Of course, we are entirely dependent on plants for our food and the air we breathe, but did you know that 5,000 mature English oak trees were used in the construction of Admiral Nelson's flagship HMS Victory, or that sweet peas were involved in the birth of the science of genetics? King Cotton was the driver of the slave trade, which was the first domino to fall in the American Revolution, and cotton was also the catalyst for the Industrial Revolution. These, and many other extraordinary facts in Fifty Plants that Changed the Course of History, highlight the dynamic ways in which plants have influenced human history. This beautifully designed and illustrated volume provides an engaging guide to the fifty key plants that have had the most impact on human history. Packed full of information, the book includes details about the habitat and characteristics of each plant, fact boxes, full colour photographs and lovely botanical illustrations. Weaving together strands of economic, political and agricultural history, each entry is a fascinating look at the most influential plants known to mankind.

This easy-to-use identification guide to the 280 tree and shrub species most commonly seen in India is perfect for resident and visitor alike.High quality photographs from India's top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution and habitat.The user-friendly introduction covers geography and climate, vegetation, opportunities for naturalists and the main sites for viewing the listed species.Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the trees and shrubs of India encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific name, its status in each state as well as its global IUCN status as at 2015.

Published for the first time in German, this is the first local field guide to cover all the commonly encountered plants and animals of the southern African region in one compact and easy-to-use volume.

More than 2 000 species (1 200 of them illustrated) are described in 11 categories - from lower invertebrates to insects and spiders; vertebrates, inlucing frogs, freshwater fishes, birds, reptiles, and mammals; and plants, from fungi and ferns to wild flowers, grasses and trees. Each category has been compiled by an expert in the field and is colour coded for easy reference.

On December 15, 1868, Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius (1794-1868), Professor of Botany at the University of Munich and director of the Royal Botanic Garden, was carried to his grave in a coffin covered with fresh palm leaves. These were a reference to his groundbreaking Historia naturalis palmarum: opus tripartitum (Natural History of Palms: a work in three volumes), published between 1823 and 1853. At the time, this encyclopedic treasury contained the sum of human knowledge on the topic, and included 240 exquisite chromolithographic illustrations, including landscape views of palm habitats and botanical dissections.This epic folio was based on von Martius's expedition to Brazil and Peru with zoologist Johann Baptist von Spix, sponsored by King Maximilian I of Bavaria, to investigate natural history and native tribes. From 1817 to 1820 the pair traveled over 2,250 km (1,400 miles) throughout the Amazon basin, the most species-rich palm region in the world, collecting and sketching specimens. On their return both men were awarded knighthoods and lifetime pensions. In his epic work, von Martius outlined the modern classification of palm, produced the first maps of palm biogeography, described all the palms of Brazil, and collated the sum of all known genera of the palm family. Apart from his own collection of specimens and notes, von Martius also wrote about the findings of others. Von Martius's folio is unusual in its inclusion of cross-sectioned diagrams, conveying the architecture of these mighty trees, which central Europeans would have found hard to imagine accurately. Equally remarkable are the color landscapes showing various palms-often standing alone-which have a simple and elegant beauty. This famous work is an unrivaled landmark in botanic illustration and taxonomy.

Here are fresh ways of seeing and understanding nature with a vivid journey through the seasons. Detailed facts are interwoven with artistic insights. Readers are helped by simple observation exercises, by inspiring illustrations that make a companion guide to plant growth around the year. A wide variety of common plants axe beautifully drawn, from seed to bud to flower and fruit. The drawings are accompanied by helpful suggestions that encourage readers to try out the observation and drawing exercises.

Where will you look for the biggest, tallest or most corpulent trees in South Africa, or trees that have witnessed major events in the country’s history? These interesting specimens, and many others, are found in parks, nature reserves, on farms, on town and city streets and in private gardens – some perhaps even right on the reader’s doorstep.
Remarkable Trees of South Africa journeys into the fascinating world of trees. Written in an easy, anecdotal style, the authors relate, in text and photographs, the historical, cultural and economical significance of South Africa’s trees. Also included are accounts of the major tree families, as well as an overview of trees as monuments and in botanical gardens, parks and arboreta.
Now in its second edition, the text has been completely updated with additional information on Champion Trees and the authors’ selection of the Big Five Trees of South Africa. Presented as a coffee-table book with full-colour photographs throughout, anyone with an interest in history and nature, South African flora in particular, will find this book an essential addition to their home library.

