Rafflesia of the World


Book Description

Very beautiful book on what is simply the largest flower in the World. The book covers in detail the biology, occurrence and conservation status of the 18 currently recognised species, support by much original data from the author's own first-hand experience. Lavishly illustrated with 152 color photographs, 73 line illustrations, figures and distribution maps. A very appealing and valuable book for botanist, conservationist and anyone interested in these wonders of nature.




Rafflesia


Book Description




Weird Plants


Book Description

For the first time, this extraordinary compilation showcases weird, mysterious and bizarre plants from around the world. Plants trick, kill, steal and kidnap, and this unique book explores a fascinating world in which plants have turned the tables on animals. Author Chris Thorogood showcases these plant behaviours, the interrelationships among plants, the interdependencies between plants and animals, and the intrigue of plant evolution. All types of weird and sinister are featured in this book, from carnivorous plants that drug, drown and consume unsuspecting insect prey; giant pitcher plants that have evolved toilets for tree shrews; flowers that mimic rotting flesh to attract pollinating flies, and orchids that duplicitously look, feel and even smell like a female insect to bamboozle sex-crazed male bees.




Prickly Plants


Book Description

Some plants have glossy green leaves. Some have colorful flowers. Some plants have long, sharp spikes. Amazing to look at and painful to touch, cacti and other prickly plants are always a favorite with young children. This book explores how many plants use thorns or spikes to defend themselves from animals that want to eat them. When it comes to cacti, the spines of these plants are actually long, thin leaves that have adapted to keep the plants from losing water in the dry, desert environments where they live. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. From dramatic images to high-interest facts, this book makes learning about plant bodies, defenses, and adaptations a lively and engaging experience.







Parasitic flowering plants


Book Description

Parasitic flowering plants are strikingly impressive and beautiful and hold many surprises of both general and scientific interest. Parasites also have great influence on the quality of human life when attacking crop plants. Some parasites have since early times appealed to our imagination and have been part of religious or folkloristic events and used as gifts to royalties. This beautifully illustrated book covers all parasitic families and most of the genera. It also discusses the establishment of the parasite, the structure and function of the nutrient absorption organ (haustorium), and how the parasites are pollinated and dispersed as well as their ecology, hosts, and evolution. The book is written in a mostly non-technical language and is provided with a glossary and explanatory boxes. For additional information about this book, including some sample photographs, as well as a list of corrections that have been incorporated in the 2011 reprint, please visit the author's web site. Parasitic Flowering Plants was nominated by The Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries for the 2010 Annual Award for a Significant Work in Botanical or Horticular Literature, in the category ‘Technical Interest’. More information.




Pepper: A History of the World's Most Influential Spice


Book Description

A chronicle of the history of pepper. Describes its role in bringing Westerners to Asia, tracing the extraordinary voyages, exotic adventures and brutal violence that marked its early trade.




Atlas of Poetic Botany


Book Description

Botanical encounters in the rainforest: trees that walk, a leaf as big as an awning, a plant that dances. This Atlas invites the reader to tour the farthest reaches of the rainforest in search of exotic—poetic—plant life. Guided in these botanical encounters by Francis Hallé, who has spent forty years in pursuit of the strange and beautiful plant specimens of the rainforest, the reader discovers a plant with just one solitary, monumental leaf; an invasive hyacinth; a tree that walks; a parasitic laurel; and a dancing vine. Further explorations reveal the Rafflesia arnoldii, the biggest flower in the world, with a crown of stamens and pistils the color of rotten meat that exude the stench of garbage in the summer sun; underground trees with leaves that form a carpet on the ground above them; and the biggest tree in Africa, which can reach seventy meters (more tha 200 feet) in height, with a four-meter (about 13 feet) diameter. Hallé's drawings, many in color, provide a witty accompaniment. Like any good tour guide, Hallé tells stories to illustrate his facts. Readers learn about, among other things, Queen Victoria's rubber tree; legends of the moabi tree (for example, that powder from the bark confers invisibility); a flower that absorbs energy from a tree; plants that imitate other plants; a tree that rains; and a fern that clones itself. Hallé's drawings represent an investment in time that returns a dividend of wonder more satisfying than the ephemeral thrill afforded by the photograph. The Atlas of Poetic Botany allows us to be amazed by forms of life that seem as strange as visitors from another planet.




Wild Borneo


Book Description

"Wild Borneo is a beautifully photographed and eloquently written celebration of Borneo's gorgeous scenery, vast wealth of plant and animal life, and fascinating local peoples. Also featured in depth are efforts to protect the island's rainforests - world hotspots of species biodiversity - and to build a long-term global approach to conserving the multitude of natural treasures found on this unique, spectacular island." -- dust jacket.




Amazing Plant Bodies


Book Description

Most plants have roots, stems, and leaves. Many grow flowers, seeds, and fruits. Some plants, however, have developed spectacular examples of these plant parts! From the longest roots in the world to the biggest seeds, this fact-filled volume looks at the biggest, smallest, weirdest, and most unusual plant parts in the world! Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. From fascinating images to high-interest facts, this book makes learning about plant bodies a lively and engaging experience.