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Makes sense of the bewildering diversity of plants by treating them not just as photosynthetic factories, but as living organisms that are the survivors of millions of years of evolutionary struggle. The book examines plants from an evolutionary perspective to show how such a wide range of life forms has evolved and continues to thrive.
Part I: 1. Evolution and Plant Diversity 2. The Evolutionary History of Plant Life Part II: 3. Life Afloat 4. Life on the Rocks 5. Life on the Ground 6. Life above the Ground 7. Life from Seeds Part III: 8. Life in the Wet Tropics 9. Life in Seasonal Climates 10. Life on the Edge 11. Life back in the Water Appendix: A Classification of Plants Glossary Index
In recent years, there have been two landmark books extolling the wonders of plant life in a way we can all appreciate: Richard Mabey's Flora Britannica and David Attenborough's The Private Life of Plants. This is another in the same mould, and it is a must for anyone who takes delight in the world of plants. February 2000, BBC Wildlife Magazine "This is an enjoyable book for its novel and refreshing approach to plant diversity." 30 November 2001, Michael Black, Times Higher Education Supplement "The authors have made an interesting attempt to present the information in a fresh and more easily digested manner by departing from the traditional approach. The book is introductory and it is unfair to want more; indeed, it should be a mark of its success if it encourages students to find out more. I am sure that the book will find a place as a text in schools and at introductory level in universities. I shall be recommending it to my students." M Ingrouille, Annals of Botany, May 2002
