Around the world in 80 plants
29.99 €
Out of stock
Around the world in 80 plants
29.99 €
Often beautiful, sometimes deadly, and always resourceful, plants are sources of life and pleasure as well as myth. In the follow-up to his bestselling book about trees, Jonathan Drury takes a new round-the-world journey to bring life to the science of plants and reveal how intricately they are woven into our history, culture, and folklore. From the seemingly familiar tomato and dandelion to the eerie mandrake and the Spanish "moss" of Louisiana, each of these stories is full of surprises. Some plants have had a troubled past, while others have served as inspiration for human creativity or helped entire civilizations thrive. They include parasites, carnivores, and even plants that destroy telephone wires. Drori's interest in the plant world is infectious. He lays out his scientific knowledge with ease and writes with passion and humor. And with colorful plant portraits by illustrator Lucille Claire, this botanical journey is made beautiful and brilliant. From the author: For me, the already fascinating science of plants comes alive when intertwined with human history and culture. Most of the stories in this book tell as much about people as they do about botany: the "reed of silence," the opium poppy, and the "peacock flower" delonix with a piquant and disturbing past; the peculiar traditions of the uses of kava, Spanish moss, and rhododendron; the incredible quest for the energizing properties of mandrake, chocolate, and even wormwood. We should not forget about pumpkins on Halloween. Less conspicuous plants are also a joy to man. I will begin my journey through England, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, with nettles, kelp, and sphagnum, and then travel from my London home eastward, roughly - very roughly! - following the route of Phileas Fogg from Jules Verne's novel. Who this book is for: All nature lovers
See also:
- All books by the publisher
- All books by the author
- All books in the series MYTH. Culture