Christina Harrison

Tony Kirkham

More than 60,000 species of trees are found in an amazing variety of forms, sizes and habitats. Every tree has its own story and here are over 60, selected for their particular resonance and connection with humankind and representing most of the world's major zones and ecologies. In portraits that combine vivid cultural and historical narrative with a firm scientific grounding, the authors reveal the details of trees from around the world, both familiar and strange. We use timbers for building and creating, have discovered which tree fruits and seeds taste delicious, and which can kill or cure us, and which species can add colour and spirituality to our lives - from the timber of mahogany to the delights of chocolate and pomegranate, from the medicinal tea tree to the deadly manchineel, and from fragrant frankincense to the highly prized dragon's blood tree. Artists and botanists alike have been inspired by trees for centuries, and a varied and beautiful range of images from the unrivalled archive at Kew illustrate the stories, to create this enlightening and enchanting book.More than 60,000 species of trees are found in an amazing variety of forms, sizes and habitats. Every tree has its own story and here are over 60, selected for their particular resonance and connection with humankind and representing most of the world's major zones and ecologies. In portraits that combine vivid cultural and historical narrative with a firm scientific grounding, the authors reveal the details of trees from around the world, both familiar and strange. We use timbers for building and creating, have discovered which tree fruits and seeds taste delicious, and which can kill or cure us, and which species can add colour and spirituality to our lives - from the timber of mahogany to the delights of chocolate and pomegranate, from the medicinal tea tree to the deadly manchineel, and from fragrant frankincense to the highly prized dragon's blood tree. Artists and botanists alike have been inspired by trees for centuries, and a varied and beautiful range of images from the unrivalled archive at Kew illustrate the stories, to create this enlightening and enchanting book.

Remarkable Trees

Lauren Gardiner

Explore the wonders of the plant kingdom in this A-Z of intriguing facts. Discover the tallest and the smallest, the smelliest and the deadliest. What are breathing knees? What is a vegetable sheep and which plants were once used in embalming? It's time to find out.

An A-Z Adventure Through the Plant Kingdom

Bizarre Botany

Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820)--the unofficial first director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew--was a peerless scientific adventurer and pioneer. Not only did he reveal the floral wonders of the South Pacific, New Zealand, and Australia to European eyes, but he set Kew Gardens on its path to becoming the world's foremost botanic garden, bringing in a wealth of rare and useful plants with far-reaching impact. He helped to raise botanical science to new heights and brought many new beautiful plants to Britain, which we now take for granted in our gardens. Quite simply, no one before or after Banks has had such influence in the sphere of botany. ​ The Botanical Adventures of Joseph Banks is an unprecedented look at Banks's botanical life, providing a breezy and entertaining history of his invaluable contributions by highlighting a selection of the intriguing objects, books, and plants from the collections at Kew Gardens--the place he held dear all his life. Banks had a hand in some of Britain's most well-known historical expeditions, including James Cook's Endeavour voyages in the Pacific and William Bligh's Bounty, and the book lavishly showcases his nautical adventures as well as his dedication to botany with art, photos, and engravings from Kew's collections. Published to coincide with the bicentennial anniversary of his death, The Botanical Adventures of Joseph Banks is a colorful introduction to a one-of-a-kind figure in British history.

Christina Harrison

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