative Analysis of Plants Genomes and PathwaysMarcela Karey Monaco, Joshua Stein, Sharon Wei, Ken Youens-Clark, Pankaj Jaiswal, and Doreen Ware8. PGSB/MIPS Plant Genome Information Resources and Concepts for the Analysis of Complex Grass GenomesManuel Spannagl, Kai Bader, Matthias Pfeifer, Thomas Nussbaumer, and Klaus FX Mayer9. MaizeGDB: The Maize Genetics and Genomics DatabaseLisa Harper, Jack Gardiner, Carson Andorf, and Carolyn J. Lawrence10. WheatGenome.info: A Resource for Wheat Genomics ResourceKaitao Lai11. User Guidelines for the Brassica Database: BRADXiaobo Wang, Feng Cheng, and Xiaowu Wang12. TAG Sequence Identification of Genomic Regions Using TAGdbPradeep Ruperao13. Short Read Alignment Using SOAP2Bhavna Hurgobin14. Tablet: Visualizing Next-Generation Sequence Assemblies and MappingsIain Milne, Micha Bayer, Gordon Stephen, Linda Cardle, and David Marshall15. Analysis of Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) DataSateesh Kagale, Chushin Koh, Wayne E. Clarke, Venkatesh Bollina, Isobel A.P. Parkin, and Andrew G. Sharpe16. Skim-Based Genotyping by Sequencing Using a Double Haploid Population to Call SNPs, Infer Gene Conversions and Improve Genome AssembliesPhilipp Emanuel Bayer17. Finding and Characterizing Repeats in Plant GenomesJacques Nicolas, Pierre Peterlongo, and Sébastien Tempel18. Analysis of RNA-Seq Data Using TopHat and Cufflinks Sreya Ghosh and Chon-Kit Kenneth Chan

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Book SynopsisHave you ever wondered why the rose has thorns and other flowers don''t; why the daffodil is the colour it is; or why some plants have shiny leaves and others matt?How The Rose Got its Thorns reveals the inner workings of our favourite flowers and trees. Designed to help gardeners, both novice and experienced, better understand how plants grow, the book is easy to navigate - it is divided into 50 chapters, each one a story.Accompanied by specially commissioned colour illustrations, each chapter explains the science behind how plants work and the extraordinary processes they have evolved: such as protecting themselves from predators using chemicals; attracting pollinators using scent, shape and colour; growing in low or high temperatures; their relationship with the wind; the size and pattern of their leaves; the distribution of their seeds and survival strategies; their relationship with insects; how they allocate their resources; and how they retain water eff

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Book SynopsisElegant and beautiful, rich in history and supremely useful, birches have played an extraordinary yet largely unrecognized part in shaping both our natural environment and the material culture and beliefs of millions of people around the world. For thousands of years they have given people of the northern forests and beyond raw materials in the form of leaves, twigs, branches and bark, as well as wood and sap, not simply to survive but to flourish and express their identity in practical and spiritual ways. Tough, waterproof and flexible, birch bark has been used for everything from basketry and clothing to housing and transport, musical instruments and medicines, as well as a means to communicate and record sacred beliefs: some of our most ancient Buddhist texts and other historic documents are written on birch bark. Birches have not only shaped regional cultures – creating, for example, the Native American wigwam and the birch bark canoe – but continue to supply raw materials of global economic importance today. Birch explores the multiple uses of these versatile trees as well as the ancient beliefs and folklore with which they are associated. Richly illustrated, this book presents a fascinating overview of their cultural and ecological significance, from botany to literature and art, as Anna Lewington looks both at the history of birches and what the future may hold in store for them.

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Book SynopsisThis informative pocketbook of essential gardening tips and tricks will help any aspiring gardener brush up on their knowledge and become a green-fingered fanaticNowadays, we are gardening more than ever. As an antidote to the stresses of modern life, more and more people are picking up their trowel in pursuit of happiness, better health and a blossoming backyard.But sometimes it''s tricky to know where to start with your garden and which direction to take. Not to mention the puzzling terminology and plant names that can leave novice and expert gardeners alike scratching their heads in confusion.Whether you''re a complete beginner or wanting to hone your existing skills, taking on a large-scale project or getting started in a small space, this book will help you:- Learn the gardening lingo and choose the correct equipment for the relevant job- Manage common garden challenges, including pests and diseases- Discover a range of plants and flowers and where they thrive best- Plan a garden, from choosing a theme to executing the finer detailsThe Little Book of Gardening is the ideal companion on your gardening journey, and will show you how to garden at your own pace, in your own time, in your own way.

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Book SynopsisThe most comprehensive listing of the known useful plants for this country. Compiled by a team of Colombian and international botanists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Humboldt Institute and numerous partner institutions, it consolidates expert-generated information linked and accessible through an online portal (ColPlantA). The checklist is accompanied by 11 chapters written by specialists, providing perspectives on the state of knowledge on the useful plants of Colombia, covering a range of topics, from taxonomic, geographic and conservation aspects, to their use in sustainable value chains and contributions to the bioeconomy, specific topics such as medicinal, edible and insecticide plants, and their representation in the Amazon region, and in Kew’s economic botany collection. The catalogue is further enriched by diverse supplementary material.

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Book SynopsisRaspberry production and consumption is increasing steadily worldwide, and the potential health benefits of the fruit are becoming more widely known. Providing an international overview of the modern raspberry industry, this book covers North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. It discusses all aspects of raspberry growing, including plant growth and development, cultivar description and selection, site selection and preparation (including soil and drainage), climate, pest control, irrigation, shipping, economics, harvesting and the marketing of the final product. Much of this publication covers research based information, including hundreds of references and nearly eighty full colour plates. Taking a global perspective, this book provides a comprehensive yet concise reference for all horticulture students, raspberry growers, producers and fruit industry personnel looking for the latest information in raspberry production.Table of Contents1: Raspberries 2: Growth and Development 3: Climatic Requirements 4: Site Selection 5: Cultivar Development and Selection 6: Nursery Production of Plants 7: Propagation 8: Site Preparation, Soil Management and Planting 9: Soil and Water Management 10: Pruning and Training 11: Pest and Disease Management 12: Crop Production 13: Post Harvest Physiology and Storage of Raspberries 14: Marketing 15: Raspberry Farm Management and Economics 16: World Raspberry Production and Marketing: Industry Changes from 1960-2010

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Book SynopsisThe go-to guide explaining how to use adaptogens to regulate, rebalance and restore your health DISCOVER THE RESTORATIVE POWER OF ADAPTOGENS In Nature's Apothecary, Medical Herbalist Paula Grainger provides the solution for stress, anxiety and exhaustion by introducing us to a group of healing herbal ingredients known as adaptogens. Adaptogens have been scientifically proven to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and prevent adrenal imbalances that can lead to fatigue and burnout. In this illustrated guidebook, you will delve into the history and science of these miraculous plants and learn how to maximize wellness using the most easy-to-source adaptogens, incorporating them into your life via delicious smoothies, energy bites and desserts, invigorating teas, tonics and lattes and wonderful beauty elixirs. Covering all the common adaptogens such as Ashwagandha, Maca, Korean ginseng, Turmeric, Liquorice, Rosemary

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Book SynopsisA Naturalist's Guide to the Wild Flowers of Britain & Northern Europe is an easy-to-use identification guide to 280 wild flower species commonly seen in Britain and North-West Europe that is perfect for the amateur naturalist.

