Long acclaimed as the definitive introductory botany text, Raven Biology of Plants , Eighth Edition by Ray Evert, Susan Eichhorn, stands as the most significant revision in the book’s history. Every topic was updated with information obtained from the most recent primary literature, making the book valuable for both students and professionals.
Dr. Ray Franklin Evert (Ph.D., 1958, University of California, Davis) is Katherine Esau Professor of Botany and Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin.
I read select chapters from this book in preparation for the USA Biology Olympiad. For my purpose, this book was a bit too detailed but definitely provided important insight into plant physiology. One of the best aspects of the text was the diagrams and drawings which greatly improve understanding. However, images are not positioned well relative to the page; I found myself flipping forwards or backwards three pages to find the image being referenced. The book suffers from a lack of organization, often jumping from discussion about plant anatomy to molecular biology without much of a transition. I would like to see more charts comparing and contrasting features and ideas in later editions.
Incredible amount of work has gone into producing such an immaculate text. With an array of detailed life cycles, images, annotated diagrams and scientific names to clog any piece of machinery, my brain included, made this the number one text to study plants. The most helpful attributes of the text was the appendix, (the use of a glossary is vastly underrated), and the geological era, directly as you open the cover. Why? Well, with the Earth’s continental drift continuously changing shape and atmosphere over the past 4.5 billion years, and the land plants first colonising the land 500 million years ago, during the time of the supercontinent Gondwana, it is quite easy to loose track of where plants have distributed. So when a fossil appears in say, Africa, when the only known whereabouts of that particular plant has been in America for instance, the geological eras help immensely.
As always... 5 Stars.
Bonuses -
The largest plant ever recorded is called Poseidon's ribbon weed or Posidonia australis. It is a seagrass off the coast of Australia and measures 180km or 111.8 miles, (for my American friends), in length. That’s one and a half times as long as the 405 interstate, or one and two thirds the size of the English Channel or 947,368 HB pencils.
"I'm sorry, I can't take you seriously seeing you holding that" ~ Lau I. K. E., 2022, upon observing me holding a copy of Raven Biology of Plants (Paperback)
An absolute treasure, whether the focus is on anatomy, evolution of physiology. Back when I was an undergrad, this book had been the sole responsible for saving generations of students from failing the course under a terrible teacher.
I didn't read the textbook for my general botany class as much as I probably should have. Though it was a crutial tool for a lab report I had to write on a nutrient experiment and when I needed to review stuff from lecture I was always able to find the informtion I wanted. Overall, I think it's a good reference tool and I'm certain it would help people who are struggling to better understand the material.
As a Botany Graduate, going for Postgrad, I would love to state on all the credibility that I have, that this single book is one of the finest Textbooks on Botany ever to be authored, tailored meticulously by the Author. I have read it quite a few times at this point and I would suggest it to anyone who is actually interested in starting his/her/their journey in Botanical Studies. Loved every single leaf of it. xoxoxo
The book is a text at the university level but can be used as a reference for specific topics in high school biology classes.
Topics: Plant cell biology, Plants morphology and classification, algae, fungi, and Taxonomy
Relevance: Grade 10 Science, SNC2D, Strand B – Tissues, Organs, and Systems of Living Things Grade 11 Biology, SBI3U, Strand B – Diversity of Living Things
I read this slowly over the last year. It's gorgeously illustrated, thorough, well structured - everything anyone could want in a textbook. Though I may be the one of the few that wanted to read a textbook.
The 11 pages of further reading recommendations were maybe a bit much. Nice illustrations though. (this is an American textbook, which means that there is A LOT of story telling. Not inherently bad per se, but they could make it 150 pages shorter without any actual information getting lost)
This book dives in to the intricacies and exquisite details of biology, especially in relation to plants. At first, starting from a broad perspective of fundamental biology to narrowing down to the specialties and differences of plants, the book explains the processes and concepts of biology clearly and concisely. The pictures in the book are phenomenal and provide a whole new meaning to the text in the book. The formatting of the book helps show the importance of various words and their definitions/roles in biology by using boldened words, italics and fluidity between sentences and even concepts. One negative aspect of the book, in my opinion, is the amount of text used on describing taxonomical groups and biosystematics. Relative to most other concepts, these are not as worthwhile, but they are covered to a huge percent in this book.