Medicinal plants and plant-derived medicine are widely used in traditional cultures all over the world and they are becoming increasingly popular in modern society as natural alternatives to synthetic chemicals. As more and more natural remedies are being commercialised, there is a need for a user-friendly reference guide to the plants and their products. The book gives the reader a bird's eye view of more than 350 of the bestknown medicinal plants of the world and their uses, in a compact, colourful and scientifically accurate reference text. It provides quick answers to the most obvious questions: Where does this plant originate? What does it look like? In which culture is it traditionally used? What is it used for? Which chemical compounds does it contain? How safe is it? What is known about its pharmacological activity? What evidence is there that it is effective? The authors also provide short overviews of the various health conditions for which medicinal plants are used and the active compounds (secondary metabolites) found in the plants and their modes of actions.

A guide to hardy, easy-to-grow plants that provide interest over more than one season. There is advice on selecting and maintaining the right plants, and an illustrated A to Z directory of those plants for easy reference, photographs, information, and a glossary of terms and related Websites.

An exploration of how plant behavior and adaptation offer valuable insights for human thriving. We know that plants are important. They maintain the atmosphere by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. They nourish other living organisms and supply psychological benefits to humans as well, improving our moods and beautifying the landscape around us. But plants don't just passively provide. They also take action. Beronda L. Montgomery explores the vigorous, creative lives of organisms often treated as static and predictable. In fact, plants are masters of adaptation. They "know" what and who they are, and they use this knowledge to make a way in the world. Plants experience a kind of sensation that does not require eyes or ears. They distinguish kin, friend, and foe, and they are able to respond to ecological competition despite lacking the capacity of fight-or-flight. Plants are even capable of transformative behaviors that allow them to maximize their chances of survival in a dynamic and sometimes unfriendly environment. Lessons from Plants enters into the depth of botanic experience and shows how we might improve human society by better appreciating not just what plants give us but also how they achieve their own purposes. What would it mean to learn from these organisms, to become more aware of our environments and to adapt to our own worlds by calling on perception and awareness? Montgomery's meditative study puts before us a question with the power to reframe the way we live: What would a plant do?

This ingenious and informative new illustrated book reveals the inside stories of more than 50 common and successful weeds, including cultivated `thugs' which gardeners plant at their peril, and presents its findings as evidence for the prosecution and defence. It then explores the ways in which the weeds are so successful, whether annual, biennial or perennial, and suggests effective ways of removing or controlling them, and for using them wisely. Where important, as with weeds such as Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam, it includes your legal obligations as a gardener to stop these most pernicious weeds from spreading. A useful reference section tells you all you need to know about weeding tools, weedkillers, composting weeds and using mulches to stop them spreading, plus specific details on weeds in lawns and ponds and weeds and the law. So whether you're worried by groundsel or ground elder, nettles or knotweed, bamboo or brambles, or would like to encourage dandelions or clovers to grow exactly where you want them, then these are the verdicts you need.

The main characteristics of each of the 39 genera of bulbs covered in this text are described in the introduction. An account of the characteristics of early flowering enables the reader to understand what the plant needs to do well in the garden. An A-Z of species and cultivars provides descriptions of recommended plants and includes coverage of more unusual groups. Information on where to grow the plants includes advice on borders, naturalizing in grass, raised beds, rock gardens, bulb frames, containers and forcing for early flowering. A chapter on propagation encourages all enthusiasts to multiply their collection by following recommended techniques.

Wild Life is an achingly beautiful gift book that introduces the concept of rewilding. No matter whether you live in the mountains, by the coast, along the banks of a river or in the inner-city, this book is your passport to disconnect from one world and reconnect with another; to put down your devices and pick up where your wild self left off. Featuring stunning photography and illustrations that evoke the magic and healing effects of nature, Wild Life offers 50 accessible projects that will bring rewilding into your life. You'll press wildflowers, rewild your garden and create a series of micro adventures in your hometown or city. You'll use the sky to find north and the trees to find your way while out camping and hiking. You'll close your eyes and listen to the birds, kick off your shoes and forage for seaweed. You'll reconnect with your roots, and somewhere along the way, find yourself again.

A beautiful, stylish and comprehensive handbook from the Bloom Gardener's Guides series, covering everything you need to know to grow plants in pots all year round. No matter how small or large your space, Pots includes top tips on how to plan and prepare your containers, a directory of plants to dip into and pro advice on achieving year-round interest and structure. The guide also includes winning combinations of flowers, foliage and bulbs, and plenty of information on caring for your display so it lasts from season to season. Gardening in containers is versatile, exciting and rewarding for both you and the wildlife, so whether your plot is a courtyard, balcony, patio or simply a window box, Pots can inspire you to transform it with vibrant planting. This title is from the Bloom Gardener's Guide series, complete and comprehensive gardening handbooks. Bloom is an award-winning independent print magazine for gardeners, plant admirers, nature lovers and outdoor adventurers, and winner of the Garden Publication of the Year at the Garden Media Awards 2021. Other titles in this series include Cut Flowers and Shade.

