Bøker i Botanical-serien

Richly illustrated throughout, Birch presents a fascinating overview of their cultural and ecological significance, from botany to literature and art, as Anna Lewington looks both at the history of birches and what the future may hold in store for them.

A cultural history of a reddish, much-loved shrub, sometimes called mountain ash or dogberry. Rowan is the first in-depth natural and cultural history of this much-loved plant sometimes called mountain ash or dogberry. Through myth, medicine, literature, land art, and contemporary rewilding, Oliver Southall uncovers the many meanings of this singular reddish, fruit shrub: a potent symbol of nostalgia on the one hand and of environmental activism on the other. Taking the reader on an eclectic journey across history, Rowan charts our changing relationships with nature and landscape, raising urgent questions about how we value and relate to the non-human world.

A wide-ranging natural and cultural history of orchids. Approximately eight percent of all the Earth's flowering species are orchids. Known for their beautiful flowers, delicate forms, and sweet fragrances, orchids are unlike any other flower. Orchids have been contemplated by philosophers, celebrated by artists, and cultivated or even eaten by millions. They occupy our thoughts, stories, greenhouses, supermarkets, and homes. Orchid surveys all of this and more as Dan Torre explores the intriguing and multifaceted natural and cultural history of orchids.

An exploration of the botanical history and cultural impact of house plants.

A beautifully illustrated account of the botanical and cultural faces of the ash tree.

As it ranges from the traditions of the medieval marriage bed to Renaissance paintings of the Madonna and Child, this lavishly illustrated book will entertain anyone with an interest in history, art or culture. It is full of unexpected delights that will charm the mind and invigorate the senses - just like the carnation itself.

Recounts the origins, art, literature and legends of the cherry tree.

This sumptuously illustrated book tells the remarkable story of the mulberry tree.

With vibrant illustrations and tales of medieval best-sellers, nurserymen's rivalries and changing tastes in the flower bed, this book traces the journey of the rose across the centuries, from battles to bouquets, charting its botanical, religious, literary and artistic history.

In Palm Fred Gray portrays the cultural and historical significance of this iconic and controversial plant over thousands of years. Superbly illustrated, this lively and engaging book is the first of its kind.

In Cannabis Chris Duvall explores the cultural history and geography of humanity's most widely distributed crop, which supplies both hemp and marijuana.

Today geraniums can be found throughout the world, their widespread use in food and perfume manufacture as well as floral display exemplifying the global industrialization of plant production. This book details how the amenable geranium remains a plant that many love and others love to hate, but above all it is a flower that is seldom ignored.

For centuries common primroses have spread breathtaking carpets of pale lemon yellow across the globe, the first sign of spring. Abundant, edible, and beneficial for many ailments, they have supported civilization's social and cultural foundations. When undaunted plant hunters risked their lives to introduce the many Himalayan primroses of breathtaking beauty, the primrose gained iconic status. Capable of endless variation, primroses have captured the attention of gardeners, plant breeders, and scientists, while artists and poets have found them essential as both subject matter and muse. William Shakespeare introduced us to the "the primrose path," a pleasurable but destructive route, in several of his plays, and Charles Darwin spent more than thirty years working with primroses to solve an elegant evolutionary mystery. This book tells the story of how primroses became so successful, circling the Earth, adapting to human civilization, and yet holding their own on inaccessible craggy summits where they may never be seen. Bringing together facts, folklore, and beautiful images from around the world, Primrose is a delightful guide to this hugely popular flower.

Dan Torre uniquely explores the natural, cultural and social history of cacti - with particular emphasis on how these remarkable plants have been represented in art, literature, cinema, animation and popular culture around the world.

More than any other tree, the Oak has been a symbol of strength and durability. The Oak has been adopted by many countries as a national symbol, particularly in Western Europe and the United States. This book examines this magnificent and ubiquitous tree, tracing its biological history in its many manifestations, natural and cultural.