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Book SynopsisTHE DEFINITIVE VISUAL GUIDE TO NEW ZEALAND FERNSCompiled and written by Te Papa's foremost fern experts, this fully illustrated guide is for anyone wanting to understand, identify and distinguish 201 of the most commonly encountered species of ferns and lycophytes found across Aotearoa.Ferns and lycophytes grow in most places in Aotearoa, from freshwater to alpine habitats, along exposed coasts and on the trunks of forest trees, and from just a few millimetres long to 20-metre-tall tree ferns. Just under half of the native species are only found here.Full-colour photographic examples of species, along with diagrams of key features, provide several ways for readers to successfully identify these iconic plants of Aotearoa. The book's manageable size and accessible layout makes it easy to use, enabling readers to quickly recognise species and understand their distinguishing characteristics, habitats and distribution.

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Book SynopsisThe Arctic is a special world. The Arctic Ocean is covered by white sea ice, and its margins are surrounded by bare terrestrial regions, known as tundra. Tundra is a cold and dry environment without trees, but even in the absence of trees, tundra plants such as dwarf shrubs, grasses, herbs and moss support the harsh environment by providing sustenance and shelter. This book introduces representative arctic plants and their function in Svalbard, revealing the unique tundra ecosystem, and discussing the direct and indirect effects of climate change in the Arctic.Table of Contents Prologue: Is the color of the Arctic white? (p. 1-2) The Arctic is not just white; it is multi-colored. (Fig. 1. The green Arctic) I. Arctic Tundra: Where There are No Trees (p. 3-12) Where and what is the Arctic? Surprisingly, there is still no official definition of the Arctic. Arctic has been defined in terms of both geophysics and ecology. From the perspective of geophysics, the Arctic is northern area over the Arctic Circle, the baseline of the midnight. From an ecological point of view, the Arctic is northern area of the tree line where trees cannot grow, that is, tundra. Thus, the Arctic includes the tundra and the Arctic Ocean. (Fig. 2. Arctic Circle; Fig. 3. The northern limit of tree growth; Fig. 4. The Arctic; Fig. 5. Average annual temperature of the Earth; Fig. 6. Treeless tundra in Svalbard; Fig. 7. Walking over dwarf shrubs in a tundra field) II. Arctic Is Not One (p. 13-30) Arctic is a huge area, and the Arctic environment is not uniform. For better understand of Arctic vegetation, I will describe plant life forms, bioclimatic zonation, and Arctic vegetation map. (Fig. 8. The High Arctic and the Low Arctic; Figs 9~13. Arctic plants with different life forms; Fig. 14. Bioclimatic subzones in the Arctic; Figs 15~17. Arctic plants of different subzones; Fig. 18. Arctic vegetation map; Fig. 19. Vegetated tundra and barren tundra) III. Arctic Plants in Different Tundras (p. 31-43) In the previous chapter, several terms explaining Arctic vegetation are introduced. There are different types of tundras: polar desert, dry tundra, mesic tundra, moist tundra, wet tundra, and shrub tundra. Characteristics of the different tundra regions will be addressed in this chapter. (Figs 20~22. Polar desert; Figs 23~26. Dry tundra plants; Fig. 27. Tussock; Fig. 28. Cottongrass; Fig. 29. Lichen; Fig. 30. Treeline) VI. Arctic Plants in Svalbard - who are they and what do they do? 4.1. Svalbard, cold shore (p. 44-50) Svalbard is very special in the Arctic. Svalbard is located at a high latitude, but the weather is very mild compared to other Arctic regions. The nature of Svalbard will be introduced with its geographic and ecological characteristics. (Fig. 31. Map of Svalbard; Figs 32~35. Scenery of Svalbard) 4.2. Moss, Lichen and Black Crust (p. 51-62) There are green or greenish organisms using sunlight without flowers. Moss dominates in the wet area and offers a basic environment to the living, and lichen and black crust sustain the dry area. (Figs 36-38) 4.3. Pioneering plant: Purple saxifrage (p. 63-65) (Figs 39) 4.4. Shrubs in the climax: Polar willow, white Arctic bell-heather, Mountain avens (p. 65-75) (Figs 40~42) 4.5. Pan-Arctic plants: Alpine bistort, Polar campion, Sulphur buttercup, Alpine whitlow grass, Alpine saxifrage, nodding saxifrage, Alpine draba (p. 76-105) (Figs 43~48) 4.6. Eatable plants: Mountain sorrel (p. 106-110) (Fig. 49) 4.7. Together is better: Moss campion, tufted saxifrage (p. 111-120) (Figs 50~61) 4.8. Flower of Svalbard: Svalbard poppy (p. 121-125) (Fig. 62) 4.9. Plant resemble animal: Arctic mouse-ear (p. 126-130) (Fig. 63) 4.10. Plant with rosette: Polar scurvy-grass (p. 131-135) (Fig. 64) 4.11. Plant likes water: Yellow marsh saxifrage (p. 136-140) (Fig. 65) 4.12. Plant coated by hair: Hairy lousewort (p. 141-145) (Fig. 66) 4.13. Green grass of the Arctic: Carex and Poa (p. 146-150) (Fig. 67) V. Climate change and the Arctic plants (p. 151-165) As the temperature of the Arctic arises, the frozen ground of tundra is thawing. The snow that covered the tundra and blocked the cold air, melted earlier than usual and fell down late, and the period covered by snow was diminishing. Because of these environmental changes, the kinds of plants living in the tundra have changed and the animal food nets have also changed. Animals and plants that lived in sub-arctic regions below the tundra are also slowly heading north. Tundra creatures have to compete with sub-polar creatures. What is fate of the Arctic plants? (Fig. 68. Temperature increase in the Arctic; Fig. 69. Thawing of permafrost; Fig. 70. Disappearing glacier and plant succession; Fig. 71. Change of Arctic snow; Fig. 72. Tree line is moving north; Fig. 73. Food web in dry tundra; Fig. 74. Svalbard animals feeding plans; Fig. 75. Changing relationship of herbivory and their food in Arctic tundra) Epilogue: For the last survivors at the margin (p. 166-170) The tundra will gradually disappear as the temperature of the Arctic increases and the frozen soil melts. As the sea level rises and the shoreline is eroded, the tundra's position is shrinking. It is difficult to say exactly how the ecosystem will respond to changes in the tundra. It is because there are too many things we do not know about the tundra ecosystem yet. This is why our scientists have to study the tundra. Index (p. 165-170) Common Name – Scientific Name Index of Arctic Plants Scientific Name – Common Name Index of Arctic Plants