Plants and gardens play a central role in life on Earth. They have provided food, clothing, shelter, medicines, employment, leisure and enjoyment throughout history. Both also have many symbolic uses in art, mythology and literature, making plants and gardens the perfect theme for the Designer Bookbinders fourth International Competition held at the Bodleian Library in 2022. The chosen theme also celebrates 400 years since the founding of Oxford Botanic Garden. This beautiful catalogue features richly illustrated texts and finely printed volumes which are bound with skill and creativity using varied materials by binders from all over the world. The fourth in a series following on from 'Bound for Success' in 2009, 'Prize Volumes' in 2013 and 'Heroic Works' in 2017, 'A Gathering of Leaves' is a celebration of the stunningly inventive winning bindings featured alongside all the competition entries.

Hot, parched summers, water restrictions, sprinkler bans: how can we maintain our beloved gardens in such adverse conditions? Drought has become a serious issue, but with a little planning, gardeners can ease the problem and still achieve a fabulous display of color, form, and fragrance. These tips for the water-saving garden offer a variety of great ways to choose and use plants that thrive in an arid environment. Filled with magnificent illustrations, it details design ideas, soil-enhancing possibilities, and hints on watering wisely. Find out how to have an efficient container or kitchen garden, and which trees, shrubs, and border plants work especially well when it's dry. A large A-to-Z of low-water plants offers all the possibilities any gardener could want.

"Shady plants deserve ambassadors like Susanna: someone who can view a dim corner as an opportunity rather than obstacle." -- Matt Collins, Head Gardener at the Garden Museum Work with the light, grow plants and flowers, bring dark corners to life. This handbook will tell you everything you need to know to make the most of shady garden spaces. Whether your whole garden, courtyard or balcony is cast in shade, or you simply have a window box on a shadowy sill, Shade will inspire you to transform the space with lush and interesting planting that looks good (and is beloved by wildlife) all year round. Rather than a gardener's "problem", an area of shade can open up a whole new world of plants to explore, from delicate flowers and interesting foliage, to handsome trees and vibrant bulbs. Shade includes top tips on tackling all sorts of shady areas, a directory of plants to dip into and pro advice on achieving year-round colour and structure. It's time to bring those dark corners to life! This title is from the Bloom Gardener's Guide series, complete and comprehensive gardening handbooks. Bloom is an award-winning independent print magazine for gardeners, plant admirers, nature lovers and outdoor adventurers, and winner of the Garden Publication of the Year at the Garden Media Awards 2021. Other titles in this series include Cut Flowers and Pots.

'This is a clearly presented work, with accessible topic headings and plenty of good advice sprinkled with engaging personal anecdotes. The message at the book's heart is to adopt a greener way of being and to see oneself as part of nature, not removed from it. On this point it is exceptional, distinguishing itself from many of the green gardening books written in recent years.' The English Garden magazine 'Conversational, interesting, and personal ... it reaffirms the link between what we love to do and why we should be doing it with nature, the planet and our health in mind.' RHS The Garden magazine If you want a sustainable garden and a better relationship with nature, A Greener Life is the guide you need. Packed with inspirational images and practical tips, the book covers garden planning, organic composting and vegetable growing, as well as sustainable planting, rewilding and wildlife-attracting environments. Learn traditional gardening techniques like propagating and growing from cuttings to make your garden self-sustaining, and discover plants that attract hover flies, bees and butterflies. With Jack Wallington's warmth and expertise on every page, this is an ideal book for new gardeners seeking greener practices.

In this book, pioneering nurseryman Olivier Filippi offers low-level planting designs that are eco-friendly and so beautiful they redefine the conventional distinction between lawn and plant borders. Inspired by the wild plant communities of Europe, the Middle East, and the USA, these rigorously trialled plant combinations can be used on terraces, paths, gravel beds and flower borders, as well as on areas that are traditionally laid to lawn. With a plant directory that lists over 200 tough but beautiful dry garden plants and Filippi's innovative maintenance techniques, this is the perfect companion to his first book The Dry Gardening Handbook and will delight all dry garden owners.

