Synopsis
The Chocolate Tree chronicles the natural and cultural history of Theobroma cacao and explores its ecological niche. Tracing cacao's "journey" out of the rain forest, into pre-Columbian gardens, and then onto plantations adjacent to rain forests, Allen M. Young describes the production of this essential crop, explaining how the seeds are extracted from the large, colorful pods. He details the environmental price of Europeanized cultivation, and ways that current reclamation efforts for New World rain forests can improve the natural ecology of the cacao tree.
Recounting more than a dozen years of ecological fieldwork in and around cacao plantations in Costa Rica, Young reviews his research into the problem of poor levels of natural pollination on plantations. He recalls encounters with sloths, toucans, butterflies, giant tarantula hawk wasps, and other creatures found in cacao groves. Among these creatures Young discovered a tiny fly that provides a vital link between the chocolate tree and its original rain forest habitat. This discovery leads him to conclude that cacao trees in cultivation today may have lost their original insect pollinators due to the plants' long history of agricultural manipulation.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Reviews
Young's engaging and scholarly book examines the natural history of cacao and its transformation into a cultivated crop of ancient and modern peoples and its ecological connections to the rain forest. Young points out that cacao is among a handful of New World tropical plants that, due to the Spanish conquest of Central America in the late fifteenth century, became a bridge between two distinct spheres of humankind: Western culture and society on one hand, and the ancient and indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica on the other. The author spent a great deal of time researching cacao pollination, and concludes that successful natural pollination of cacao is linked to the ecology of the tropical rain forest, and that the ties between cacao and the rain forest bode well for the future of both economic development and biological conservation in the lowland tropics. George Cohen
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Search results for The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao (Smithsonian...
Stock Image
The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao (Smithsonian Nature Books)
Published by
Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994
ISBN 10: 1560983574
ISBN 13: 9781560983576
Used
Hardcover
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G1560983574I3N10
Stock Image
The Chocolate Tree : A Natural History of Cacao
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 12865541-6
Stock Image
The Chocolate Tree : A Natural History of Cacao
Seller: Better World Books: West, Reno, NV, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 9777798-6
Stock Image
The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao (Smithsonian Nature Books)
Published by
Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994
ISBN 10: 1560983574
ISBN 13: 9781560983576
Used
Hardcover
Seller: HPB-Red, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used textbooks may not include companion materials such as access codes, etc. May have some wear or writing/highlighting. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_434093247
Stock Image
The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao (Smithsonian Nature Books)
Published by
Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994
ISBN 10: 1560983574
ISBN 13: 9781560983576
Used
Hardcover
Seller: HPB-Diamond, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_434577352
Stock Image
The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao
Published by
Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington. DC, 1994
ISBN 10: 1560983574
ISBN 13: 9781560983576
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Maxwell's House of Books, La Mesa, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 2 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Clean, crisp hardcover in near fine condition; faintest foxing at upper edge. Very good DJ lightly rubbed. Seller Inventory # 062616
Seller Image
The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao
Published by
Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994
ISBN 10: 1560983574
ISBN 13: 9781560983576
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Turn-The-Page Books, Skyway, WA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition. 1st printing. Crisp and unmarked. Quarter cloth binding. 200pp. Photos. Jacket now in a new mylar cover. Size: 8vo - 8" - 9" Tall. Seller Inventory # 070376
Seller Image
The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao
Published by
Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London, 1994
ISBN 10: 1560983574
ISBN 13: 9781560983576
Used
Hardcover
Seller: Exquisite Corpse Booksellers, Houston, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Cloth. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 200 pages. Hardcover. Text in English. Minor bump to the foot of the spine with some associated crimping to that area of the dustjacket. Else, the other corners are sharp, the binding tight, and interior clean and free of markings. Part of the Smithsonian Nature Book series. Seller Inventory # 023076
Stock Image
The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao (signed)
Published by
Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington & London, 1994
ISBN 10: 1560983574
ISBN 13: 9781560983576
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Signed
Seller: About Books, Henderson, NV, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good condition. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good dust jacket. NOT a library discard (illustrator). First Printing of the First Edition. Washington & London: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994. SIGNED by the AUTHOR directly on the title page (his signature only, NOT personalized to anyone). SIGNED copies are SCARCE. "SIGNED COPY" sticker on the front. Good condition in a bright and shiny Very Good dust jacket. NO chips, tears or fading. The book itself is rated only Good due to several pages with a paper clip impression along the top edge. Pages are otherwise clean and unmarked. Sharp corners. NO owner's name or bookplate. NOT a remainder. NOT a library discard. 2017. First printing of the First Edition with complete number row (54321) on the copyright page. Well illustrated with map, numerous drawings and b/w photos in the text, plus an 8 page section of full color photos on glossy stock. Bound in the original light brown boards with silver-stamped dark green cloth spine. Complete with dust jacket. From the publisher: "The Chocolate Tree chronicles the natural and cultural history of Theobroma cacao and explores its ecological niche. Tracing cacao's "journey" out of the rain forest, into pre-Columbian gardens, and then onto plantations adjacent to rain forests, Allen M. Young describes the production of this essential crop, explaining how the seeds are extracted from the large, colorful pods. He details the environmental price of Europeanized cultivation, and ways that current reclamation efforts for New World rain forests can improve the natural ecology of the cacao tree. Recounting more than a dozen years of ecological fieldwork in and around cacao plantations in Costa Rica, Young reviews his research into the problem of poor levels of natural pollination on plantations. He recalls encounters with sloths, toucans, butterflies, giant tarantula hawk wasps, and other creatures found in cacao groves. Among these creatures Young discovered a tiny fly that provides a vital link between the chocolate tree and its original rain forest habitat. This discovery leads him to conclude that cacao trees in cultivation today may have lost their original insect pollinators due to the plants' long history of agricultural manipulation.". SIGNED by the AUTHOR (his signature only). First Printing of the First Edition. Hardcover. Good condition/Very Good dust jacket. Illus. by NOT a library discard. 8vo. xv, 200pp. + 8 color plates. Great Packaging, Fast Shipping. Seller Inventory # 030788
Stock Image
The Chocolate Tree: A Natural History of Cacao
Published by
Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994
ISBN 10: 1560983574
ISBN 13: 9781560983576
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Enterprise Books, Chicago, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover, illus. Condition: As New. Dust Jacket Condition: As New. First Edition; First Printing. Book and DJ As New. No defects. NO notes or ANY markings. ; Smithsonian Nature Books; 200 pages. Seller Inventory # 68187