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Book Synopsis'A really beautiful book about obsession, longing and science' RAVEN LEILANI ‘Wise, funny, suspenseful’ JONATHAN SAFRAN FOER 'Sardonic and strange ... With its dark humour and loopy lyricism, it bewitches’ DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Reads like a botanist’s cross-breeding of The Secret History and Department of Speculation' EMMA STRAUB Nell Barber, an expelled PhD candidate in Biological Science, is exploring the fine line between poison and antidote, working alone to set a speed record for the detoxification of poisonous plants. Her mentor, Dr. Joan Kallas, is the hero of Nell’s heart. Nell frequently finds herself standing in the doorway to Joan’s office despite herself, mesmerized by Joan’s elegance, success, and spiritual force. Surrounded by Nell’s ex, her best friend, her best friend’s boyfriend, and Joan’s buffoonish husband, the two scientists are tangled together at the center of a web of illicit relationships, grudges, and obsessions. All six are burdened by desire and ambition, and as they collide on the university campus, their attractions set in motion a domino effect of affairs and heartbreak. Meanwhile, Nell slowly fills her empty apartment with poisonous plants to study, and she begins to keep a series of notebooks, all dedicated to Joan. She logs her research and how she spends her days, but the notebooks ultimately become a painstaking map of love. In a dazzling and unforgettable voice, Rebecca Dinerstein Knight has written a spellbinding novel of emotional and intellectual intensity.Trade ReviewSardonic and strange ... With its dark humour and loopy lyricism, it bewitches * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *A really beautiful book about obsession, longing and science … It’s really beautiful and it does something I love, and can never say no to in books, which is a really complex relationship between two women … it’s just gorgeous, really gorgeous on a sentence level … It’s just extremely cool … that’s the book that I’m reading and really love -- RAVEN LEILANICannily explores both the poisons and the antidotes of love, ambition, mentorship, and yearning, in prose so lively that I often found myself laughing with pleasure. Hex is some dark and joyous witchery -- LAUREN GROFFNell is an expelled Ph.D. candidate in biological science who is trying to set a speed record for the detoxification of poisonous plants. She’s mesmerized by her mentor, Joan, and the woman’s elegance and success. Surrounded by Nell’s ex, her best friend, her best friend’s boyfriend and Joan’s husband, the two scientists are tangled together at the centre of a web of illicit relationships, grudges and obsessions * PUREWOW, 44 Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2020 *Strange and delightful … How could a reader - or a botany professor - not be charmed? * NPR.org *Academics tie themselves up into a pretzel of betrayal and desire in Rebecca Dinerstein Knight’s propulsive second book, which reads a tiny bit like AS Byatt after dark … This is a bold and highly charged book that makes entertainment seem like not such a bad word * LITHUB, Most Anticipated Books of 2020 *Hex is the sort of novel that almost has its own smell – humid and loamy, like a body after a morning spent bent over a garden patch. It’s about Nell Barber, a recently expelled Ph.D. student secretly running her own experiments on poisonous botanicals in her apartment and vigorously lusting after her buttoned-up adviser and mentor. Sex practically pulses out of Nell as she fails her way into adulthood in this botanically entwined work of early-adult dissatisfaction * VULTURE, 32 Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2020 *Swift-moving, sardonic … Dinerstein Knight paints a withering portrait of this web of toxic romances, and of the excesses of academia, while illustrating how both the heart and the mind can be broken and reshaped by changing circumstances * NEW YORKER *As precise as any scientific observation and far more tantalizing * VOGUE *Hex reads like a botanist's cross-breeding of The Secret History and Department of Speculation, full of brilliant and bodily obsession. Rebecca Dinerstein Knight is both a scientist and a magician, and she conjures this beautiful spell of a novel with total control -- EMMA STRAUBHex is a book for those who feel adrift and solitary, for those who feel overwhelmed by themselves. Ultimately, it’s a story about harnessing what is out of control - and learning that perhaps the only way to control a poisonous thing is to first embrace it * CHICAGO REVIEW OF BOOKS *A book that examines our natural and absolutely astounding reactions to each other. The language of this novel is so finely tailored, so elegant yet organic, so absorbing that it takes the reader a moment to realize that this is not just a deliciously engaging tale of what it is like to be social and sexual, but that this writing is an actual incantation in itself. It is a beautiful, spooky spell that divides and processes our innate potential for poison or pleasure -- JENNY SLATEHex is sexy, unhinged, revelatory, so smart it gives the reader whiplash. It works on you like the poisonous plants that wind through the storyline, until you’re as obsessed and intoxicated as the vivid characters that make up this love hexagon gone fascinatingly and beautifully wrong. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun reading a book or was so impressed by the wizardry of the language -- JULIE BUNTIN, author of MarlenaHex is a gem of a book: sharp and exquisite. Dinerstein Knight writes about women’s obsession with devastating wisdom, insight, and humor. It is pure pleasure to be under her spell -- JULIA PIERPONT, author of Among the Ten Thousand ThingsHex is neon-bright and guided by a fierce, scintillating interest in the innermost chambers of the human heart, where melancholic and bright humors mingle together. In every line you hear the voice of a writer who knows how to lead you expertly into the place where the story is most alive: spooky, shifty, darkly funny, and delectable in every way -- ALEXANDRA KLEEMANOffbeat yet entirely precise; original and universal. Hex is a nut with sweet meat and a poison shell, at once disarming and quietly devastating. This is a book for anyone who’s ever felt adrift, or felt alone, or loved someone out of reach, or all the above -- RACHEL KHONGNell’s intensity and the hypnotic, second-person prose convincingly render the protagonist’s bewitched, self-destructive state. Readers who liked I Love Dick and want something more lurid will appreciate this * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *A joyfully deranged pleasure * KIRKUS *A spellbinding novel of emotional and intellectual intensity * FANTASTIC FICTION *

