Fifty Plants that Changed the Course of History

Of course, we are entirely dependent on plants for our foodand the air we breathe, but did you know that 5,000 mature English oak treeswere used in the construction of Admiral Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory, or thatsweet peas were involved in the birth of the science of genetics? King Cottonwas the driver of the slave trade, which was the first domino to fall in the AmericanRevolution, and cotton was also the catalyst for the Industrial Revolution. These,and many other extraordinary facts in FiftyPlants that Changed the Course of History, highlight the dynamic ways inwhich plants have influenced human history.

This beautifully designed and illustrated volume provides anengaging guide to the fifty key plants that have had the most impact on humanhistory. Packed full of information, the book includes details about thehabitat and characteristics of each plant, fact boxes, full colour photographs andlovely botanical illustrations. Weaving together strands of economic, politicaland agricultural history, each entry is a fascinating look at the mostinfluential plants known to mankind.

Bill Laws is a writer, editor and journalist who specialises in homes, gardens and landscapes. He is the author of ten books including Common Losses: Essays and Interviews on Trees, Woods and the Green Man. Bill's work has featured in the Guardian and Telegraph newspapers as well as various BBC publications, Environment Now and Period House. He is based in Herefordshire, England.