‘I wonder what tree that is’ – if this thought has ever occurred to you in the Kruger National Park, this book is intended for you. Virtually no visitor to the Kruger National Park has not, at some point, become a nature enthusiast once the Big Five hunger has been stilled.
This book is about trees, but has been compiled around places in the Kruger National Park. It describes 51 species of trees in rest camps, picnic sites and bird hides as static objects. When you arrive in a rest camp, at a picnic site or bird hide, the book will draw your attention to a remarkable or interesting tree. The small map at the top left of each title page indicates in which part of the Kruger Park the tree is – the southern, central or northern region
It is only when you have come to see and appreciate the magnificence of the veld, that you wish you knew more about the trees encountered along the way... This book is a glorious travelling companion that introduces you to the characteristics of specific trees. It accompanies you on your journey from stopping place to picnic place to rest camp.
More than 220 beautiful photographs in full colour, user-friendly descriptions of 51 tree species and special anecdotes provide the reader with interesting general knowledge as well as an insight into the history of the Park.
It is a must-have inclusion in your Game Reserve library.

Easily Identify the Trees You Find, Even in Winter! This essential guide by celebrated ecologist May Theilgaard Watts helps readers enjoy getting to know trees, even in winter when the leaves have fallen from the branches. With this handy, easy-to-use book, you'll be able to identify the trees around you in no time. Features include: Key to identifying deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves in the winter) by looking at twigs, buds, fruits, and other features Explanations of the structure of twigs Information about habitats and ranges of native and some widely introduced trees Illustrations with the author's line drawings

High among the cold, windswept peaks of America's mountain West, strange and beautiful trees grow old but never age. The Bristlecone Book: A Natural History of the World's Oldest Trees brings together for the first time the captivating facts about bristlecone and foxtail pines--trees that thrive in a harsh environment and live thousands of years--with a special focus on Great Basin bristlecone pine, the oldest tree species on earth. In this extraordinary journey into the world of bristlecones, author Ronald Lanner exposes the trees' inner workings, taking apart a pine to examine bark, buds, needles, cones, roots, and wood. He follows a tree's lifespan from seedling to great old age, presenting a new interpretation of stages of growth. He explains the unusual colors and forms that make bristlecones so picturesque, describes how the forces of nature influence the trees' unique shapes, and reveals their secrets of long life. Readers will discover where to go to see these trees and how to identify them. A stunning pageant of color photos shows off bristlecones and their remarkable growth patterns, and a map shows locations of groves.

Extending from the spillway below Cochiti Dam, about fifty miles north of Albuquerque, to the headwaters of Elephant Butte Reservoir, near Truth or Consequences in the southern portion of New Mexico, the Middle Rio Grande Bosque is more than a cottonwood woodland or forest. It is a complete riverside ecosystem, among the more important in the world's arid regions.

Every day hundreds of visitors to the bosque encounter flora and fauna they can't identify. Researchers and municipal, county, state, and federal resource agency personnel concerned with the bosque's management need to know how plants and animals are linked to their habitats.

With descriptions of more than seven hundred plants and animals illustrated with color photographs, this authoritative guide is the first of its kind for the Middle Rio Grande Bosque and is an invaluable resource for land managers, teachers, students, eco-buffs, and nature enthusiasts. It also reveals the important role the bosque plays in New Mexico's natural heritage.

Discover the fascinating world of Ireland's diverse and astonishing collection of native wildflowers: from the insect-eating Sundew to the humble Harebell, this superbly illustrated guide features over 530 of the wildflowers of Ireland with more than 1,200 of the author's photographs. For ease of identification, the species are divided into colour categories and within each category the species are grouped by, for example, the number of petals in the flower or whether the species carries its flowers in a cluster or a spike. In easily understood terminology, focus is put on the main identifying features of each plant, by colour, size, shape of flower, leaf, habitat, flowering season, and where in Ireland it might be found. This is a must for enthusiasts of all ages and experience and a complementary companion to the author's Wildflowers of Ireland - A Personal Record.