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Book SynopsisHummingbirds, and the balletic ways in which they feed on flowers, are familiar to most people. But they belong to just one of at least 74 bird families that are known, or suspected, to be pollinators. Relationships between plants and birds first emerged at least 50 million years ago and over time have influenced the evolution of both groups. This groundbreaking book is the first to deal with pollinating birds in all their diversity, involving almost 1,390 avian species interacting with tens of thousands of different plants. It rescues them from being novelties of natural history and explores these interactions in all their evolutionary and ecological significance. Pollinating birds have intricate lives that are often highly dependent on flowers, and the plants themselves are at the whim of birds for their reproduction. This makes them important players within many ecosystems, including tropical rainforests, dry grasslands, temperate woodlands, coastal mangroves and oceanic islands. Bird–flower relationships are threatened by disease, habitat destruction and climate change. Some of the birds are already extinct. Yet there are optimistic stories to be told about conservation and restoration projects that reveal the commitment of people to preserving these vital ecological connections. In addition, as a source of cultural inspiration with a history stretching back millennia, pollinating birds and their flowers are part of the ongoing relationship between humanity and the rest of nature.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Encounters with birds and flowers 1. Origins of a partnership 2. Surprising variety 3. Keeping it in the family 4. A flower’s point of view 5. In the eye of the beholder 6. Goods and services 7. Misaligned interests 8. Senses and sensitivities 9. Codependent connections 10. Hitchhikers, drunks and killers 11. The limits to specialisation 12. Islands in the sea, islands in the sky 13. The curious case of Europe 14. ‘After the Manner of Bees’ 15. Feathers and fruits 16. Urban flowers for urban birds 17. Bad birds and feral flowers 18. What escapes the eye 19. The restoration of hope Species names Sources and further reading Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisAbout seventy-one per cent of the Earth’s surface is water, and even on dry land we remain closely connected to aquatic life. It provides us with oxygen, food, medicine and materials. Wild waterlife infiltrates our lives in many surprising ways. Every other breath we take is filled with oxygen provided by ocean-dwelling microscopic plants. A type of seaweed provides a means to directly test whether people are infected with viruses, including Covid-19. Robotics design takes inspiration from a pike’s ability to accelerate with greater g-force than a Porsche.Wild Waters by Susanne Masters is a celebration of the breadth of wildlife that can be found in and around our varied waterways, from oceans and rivers to rock pools and ponds. Armchair explorers can read a fascinating account of how aquatic plants and animals enrich human life. Swimmers, paddleboarders, dog walkers, families and anyone with a passion for the great outdoors can learn about local wildlife, including when and where to look for different species without causing any harm.With stunning illustrations by Alice Goodridge, Wild Waters provides a tantalising insight into the world beneath the surface.Trade Review‘A deep dive into the aquatic world, Wild Waters is a fascinating guide to where we swim and the wildlife we might encounter there. Part field guide, part natural and human history of our waterways, Wild Waters is engagingly written with a scientist’s eye for detail by Susanne Masters and beautifully illustrated by Alice Goodridge. Full of fascinating facts as well as elegant prose and drawings, Masters shares her knowledge about the wildlife we swim with and the places that we swim in to help you have a deeper connection with the water on your next wild swim. A magical book.’– Jonathan Cowie, editor of Outdoor Swimmer‘Susanne Masters writes for those who love the water and land alike. She paints with words for readers, in the way that the movie My Octopus Teacher brought to life a dynamic and interconnected underwater world for viewers. Her writing combines science, stories, history and delectable moments of watery delight. She will take you on a historical journey with intriguing facts then let you rise to the surface to look at a tiny plant or large animal. When you come up for air, she has shown you how it is all connected. Masters presents, with straightforward words and a nuanced grace, tactical advice for how to interact with organisms in a world different from our own. She takes the reader into watery worlds where one may never get to go, but upon finishing that chapter, will feel like you have been. Reading her work connects you to the water/land interface of ecosystems and the dynamics of water itself through ways of looking at a world that you usually need to get wet to see. Those who engage in water sports, swimming and or diving will all get to go deeper into what they experience. And for those who are simply curious, they will be drawn in as soon as they start to read the first lines of Susanne Masters’ both lyrical and factual way of using words, mingling them together to create an illuminating, thought-provoking and fun experience.’– Dr Maria Fadiman, Professor of Geography at Florida Atlantic University and National Geographic Explorer'In Wild Waters, Masters takes readers on a vividly depicted journey to the British Isles' most treasured aquatic habitats. Gorgeously illustrated and packed with fascinating details about the wild creatures that live in or near the water, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys spending time in nature or is drawn to the water!'– Dr Cassandra Quave, Emory University Herbarium Curator and author of The Plant Hunter: A Scientist's Quest for Nature's Next Medicines

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA superbly presented seminal work... Highly recommended. Midwest Book Review Profoundly original Choice We owe Marder...a great debt for widening the contemporary philosophical discussion of life and ethics, taking it into the plant kingdom. -- Jeffrey T. Nealon Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews Michael Marder's book Plant-Thinking is a timely contribution to the project of expanding ethical considerations to non-human beings... This is a strong contribution to the post-metaphysical project. Canadian Philosophical Review Life-changing Bangalore Review Anyone can find something of note or amusement here. Publishers WeeklyTable of ContentsForeword by Gianni Vattimo and Santiago Zabala Acknowledgments Introduction: To Encounter the Plants ... Part I. Vegetal Anti-Metaphysics 1. The Soul of the Plant 2. The Body of the Plant Part II. Vegetal Existentiality 3. The Time of Plants 4. The Freedom of Plants 5. The Wisdom of Plants Epilogue: The Ethical Offshoots of Plant-Thinking Notes Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisBuild your own passive solar greenhouse for year-round food production in any climateTable of Contents Introduction Section I: The Big Picture 1. What Is a Solar Greenhouse? 2. Growing Indoors: History and Future Trends 3. Planning for the Greenhouse Section II: Designing and Building a Solar Greenhouse 4. Siting and Orientation 5. Controlling Light and Heat Gain: Glazing 6. Controlling Heat Loss: Insulation 7. Ventilation 8. Greenhouse Geometries 9. Greenhouse Construction Basics 10. Attached Greenhouses 11. Earth-sheltered Greenhouses Section III: Heating and Cooling Methods 12. Passive Thermal Mass 13. Using the Earth for Heat Storage 14. Solar Hot Water 15. Rocket Mass Stoves and Compost Heaters 16. Powering the Greenhouse Section IV: Growing in the Greenhouse 17. Creating the Greenhouse Environment 18. Aquaponics and Hydroponics Appendix 1: Temperature Ranges of Common Greenhouse Crops Appendix 2: Optimizing Glazing Angles Appendix 3: Supplemental Lighting Index About the Authors A Note About the Publisher

