Tag: plants-and-people
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The domestication of people by plants…
Robert N. Spengler III’s “Nature’s greatest success” challenges the traditional view of agriculture’s origins, arguing that domestication was not a conscious act by humans but rather an inevitable outcome of plants’ evolution. He emphasises the partnership between plants and people, prompting critical thinking about our agricultural history and the role…
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Celebrating dendrochronology and dendrochronologists
In the Circle of Ancient Trees, edited by Valerie Trouet, explores dendrochronology and its significance through ten extraordinary tree species. The book combines scientific insight with human interest stories from dendrochronologists, highlighting the intertwined relationship between trees and society. Engaging essays are complemented by illustrations, though source citation remains a…
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Pulling the stuffing out of plants…
Jonathan Drori’s book, the stuff that stuff is made of, explores the crucial role of plants in human life. Featuring 30 plants, it blends factual information with engaging illustrations, anecdotes, and humour to bridge plant-awareness gaps. Intended for readers aged 7 to 100, it aims to inspire curiosity and appreciation…
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Wildflowers unveiled: Science and secrets behind nature’s beauty
Chris Thorogood’s “Wildflowers” explores the diverse world of wildflower biology, covering topics such as ecology, evolution, and conservation. Suitable for an intelligent, teenager-plus aged audience, the book offers concise chapters with abundant illustrations. While informative, it provides limited sourced facts. Overall, it celebrates the planet’s rich diversity of wild plants.
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Moss and lichen: A deep dive into cryptogams
Elizabeth Lawson’s “Moss and Lichen” is a groundbreaking addition to Reaktion Books’ Botanical series, shifting focus from vascular to non-vascular plants and encompassing fungi. Integrating biology, ecology, and cultural relevance, the book explores the nature of mosses and lichens, their roles in ecosystems, and their significance to humanity.
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Whisky galore: The tale of shipwrecked spirits
Whisky Galore! is a 1949 British comedy about whisky-deprived Scottish islanders who seize a stranded ship’s cargo. A recent project aims to create whiskey from shipwrecked American rye grains, which tale is told here, This post is also an opportunity – albeit a little early – to raise a toast…
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Botanical Origins of Modern Medicines
“Modern medicines from plants,” edited by Henry Oakeley, explores over 50 plants integral to modern prescription drugs. It chronicles the historical use and transition of these plants into medical treatments, detailing the origin stories of various drugs. The book is informative, well-illustrated, and a significant contribution to understanding plant-based medicines.
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The psychologist in the garden
Clive R. Hollin’s book, The Psychological Appeal of Gardens, critically evaluates the mental health benefits of gardening and green therapies. Despite its brevity, Hollin challenges the reliability of existing studies, emphasizing the need for more robust research. His comprehensive analysis aims to stimulate discussion among professionals in the field.
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Putting Indigenous plant knowledge where it belongs
The ethnobotanical by Sarah Edwards celebrates global indigenous plant knowledge, focusing on historical and contemporary interactions between people and plants. The book presents a bittersweet narrative, highlighting the loss of ancient botanical wisdom, challenging colonial exploitation, and emphasising the urgency of preserving ethnobotanical knowledge.
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Kew’s imaginative pocketbooks, Part 3
The post concludes Mr P Cuttings’ evaluations of Kew’s Pocketbook series, and considers Carnivorous plants, Festive flora, Palms, and Cacti. Each book features botanical illustrations and introductions by experts but most of them lack the promised detailed annotations. Richly illustrated, the titles here considered – and the series as a…
