Description

Immediate dispatch from Somerset. Nice book in great condition. Pages in excellent unused condition. Images are beautiful bright and vivid. No notes or highlighting. See images. Fantastic book.

About the book >.>.> Through exquisite botanical paintings and insightful essays Flora examines the fascinating history of plants and flowers. Over 20 plant families are profiled including cacti daffodils iris magnolia poppies roses tulips and waterlilies. Throughout history plants have affected our lives even shaping societies. Holland’s infamous tulip craze is legendary while the 17th century spice trade was so profitable that stevedores who unloaded nutmeg from the boats had to wear coveralls without pockets since a single nutmeg was worth a fortune. The natural history of the plants is itself an engrossing topic and Flora explains how plants have adopted remarkable behaviours for survival in a variety of harsh habitats. One such plant is the dead horse arum a putrid- smelling plant that adapted to compete with dead birds to attract pollinating carrion flies. Plants that gardeners now take for granted could once be found only in remote and hostile regions. Flora also tells the remarkable stories of the adventurous botanist explorers who braved disease slave traders war jungles and other dangers to collect plants now commonly grown in our own gardens. (MP)