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Book SynopsisIf you have tried to identify wildflowers, you'll already know exactly what is meant by the title of this book. Although a lot of plants are relatively straightforward to recognise, many others are not. Standard wildflower guides tend to provide as much guidance with identifying the easy and distinctive as they do with complex, tricky species. This ingenious book is designed to come to the rescue of the exasperated novice botanist and to help those more experienced who might be stuck on unfamiliar and complex groups. From willows to water-crowfoots, from eyebrights to dandelion look-a-likes, all of us have struggled with baffling specimens or the seemingly cryptic. Presented here is a fresh new approach to identifying difficult plants by giving an understanding of the biology behind their complexity. In simple language, you will be directed to the particular parts of the plant that you need to look at most closely. The tabular keys are more user friendly and evolutionarily valid than conventional dichotomous keys, which are often confusing and unwieldy. Each chapter contains illustrations of key diagnostic features, rather than of entire plants. Other novel aspects include coverage of the historical recognition of complexity within each group, which is used to inform debate about the level of resolution that may be most appropriate for your needs. This accessible guide is the perfect chance to get to grips with that challenging group you keep saving for 'next year' or for untangling a botanical mystery which keeps repeating itself.Table of ContentsForeword Preface Acknowledgments SECTION I. APOMICTIC SPECIES: SPECIES THAT PRODUCE SEEDS WITHOUT SEX 1 Brambles 2 Dandelions 3 Lady’s-mantles 4 Sea-lavenders 5 Whitebeams, rowans and service trees 6 Yellow composites – things that look a bit like a dandelion SECTION II. HYBRIDS: SPECIES THAT HAVE SEX WITH OTHER SPECIES 7 Docks and sorrels 8 Pondweeds 9 Roses 10 Marsh-orchids and spotted-orchids 11 Water-crowfoots 12 Willows SECTION III. INBREEDERS: SPECIES THAT HAVE SEX WITH THEMSELVES 13 Eyebrights 14 Fumitories 15 Violets and pansies 16 Short white-flowered crucifers: cresses 17 Tall yellow-flowered cabbages, mustards, rapes and rockets SECTION IV. POLYPLOIDS AND RAPIDLY EVOLVING SPECIES 18 Broomrapes 19 Forget-me-nots 20 Speedwells SECTION V. SUCCESSFUL FAMILIES WITH LOTS OF SPECIES 21 Dead-nettles, mints and woundworts 22 Blue and purple vetches and peas 23 Umbellifers: carrots, parsnips, Hemlock etc Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisOn this blue planet, long before pterodactyls took to the skies and tyrannosaurs prowled the continents, tiny green organisms populated the ancient oceans. The author traces the history of these verdant organisms, which many would call plants, from their ancient beginnings to the diversity of green life that inhabits the Earth today.

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Book SynopsisEnquiry into Plants and De Causis Plantarum by Theophrastus (ca. 370ca. 285 BC) are a counterpart to Aristotle's zoological work and the most important botanical work of antiquity now extant. In the former Theophrastus classifies and describes. His On Odours and Weather Signs are minor treatises.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewMark Catesby, the English naturalist and artist, as well as his considerable accomplishments, is given new life in this well-written, multiauthored account. Emphasis is placed on Catesby's travels in North America that led to his monumental volumes on the flora and fauna of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahamas. The book is an important addition to the library of the history of natural history of colonial America.- William D. Anderson Jr., Professor of Marine Biology, Grice Marine Biological Laboratory, College of Charleston;""The Curious Mister Catesby is an absorbing blend of early colonial history in the American Southeast and the Bahamas, with the rich fauna and flora the settlers freshly contained. Catesby emerges as one of the first true naturalists of the New World.""- Edward O. Wilson, University Professor Emeritus of Entomology, Harvard University;""A landmark book filled with introspective and concise essays, each developed with a richness of detail, revealing the absorbing portrait of a self-taught artist from Suffolk who had an insatiable curiosity about nature. Wonderfully readable, this classic is an engaging introduction to Catesby's timeless illustrations and to his keen observation of the natural world. Like an investigation by forensic scientists the contemplative and thorough scholarship of these authors reveals new insight into Catesby, his journeys, his peers, and the inexhaustible pursuit of botanical and zoological specimens in an eighteenth-century world.""- Marian Hill, former president of the Garden Club of America;""This comprehensive, lavishly illustrated work . . . will stand for many years as the best critical analysis of [Catesby's] work, and of the groundbreaking natural science that his curiosity inspired.""- Linda Lear Nature;""This remarkable commemorative publication represents the perspectives of two dozen learned contributors representative of a broad spectrum of disciplines, including historians, botanists, zoologists, ornithologists, anthropologists, landscape architects, fine arts authorities, museum specialists and associated fields. Each of the 22 chapters is an essay revealing another of the many layers of Catesby's genius.""- Ben MCC. Moise The Post and Courier;""As if one of Catesby's ivory-billed woodpeckers swooped down before your eyes, this work draws the once-mysterious Catesby out of the shadows and, fittingly, displays him in vibrant living color.""- Robert Salvo Charleston Mercury;""The Curious Mr. Catesby is important for the history of natural history as it offers so much to know and understand about this interesting man and his contributions to natural history.""- Charles Tancin Huntia;""For the book’s top-notch construction and amazing array of colored maps and illustrations, The University of Georgia Press should be commended, reminding us why the physical book is so worthy of praise. This book should find a deserved place on the shelf of both general and academic readers.""- Vaughn Scribner, The Journal for Southern Literature

