The Plant Hunters: The Adventures Of The World's Greatest Botanical Explorers

Description

"The Plant Hunters" tells the story of our fascination with plants and the discovery of new species. From ancient times, when Alexander the Great included naturalists in his entourage, this intriguing story moves across the world, as plants such as coconut trees, roses and numerous fruits and vegetables were introduced from one country to another. It traces the establishment of botanical gardens and the discovery through exploration of plants that made or broke economies, for instance tulips, tea and rubber. Travelling right around the world and throughout history, this is the tale of the botanical pioneers who changed the face of landscapes.

Author description

Carolyn Fry is a journalist and author specialising in science, conservation and natural history. A former Editor of Geographical, the magazine of the Royal Geographical Society and a contributor to BBC Online (science and technology).

Table of contents

Bringing Plants from the Land of Punt; East Meets West; In Search of Spices in the East; The Rise of the Physic Gardens; Carolus clusius and Tulipomania; The Tradescants Make Plant-hunting a Career; Showcasing Exotic Plants; CarlLinnaeus and the Naming of Plants; Sir Joseph Banks; Gathering Plants from South America; Masson in South AFrica; A Plethora of Plants from Down Under; The Wilds of North America; Joseph Hooker in the Himalaya; Exploring the Treasures of the Orient; The Cost of Sugar Cane; The East India Company; Colonial Endeavours; The Transfer of Tea from China to India; Sowing the Seeds of the World's Rubber Industry; A Passion for Orchids; A New Genre of Art; Conserving Precious Plants; The Modern Botanic Garden; Modern-day Plant Hunters; Invaders of the Plant World; Stockpiling Seeds; The Effects of Climate Change.