Miscellaneous materials (item 1-10) inserted in pockets.
Previously published: London : Andre Deutsch, 2009.
Includes index.
Contents
Bringing plants from the land of Punt -- Moving plants from east to 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 in Europe -- Carl Linnaeus and the naming of plants -- Sir Joseph Banks -- Gathering plants from South America -- Asson explores 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 trading company that ruled India -- 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 role of the modern botanic garden -- Modern day plant hunters -- Invaders of the plant world -- Stockpiling seeds for posterity -- The effects of climate change.
Summary
From geraniums to begonias, the common plants that often adorn backyard gardens are rarely native to our region. The same goes for many of the diverse and delicious fruits and vegetables that grace our dinner tables. We take their accessibility and ubiquity for granted, unaware of the great debt we owe to the naturalists and explorers who traveled around the world in search of these then unusual plants and brought back samples and seeds--along with fantastic stories. In "The Plant Hunters," Carolyn Fry pays homage to those whose obsession with plants gave rise to our own passion for botanicals and gardening.