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Book SynopsisThe eighteenth-century naturalist Erasmus Darwin (grandfather of Charles) argued that plants are animate, living beings and attributed them sensation, movement, and a certain degree of mental activity, emphasizing the continuity between humankind and plant existence. Two centuries later, the understanding of plants as active and communicative organisms has reemerged in such diverse fields as plant neurobiology, philosophical posthumanism, and ecocriticism. The Language of Plants brings together groundbreaking essays from across the disciplines to foster a dialogue between the biological sciences and the humanities and to reconsider our relation to the vegetal world in new ethical and political terms.Viewing plants as sophisticated information-processing organisms with complex communication strategies (they can sense and respond to environmental cues and play an active role in their own survival and reproduction through chemical languages) radically transforms our notion of plants as unresponsive beings, ready to be instrumentally appropriated. By providing multifaceted understandings of plants, informed by the latest developments in evolutionary ecology, the philosophy of biology, and ecocritical theory, The Language of Plants promotes the freedom of imagination necessary for a new ecological awareness and more sustainable interactions with diverse life forms.Contributors: Joni Adamson, Arizona State U; Nancy E. Baker, Sarah Lawrence College; Karen L. F. Houle, U of Guelph; Luce Irigaray, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris; Erin James, U of Idaho; Richard Karban, U of California at Davis; André Kessler, Cornell U; Isabel Kranz, U of Vienna; Michael Marder, U of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU); Timothy Morton, Rice U; Christian Nansen, U of California at Davis; Robert A. Raguso, Cornell U; Catriona Sandilands, York U.Trade Review"The Language of Plants boasts a consistent and compelling through-line: what kind of 'languages' plants use and how the plant languages themselves might change the languages humans use to talk about plants. A collection of high-quality essays like this one constitutes a very timely introduction and intervention in critical plant studies."—Jeffrey T. Nealon, author of Plant Theory: Biopower and Vegetable Life"The Language of Plants is an excellent and important collection of original essays that intervene in the exceptionally rapidly growing field of critical plant studies, contributing to a contemporary movement to de-center the human, overcome dualistic thinking, and grant agency, intelligence, and consciousness to matter."—Cheryll Glotfelty, co-editor of The Bioregional Imagination: Literature, Ecology, and Place"Any individuals concerned for plants and the environment will find this a worthwhile, thought-provoking book."—CHOICE"From notions of plant intelligence to decoding the lexicon of compounds that allows vegetal life to communicate with friends, foes and themselves, this mind-expanding work opens up new ways of apprehending the world."—The Sydney Morning Herald"The editors have gathered essays from the realms of science, literature and philosophy to make a provocative read in hopes of deepening the appreciation of the interdependence of humans and plants. "—The AgeTable of ContentsContentsIntroductionMonica Gagliano, John C. Ryan, and Patrícia Vieira Part I. Science1. The Language of Plant Communication (and How it Compares to Animal Communication)Richard Karban2. Speaking in Chemical Tongues: Decoding the Language of Plant VolatilesRobert A. Raguso and André Kessler3. Unravelling the “Radiometric Signals” from Green LeavesChristian Nansen4. Breaking the Silence: Green Mudras and the Faculty of Language in PlantsMonica GaglianoPart II. Philosophy5. To Hear Plants SpeakMichael Marder6. What the Vegetal World Says to UsLuce Irigaray7. The Intelligence of Plants and the Problem of Language: A Wittgensteinian ApproachNancy E. Baker8. A Tree By Any Other Name: Language-use and Linguistic ResponsibilityKaren L. F. Houle9. What Vegetables Are Saying about ThemselvesTimothy MortonPart III. Literature10. The Language of Flowers in Popular Culture and BotanyIsabel Kranz11. Phytographia: Literature as Plant WritingPatrícia Vieira12. Insinuations: Thinking Plant Politics with The Day of the TriffidsJoni Adamson and Catriona Sandilands13. What the Plant Says: Plant Narrators and the Ecosocial ImaginaryErin James14. In the Key of Green?: The Silent Voices of Plants in PoetryJohn C. RyanAcknowledgmentsContributorsIndex

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Book Synopsis'A glorious green adventure story.' Ann Treneman, The Times 'Books of the Year''The most enthralling historical book I’ve read this year.' Claire Tomalin, New Statesman 'Books of the year' Daringly innovative when it opened in 1848, the Palm House in Kew Gardens remains one of the most beautiful glass buildings in the world today. Seemingly weightless, vast and yet light, the Palm House floats free from architectural convention, at once monumental and ethereal. From a distance, the crowns of the palms within are silhouetted in the central dome; close to, banana leaves thrust themselves against the glass. To enter it is to enter a tropical fantasy. The body is assaulted by heat, light and the smell of damp vegetation. In Palace of Palms, Kate Teltscher tells the extraordinary story of its creation and of the Victorians’ obsession with the palms that filled it. It is a story of breathtaking ambition, of scientific discovery and, crucially, of the remarkable men whose vision it was. The Palm House was commissioned by the charismatic first Director of Kew, Sir William Hooker, designed by the audacious Irish engineer, Richard Turner, and managed by Kew’s forthright curator, John Smith, who battled with boilers and floods to ensure the survival of the rare and wondrous plants it housed.Trade ReviewThe most enthralling historical book I’ve read this year. -- Claire Tomalin * New Statesman 'Books of the year' *Teltscher skilfully brings to life the human story behind the growth of Kew and the creation of its extraordinary centrepiece. What's more remarkable, however, is her command of the details of the new technology that went into the construction of the Palm House . . . she makes such matters unexpectedly fascinating. * Literary Review *A fascinating and rip-roaring account of the building of one of the great – and experimental – glass buildings of the Victorian age. * Daily Telegraph *A glorious green adventure story. -- Ann Treneman * The Times 'Books of the Year' *Stories of botanical exploration are combined with biographies of the characters behind the famous building, transporting the reader to 19th-century London and the countries that supplied the palms for the glasshouse. One can only marvel at the scale of the achievement and feel humbled by how much we owe to the enslaved peoples who enabled countless plants to be brought to our shores from the colonies. -- Rachel de Thame * Sunday Times *The fascinating story of one of the greatest showpieces of Victorian Britain: the Palm House in Kew Gardens. -- Sam Leith * Spectator *The story of the creation of the Palm House and the men whose vision it was, are engrossingly told. * Choice Magazine 'Hardback Book of Month' *I stand corrected by this exhilarating book - but also delighted, astounded and vastly entertained . . . This is gardening history at its best - a sparkling window on the colourful and contradictory Victorian era. -- Ambra Edwards * The Garden *This beautifully crafted book invokes a world of breathtaking Victorian engineering, glass houses and lush tropical vegetation to tell a tale of exploration, botanical science and the making of new imaginaries. -- Vinita Damodaran, Professor of South Asian History and Director, Centre for World Environmental History, University of SussexLively . . . vividly drawn . . . Wearing her research lightly, Teltscher tells her tale of politicking and financial wrangles, domestic tragedies and epic plant hunting expeditions with a pace and vibrancy more commonly found in novels than in academic study. * Gardens Illustrated *Kate Teltscher skilfully distils the historical facts of the creation of the Palm House into a piece of storytelling that is difficult to put down. * English Garden *Truly, this is a work of which all interested in the history of natural history and the history of botany should immediately take note. -- Johannes E. Riutta * The Well-read Naturalist *The story of its [the Palm House's] creation and the plant collections in it encompass all the qualities that make a great story: personal ambition, disagreements, eccentricity, struggles, fashions, fights and ultimately a building that triumphs. * This England *Not since Anna Pavord's The Tulip has a book so brilliantly captured the spirit of its subject. Kate Teltscher's Palace of Palms is a glorious headrush into Victorian history via one of the most iconic and beautiful glasshouses in the world. This is a bright, shining jewel of a book, a hedonists' delight and an escapists' antidote to the humdrum. -- Amanda ForemanIn this fascinating book, Kate Teltscher introduces us not just to the Palm House at Kew, but to the world of the palm. In so doing, she roams from botany and horticulture, through plant hunting expeditions and literary traditions, to engineering and architecture. Some of the people met on this journey are the privileged members of society, some technical geniuses, others working men who toiled in gruelling conditions to transport a tropical world to Victorian London. -- Margaret Willes, author of The Gardens of the British Working ClassTeltscher is a remarkable new historian . . . wholly original -- William DalrympleThis book gives a marvelous glimpse into a lost and luscious Victorian world, peopled not only with plants but with energetic, ambitious - and sometimes frankly bonkers - characters. -- Lucy WorsleyKate Teltscher’s highly readable account breathes life into the key characters and events that shaped the remarkable evolution of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew during the 19th century, and its most iconic building, the Palm House. -- Toby MusgraveThe Palm House is unarguably the iconic building at Kew Gardens, and in my opinion, the most beautiful glasshouse in the world. The Victorians created this glorious temple to house their precious palms and today, 170 years later, it continues to delight and awe millions of visitors every year. This book tells its story. -- Richard Deverell, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, KewThe Palm House at Kew has been a world attraction since it was opened in 1848 - and Kate Teltscher's brilliantly researched account of the botanists and architects responsible is as thrilling as a novel. -- Claire TomalinThe establishment of Kew Gardens and the building of the great Palm House is a most remarkable story, that touches on every aspect of 19th century life. Kate Teltscher knows it all – the politics, the science, the engineering – and writes about it with effortless elegance to weave the most wonderfully compelling narrative. -- Michael Frayn

