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DK Nature

The Science of Plants: Inside Their Secret World

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Combining graceful design and beautiful imagery, this book provides an elegant introduction to the plant kingdom.

Discover the extraordinary diversity of the plant world—and how plants work—with this photographic celebration of the trees, flowers, and foliage plants that share our planet. From tiny mosses and delicate ferns to vibrant blooms and stately palms, The Science of Plants invites you to explore the plant kingdom from the ground up, and from root to leaf tip. DK’s elegant introduction to botany is packed with sumptuous photos and crystal-clear artworks that explain the mechanics of photosynthesis, why leaves change color, how cacti store water, and how seeds know when to grow. Filled with fascinating stories of how plants protect themselves from predators, and how flowers use color and scent to interact with—and manipulate—the creatures around them, The Science of Plants is a fresh and engaging introduction to the mysterious inner workings of the plant world.

440 pages, Hardcover

Published June 7, 2022

45 people are currently reading
319 people want to read

About the author

D.K. Publishing

9,121 books2,077 followers
Dorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.

Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.

Source: Wikipedia.

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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Profile Image for Juliet Wilson.
Author 7 books46 followers
May 15, 2022
This beautifully produced book is a fascinating tour of botanical knowledge for beginners, gardeners and experienced plant lovers alike. The book is organised in chapters focussing on different parts of a plant and their functions (eg roots, flowers etc). Each chapter is concisely written in small sections, using individual plant species as case studies to explore a wide variety of aspects of plant adaptations and lifestyles. The text is supported by beautiful photographs and illustrations, including clear diagrams to show the parts of a plant, the different types of leaves and flowers and important processes that take place in the plant, such as pollination. The focus is on flowering plants, but also considers conifers, ferns and mosses.

This botanical compendium covers all you need to know about how plants work from photosynthesis to pollination, and is full of fascinating snippets of information such as:

how Lambs Ears can protect themselves against drought;

why the flowers of Mophead Hydrangeas vary in colour so much;

how some spring bulbs can move within the soil;

how horsetails deter herbivores from eating them;

how mangroves survive in salt water environments;

why Quaking Aspens are able to regrow even after forest fires;

how the Sacred Lotus keeps itself clean;

how the leaves of the Giant Water Lily stay afloat;

how some flowers are able to close at night;

why chestnuts aren't really nuts;

why dandelions are so successful;

the role mosses can play in ecosystem regeneration.

The book also showcases artistic responses to plants, including paintings by artists including Vincent van Gogh and Albrecht Durer. There are brief articles on the history of Herbals; the Arts and Craft Movement (featuring the artist William Morris), Chinese and Japanese art and pioneering female botanists.

A comprehensive glossary completes this useful and fascinating volume.

Much more than an attractive coffee table book, this is a beautiful and fascinating read for anyone interested in plants. Even though I have a Botany degree, I learned new information from this book.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Nora.
226 reviews11 followers
September 1, 2023
It isn’t really about “the science of plants,” but how amazing plants are when looking at them close up. There’s some text about plants and how they work, but what this book is truly about is close-up shots of all different parts of plant. It is hence a satisfying book to look at.
Profile Image for heeds.
47 reviews5 followers
February 12, 2023
A fun exploration of botany accompanied by beautiful illustrations and photographs, making this a visual literary treat. I forgot how much I enjoy books like these.
32 reviews
November 9, 2024

Lots of good information with big illustrations and non-textbook language.
10/10 would recommend if you’re interested in plants science.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews

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