Remarkable Plants That Shape Our World /anglais - Hardcover

BYNUM HELEN

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0500517428 ISBN 13: 9780500517420

Publisher: THAMES HUDSON, 2014

Synopsis

Plants are truly remarkable: even with all our modern technological prowess they still feed, clothe and shelter us, help transport us and can intoxicate and cure us helen and william bynum are expert guides to the rich histories, significance and uses of over 80 key plants in 69 entries, revealing our relationship with them, both utilitarian and aesthetic, and their multiple benefits and cultural associations organized thematically, eight sections cover all aspects of our interaction with plants starting with those crops that were fundamental to the development of cultures and civilizations, and those that enliven our diet beyond the basics, such as saffron and chilli peppers other sections look at plants that have helped to create our material world, as well as those that are used medicinally or are revered and adored for symbolic reasons, including the tulip, the rose and the lotus for anyone interested in the natural world and the extraordinary diversity of flora around us, this elegantly illustrated and covetable book, published in association with the royal botanic garden, kew, will be an inspiration and a delight

About this title

About the Author

Helen Bynum is a historian of science and medicine. She is coeditor of Great Discoveries in Medicine and Dictionary of Medical Biography.

Review

“Remarkable Plants That Shape Our World is a quietly lavish book that gathers together the history of human use of a wide array of plants world-wide. The book is divided into sections, treating plants used as major food crops, spices, drugs, building materials, cash crops, ornamentals, sacred plants and, in a fun final flourish, curiosities. . . . A candy box for the curious." (A Best Nature Book of 2014 Wall Street Journal)

“Remarkable Plants is readable and engaging. There is much discussion of species beyond 'the usual suspects' which appear in books on plants aimed at the general reader. A fantastic range of visual material.” (Noel Kingsbury, author of Gardening with Perennials and Hybrid)

"A gloriously illustrated celebration of the history, utility, diversity, and sheer wonder of the botanical world that powers our planet." (Washington Independent Review of Books)

This overview of the botanical world takes the usefulness of plants to humans as its starting point. Key plants—10 or so in each category—are divided into medicines, materials, foods and flavours, with brief and elegant essays devoted to topics such as olives, asparagus, hops, aloe, flax, bamboo and wheat. (Telegraph (UK))

"This very handsome book provides interesting, particularly historical, information about plants of use and interest to a wide readership. (Choice)

"It’s readable, interestingand full of colorful facts—botanical, medical, historical, culinary—that keep the reader turning the pages. The writing is in a loose, scholarly style that feels open and accessible to a general readership. This is the kind of book you want to read and then give to your friends and family to read." (Huntia)

"This beautifully produced volume reminds me of a Ken Burns video production. . . . Most of the images in this book are black and white or sepia and accompanied by engaging, authoritative yet accessible knowledge. The images are a gallery of exquisite botanical illustrations." (Economic Botany)

Edition details

• Publisher: THAMES HUDSON
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0500517428
• ISBN 13: 9780500517420
• Binding: Hardcover