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Book SynopsisPawpaws is an in-depth guide to growing and marketing North America's forgotten native fruit at small commercial orchard scale. Coverage includes selecting cultivars, orchard planning, propagating, organic growing, pest management, harvesting, marketing, and value-added products. Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Chapter 1: Foraging for Wild Pawpaws Chapter 2: Description of North American Pawpaw Fruit Chapter 3: Flowering and Pollination Chapter 4: Site Design and Planting Chapter 5: Choosing Your Trees Chapter 6: Maintaining the Orchard Chapter 7: Harvesting Pawpaw Fruit Chapter 8: Tree Propagation Chapter 9: Pests, Diseases, Disorders and Their Management Chapter 10: Pawpaw Fruit Marketing Strategies Chapter 11: Pawpaw CultivarsChapter 12: Troubleshooting, Cost Analysis, and CalendarChapter 13: ConclusionResources NotesIndex About the AuthorAbout New Society Publishers

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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Book SynopsisFlora of North America represents the first and only comprehensive taxonomic guide to the extraordinary diversity of plant life in North America north of Mexico. The collaborative effort of more than 30 major U.S. and Canadian botanical institutions, this series revises and synthesizes literally thousands of floristic monographs and regional floras published over the last three centuries.Flora of North America North of Mexico Volume 13: Magnoliophyta: Geraniaceae to Apiaceae includes treatments prepared by 60 authors covering 624 species in 147 genera classified in 14 families. Apiaceae, the carrot or parsley family, is by far the largest family in the volume with 403 species, and includes many economically important plants that are used for food, spices, medicine, and ornamentals, as well as some species that are notoriously toxic. Many species are narrow endemics, a significant number of which have been described only recently. The treatment brings together the latest taxonomic and phylogenetic information on this diverse family. Some other families in the volume that have significant numbers of species include Anacardiaceae, Araliaceae, Geraniaceae, Rutaceae, and Sapindaceae. Descriptions for all families, genera, species, and infraspecies are provided, as are occurrence maps for all species and infraspecies. Every genus and 30% of the species are illustrated. Keys are included to aid in the identification of taxa at all ranks. Volume 13 is the twenty-fifth volume to be published in the planned 30-volume Flora of North America North of Mexico series.

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Book SynopsisThis new fourth edition has been completely revised and updated, covering all aspects in the field of plant sciences including biochemistry, plant physiology, cytology, ecology, genetics, evolution, biogeography, earth history, and earth sciences. Over 500 new entries, including Rosales, physical dormancy, menthol, and codeine, enhance the dictionary''s coverage of botanical terms, key drugs and medicines derived from plants, and plant orders, families, and genera. It also explains many ecological terms, and expands beyond plants to describe fungi and bacteria and how they affect plants.Numerous appendices include Plant Classification and SI Units, with new timelines showing important moments in plant evolution. For ease of use, vernacular plant names have been transferred to an appendix, fully cross-referenced to the A to Z entries. The dictionary''s dedicated companion website points to recommended web links and additional resources. The most up-to-date dictionary available on its subject, this is an essential resource for students of plant sciences and amateur botanists, as well as an entertaining and valuable guide for the plant enthusiast.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition Allaby succeeds remarkably well over a wide range of disciplines...leaves one a better informed person, and who could ask for more from a dictionary? * Times Higher Education Supplement *...a very useful first dictionary for biologists with an interest in plants... * Alan Cadogan, Journal of Biological Education, Vol. 41 (4) *Table of ContentsPreface Contents A Dictionary of Plant Sciences A-Z Plant Classification Fungi Classification The Universal Genetic Code The Geologic Time-Scale SI Units Phylogenies Timelines Vernacular Plant Names

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Book SynopsisThis work sounds an early warning about an environmental catastrophe that has become all too familiar today - the invasion of nonnative species. The author explains the devastating effects that invasive species can have on local ecosystems.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisExplores what makes the world's rarest plants so exceptional, and by what means they have become so scarce, and tells the story of 40 rare and endangered species. Includes 40 frameable prints; encased in a collector's box.Table of ContentsIncludes: Adansonia grandidieri, Aloe vera, Brugmansia arborea, Clianthus puniceus, Dracaena draco, Eucalyptus, Fritillaria meleagris, Genista tinctoria, Iris sofarana, Jacaranda mimosifolia, Lotus maculatus, Paphiopedalum bellatulum, Quercus Robur and more + 40 removeable prints.