Updated edition. This concise yet comprehensive handbook, compiled with the expertise of Reforesting Scotland's editors, covers trees commonly found in Scotland. From seed provenance and propagation to the history and lore of each species, this single source contains all the information you need to select the right trees for your site and grow them successfully. Whether you are an owner of (or volunteer at) a small woodland, a gardener looking to incorporate the most appropriate trees into your space, or simply a lover of woodland walks and trees, this invaluable reference will be your one essential guide.

This book explores the botanical richness and cultural heritage of the New Forest National Park in Hampshire, England. The New Forest has become an exceptional area for wildflowers, many of which were once common throughout the lowlands of Britain. The Forest enjoys strong populations of many special wildflowers because it retains a living tradition of free-ranging domestic animals grazing its coastland, extensive commons, and village greens. This book is an exploration of how the wildlife of the Forest is the natural expression of the lives and economy of the people of the Forest. It includes an introduction to the New Forest and how its commoning economy works, a description of the principal habitats of the Forest and how they relate to one another, accounts of the people who have explored the Forest for wildflowers from the early 17th century to the present, descriptions of more than 100 species of the rarer flowering plants and ferns currently known from the National Park, many of which are nationally or internationally rare, scarce, or threatened, and, an account of Forest conservation issues by someone who has participated in the life of the Forest for more than 20 years.

Why is South Africa's iconic strelitzia named after a German-born queen of England? Why does this small family of mainly southern African plants have relatives in Madagascar and in the Amazon? Why do scientists believe that strelitzia seeds could be the key to a new generation of life-saving medicines? Strelitzias ofthe world is the first book to investigate the life story of these iconic plants. The dramatically different bird of paradise flower burst upon the scientific and gardening world nearly 250 years ago. For more than a century, it was the preserve of aristocrats and royalty. Its grandeur survives to this day, with a specially developed cultivar recently named in honour of the legendary President Nelson Mandela, ‘Mandela's Gold'. This was derived from the Strelitzia reginae that so entranced English royal botanical adviser Sir Joseph Banks, Russia’s Empress Catherine the Great and Britain's Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, after whom the flower was named. Strelitzias are a small but far-flung family of eight main members: six in southern Africa; the traveller's palm in Madagascar; and the big palulu in the upper Amazon. From the martyrs of botany battling disease and pirates while on the trail of strelitzias, this lavishly illustrated book profiles the adventures and history surrounding these extraordinary plants; investigates scientific controversies; discusses the plants' use by people, mammals, birds and insects; and surveys their phenomenal impact on the international flower trade, where they are recognised as one of the world’s most beautiful blooms. This “historical and contemporary exploration of just one plant family is a publishing rarity that will appeal to anyone with a botanical, historical, horticultural, environmental or even biochemical interest in plants. Featuring more than 200 illustrations, including rare historic and contemporary plant specimens from international herbaria, Strelitzias of the world also forms a breathtaking showcase for dramatic botanical drawings and paintings of strelitzias by both the classical greats and by today's South African botanical artists. These include paintings from Franz Bauer, the favourite botanical artist of England's King George III, and from Pierre-Joseph Redoute, the favourite botanical artist of Napoleon's Empress Josephine. A new set of drawings of southern African strelitzias was also commissioned by the Durban Botanic Gardens Trust from renowned KZN botanical artist Angela Beaumont and a dozen other South African botanical artists have donated use of their artwork. We are proud to have been assisted in producing this important and beautiful book by a publication award from the Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust, says Ivor Daniel, chair of the Durban Botanic Gardens Trust. “Strelitzias ofthe world is the second in our umKhuhlu series and a link to the proud tradition of publishing at Durban Botanic Gardens that dates back to the 19th century. Most of all, this book exemplifies the striving for botanical excellence and the fostering of relationships between people and plants that are a key mission for all botanic gardens across the world and which have been guiding forces in the Durban Botanic Gardens Trust for the past 25 years of its existence.