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Book SynopsisCelebrate the weird, wacky, and wonderful world of plants with a book that revels in the diversity of the botanical world.Plants are truly awe-inspiring. They can be vast, minute, smelly, or spectacularly ugly. Some plants live on their own, or by growing off others; some live by air and water; others are carnivorous, eating the creatures around them; some plants look remarkably like animals; while others have unusual symbolism; and some have special cultural significance. This book explores them all, bringing together the most peculiar and most fascinating plants on the planet - celebrating them in all their diverse splendour.Split into five chapters, covering everything from poisonous plants to painkilling ones, Michael Perry explains exactly what makes each plant special. With exquisitely detailed illustrations of all the different species, this is an informative, humorous, and beautiful gift for all those who love plants - whether they want to grow them orTrade ReviewIt is just absolutely fabulous, and I'm sure it'll be on many people's Christmas lists. * BBC Radio Suffolk *

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Book SynopsisThis volume summarizes current research on the influence of plant polyphenols on human health, promoting collaboration between chemists and biologists to improve our understanding of their biological significance, and expanding the possibilities for their use. Table of ContentsPreface. 1. Introduction. 2. Hydrolyzable Tannins. 3. Condensed Tannins and Related Compounds. 4. Biotechnology. 5. Antioxidant Properties and Heart Disease. 6. Conformation, Complexation, and Antimicrobial Properties. 7. Polyphenols and Cancer. 8. Polyphenols in Commerce. 9. Polyphenols and Ecology. 10. Concluding Remarks. 11. Indexes.

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Book SynopsisFocusing on the field of terrestrial ecology, this work includes soil structure and function, economics of biodiversity, crop growth and development, ethnobotany and conservation. The volume is useful for professionals and researchers in the field of botany, zoology, ecology, vegetation science, agriculture, forestry and population biology.Table of ContentsPreface; R.S. Ambasht, N.K. Ambasht. 1. Applied Terrestrial Ecology; R.S. Ambasht, N.K. Ambasht. 2. The Influences of Compaction on Soil Structure and Soil Function in Forest Sites; E.E. Hildebrand, H.S. Kirchner. 3. An Overview of Ecological Plant Classification Systems: Linking Functional Response and Functional Effect Groups; A. Symstad. 4. Ecology of Soil Borne Pathogens in Crop Fields; M.W. Lee, Y.S. Lee. 5. Economics of Biodiversity; L. Fernandez. 6. Effects of Air Pollution on Crops in Developing Countries; J.N.B. Bell, F. Marshall. 7. Applied Ecology of Biodiversity; N.K. Ambasht, R.S. Ambasht. 8. Restoration and Management of Degraded Tropical Forest Landscapes; J.A. Parrotta. 9. Nutrient Export in Tropical Rain Forests; W.H. McDowell. 10. Ozone Stress Impacts on Plant Life; J. Bender, H.J. Weigel. 11. The effects of UV-B radiation on crop growth and development; A.K. Tobin. 12. Vegetation Ecology and Regeneration of Tropical Mountain Forests; R.W. Bussmann. 13. Influence of elevated levels of CO2 on Plants; M. Agrawal. 14. Plant Cover-Ecological Implications and Methodical Approaches; H. Dietz, T. Steinlein 15. Ecology of Individuals: Individual based Models of Single Population Dynamics; J. Uchmanski. 16. Concepts and Application of Non linear Complex Systems Theory to Ecological Succession; G.R. Walther, et al. 17. Soil Organisms and Litter Decomposition; G. Gonzáles. 18. Applied Ecology of Succession in Pine Forests of WesternJapan; M. Fujihara, et al. 19. Ethanobotany and Biodiversity Conservation; R.W. Bussmann. Index

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Book SynopsisEnvironmental disasters, from wildfires and vanishing species to flooding and drought, have increased dramatically in recent years and debates about the environment are rarely far from the headlines. There is growing awareness that these disasters are connected â indeed, that in the fabric of nature everything is interconnected. However, until the publication of Freya Mathews' The Ecological Self, there had been remarkably few attempts to provide a conceptual foundation for such interconnectedness that brought together philosophy and science.In this acclaimed book, Mathews skilfully weaves together a thought-provoking metaphysics of the environment. She connects the ideas of the seventeenth-century philosopher Spinoza with twentieth-century systems theory and Einsteinâs physics to argue that the atomistic cosmology inherited from Newton gave credence to a picture of the universe as fragmented, rather than as whole. Furthermore, it is such faulty thinking that presents Trade Review'Freya writes beautifully ... [She] illuminates the relation physics and metaphysics, and between knowledge and faith ... if one wanted a clear articulation of some aspects of Spinoza's notion of substance and Einstein's cosmology, here they are.' - Habitat 'This is the book for which serious students of "deep" ecology have been waiting ...her treatment is outstandingly lucid, highly original and tightly argued.' - Times Higher Education Supplement 'It should be read by everyone interested in environmental ethics and will be of interest to many others.' - Australasian Journal of Philosophy 'Freya writes beautifully ... [She] illuminates the relationship between physics and metaphysics, and between knowledge and faith ... if one wanted a clear articulation of some aspects of Spinoza's notion of substance and Einstein's cosmology, here it is.' - Habitat 'This is the book for which serious students of "deep" ecology have been waiting ...her treatment is outstandingly lucid, highly original and tightly argued.' - Times Higher Education Supplement 'It should be read by everyone interested in environmental ethics and will be of interest to many others.' - Australasian Journal of Philosophy Table of ContentsIntroduction to the Routledge Classics Edition 1. Atomism and its Ideological Implications 2. Geometrodynamics: A Monistic Metaphysic 3. System and Substance: Alternative Principles of Individuation 4. Value in Nature and Meaning in Life. Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThis book is an extended argument for abandoning the species rank. Instead, the author proposes that the rank of species be replaced by a pluralistic and multi-level view. In such a view, all clades including the smallest identifiable one would be named and studied within a phylogenetic context. What are currently called species represent different sorts of things depending on the sort of organisms and processes being considered. This is already the case, but is not formally recognized by those scientists using the species rank in their work. Adopting a rankless taxonomy at all levels would enhance academic studies of evolution and ecology and yield practical benefits in areas of public concern such as conservation. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781498714549, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial license.KEY FEATURES Proposes the replacement of restTable of ContentsAuthor. Introduction. What Should the Species Level Represent within the Current Ranked Codes of Nomenclature? The Need for Pluralism Because of Different Biologies in Different Taxa. A Phylogenetic Species Concept. What Should Happen to Taxa at the Traditional Species Level under a Rankless Code of Nomenclature? General Principles of Rankless Classification Extended to the Species Rank. Discussion: What Would the World Be Like without the Species Rank?. Endnotes. Index .

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