The Chihuahuan desert is the second largest in North America and its northern, or United States, portion occupies southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and Texas west of the Pecos River. Hot, dry, and windy, the desert is home to a unique community of plants that have adapted to its harsh environment. Visitors to the area will find this volume a practical identification guide, offering descriptions of seventy-five representative species of northern Chihuahuan Desert plants. Each illustrated profile includes the plant's common and Latin name and a brief description, as well as its role in human history, its relationship to the surrounding flora and fauna, medicinal uses, nutritional value, habitat, toxicity, and other interesting facts.

Trees were central to Henry David Thoreau's creativity as a writer, his work as a naturalist, his thought, and his inner life. His portraits of them were so perfect, it was as if he could see the sap flowing beneath their bark. When Thoreau wrote that the poet loves the pine tree as his own shadow in the air, he was speaking about himself. In short, he spoke their language. In this original book, Richard Higgins explores Thoreau's deep connections to trees: his keen perception of them, the joy they gave him, the poetry he saw in them, his philosophical view of them, and how they fed his soul. His lively essays show that trees were a thread connecting all parts of Thoreau's being-heart, mind, and spirit. Included are one hundred excerpts from Thoreau's writings about trees, paired with over sixty of the author's photographs. Thoreau's words are as vivid now as they were in 1890, when an English naturalist wrote that he was unusually able to "to preserve the flashing forest colors in unfading light." Thoreau and the Language of Trees shows that Thoreau, with uncanny foresight, believed trees were essential to the preservation of the world.

Plants and Habitats combines the species and habitat approaches to plants and vegetation. Most of it is an identification guide to 700 plant species selected as those which are common, conspicuous or useful ecological indicators; species which collectively make up most of the vegetation in Britain and Ireland. There is also a separate habitats section describing the flora, ecology and management of habitats. With this combination of approaches Plants and Habitats aims to help people understand our vegetation at all scales, from individual plants to whole landscapes. The structure and plain English writing style are designed to help with species identification by non-specialists.Plants and Habitats is illustrated throughout with colour photos and some line drawings. For those working with habitat classifications, National Vegetation Classification (NVC) codes are incorporated throughout and there are summary tables cross-referencing various classifications. The book is written for a wide readership including those working or training in subjects connected with ecology, conservation, land management, and other environmental matters.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes' Field Journal (or Snqeymintn, "a place to write," in Salish) is a lavishly illustrated field notebook supplementing Bull Trout's Gift, the Tribes' publication for young readers. Bull Trout's Gift examines the sacred and natural significance of the bull trout and the Tribes' restoration project along the Jocko River of Montana, which courses through their reservation. Meant to inform students, nature enthusiasts, and other lovers of the wilderness, the Field Journal is the place to conveniently record one's observations about the Jocko River habitat and can be used by nature enthusiasts everywhere to observe the watersheds in their own locales. The Field Journal is divided into four sections: Riparian Animals and Plants, Native Fish, Observation Pages, and Salish Language Pronunciation Guide. The lists of riparian animals and plants will assist students and nature enthusiasts in identifying the plant and animal specimens of watersheds throughout the Northern Rockies. The journal also includes a detailed map showing the Jocko River's path through the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes' lands.

Trees are one of Earth's oldest life forms; silent witnesses to human evolution and the passing of time. Many people today are unaware of their significance in Earth's ecology, their medicinal and nutritional properties, or the veneration bestowed on them by ancient peoples. This book captures all these elements in an inspiring holistic appraisal. Hageneder looks in detail at 24 of Europe and North America's best-loved trees: their physical characteristics, their healing powers, the traditions associated with them and how they have inspired human beings through the ages. Beautifully illustrated with black and white photographs and illustrations.

What is a tree? Why are they so important to life on Earth? How do they eat, breathe, grow, communicate, and regenerate themselves? How many different kinds of tree are there and where do they live? In this beautiful little book, illustrated with rare old engravings and specially commisioned drawings, internationally renowned Finnish tree boffin Professor Olavi Huikari takes us on an unforgettable journey deep into the secrets of these hugest and most majestic of life forms. WOODEN BOOKS are small but packed with information. "Fascinating" FINANCIAL TIMES. "Beautiful" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Rich and Artful" THE LANCET. "Genuinely mind-expanding" FORTEAN TIMES. "Excellent" NEW SCIENTIST. "Stunning" NEW YORK TIMES. Small books, big ideas.