Explore the darker side of house plants with this accessible guide to choosing, growing, and caring for carnivorous and predatory plants like Venus flytraps, pitcher plants (in all of their wild and wacky varieties), sundews, and other spooky guys. Carnivorous plants are among the most fascinating botanical specimens in this world. They're weird, they're gorgeous, and they're the perfect addition to your urban jungle of pothos, snake plants, and succulents. However, they can also be intimidating to grow and care for. Let Killer Plants -- with its light approach and adorable two-color illustrations -- be your guide as it walks you through the different types of carnivorous plants and how to keep each variety alive and well. The book answers the many questions you may have surrounding these freaks of nature, such as: * Where the heck do I buy a pitcher plant? Can I grow it from a seed? * Do I need to feed my carnivorous plant flies, or can it survive on water and light alone? * Will a Venus flytrap eat my gerbil? * I have a gnat problem -- what predatory plant can help?

Improve your growing techniques with this handy reference. Easy-to-read instructions show the best methods for sowing and growing trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, alpines, and vegetables. From the easiest potato to the trickiest alpine, all the advice on healthy planting is included.

Alpines have been a favourite plant for generations of gardeners and are as popular now as ever. Historically they were used in rockeries, but they offer far more potential for today's gardens, which are generally becoming smaller. Whether planted in troughs, window boxes, raised beds or between paving, alpines offer fantastic versatility and colour for nearly every month of the year. Topics covered include: traditional and contemporary settings for growing plants; ideas for incorporating alpine plants into a new or existing garden plot; advice on planting and maintenance and information on propagation methods and facilities. There is an A-Z of over 180 of the best alpine plants, with a useful table of flowering times. Aimed at both the beginner and the more experienced enthusiast this essential guide, new in paperback for 2022, contains a wealth of beautifully illustrated information.

World population is increasing at an alarming rate and this has resulted in increasing tremendously the demand for tree products such as wood for construction materials, fuel and paper, fruits, oils and medicines etc. This has put immense pressure on the world's supplies of trees and raw material to industry and will continue to do so as long as human population continues to grow. Also, the quality of human diet, especially nutritional components, is adversely affected due to limited genetic improvement of most of fruit trees. Thus there is an immediate need to increase productivity of trees. Improvement has been made through conventional breeding methods, however, conventional breeding is very slow due to long life cycle of trees. A basic strategy in tree improvement is to capture genetic gain through clonal propagation. Clonal propagation via organogenesis is being used for the production of selected elite individual trees. However, the methods are labour intensive, costly, and produce low volumes. Genetic gain can now be captured through somatic embryogenesis. Formation of embryos from somatic cells by a process resembling zygotic embryogenesis is one of the most important features of plants. In 1958, Reinert in Germany and Steward in USA independently reported somatic embryogenesis in carrot cultures. Since then, tremendous progress in somatic embryogenesis of woody and non-woody plants has taken place. It offers a potentially large-scale propagation system for superior clones.

Gardening doesn't have to be nice. At the beginning of the twenty-first century the gardens with the most contemporary feel revel in a crisp, clean style with harder planting and landscaping, and a water-wise attitude. In Sharp Gardening, Christopher Holliday looks at the role of architectural foliage, and how it can be used to provide accents in planting schemes, and also as the main substance of gardens. Jerry Harpur's stunning photographs show- case both spiky plants and the gardens that incorporate them most successfully.

This is a directory of plants whose greatest attributes in the garden lie in their form and foliage, not merely in their flowers. Ornamental foliage plants for your garden features over 2000 plants from all over the world, many of which are useful cultivars, varieties or forms. They have been selected for their value in the landscaping of gardens, be they big or small. Their claims to fame may be their architectural form, their intriguing texture, their unusual habit, their miniature or immense size, or their suitability for a particular situation, such as for topiary, a conservatory or to provide winter colour. Many plants have been chosen for their striking leaves, which may be patterned, enormous, dissected or magnificently coloured. Every entry has notes on cultivation and use, and is coded to correspond with the climatic zones of the world map at the front of the title. There are at least 1000 colour photographs and 600 line drawings. Gardeners and landscapers have become increasingly aware of how easy foliage plants are to care for and what a magnificent palette they provide for simple, clean garden design. Many lend themselves to small formal gardens for urban spaces, while trees and mass plantings can give perspective and interesting effects in larger gardens. Style is often a matter of restraint and the judicious use of foliage plants sometimes brings to a garden a greater sense of peace and relaxation than one cluttered with colourful flowers.

Nicholas Culpeper's "The English Physitian: or an Astrologo-physical Discourse of the Vulgar Herbs of This Nation" is more commonly known as "Culpeper's Complete Herbal." It was first printed in September 1653 (Culpeper died in January 1654) and immediately became a classic reference that is as fascinating today as it was more than 350 years ago. "Breverton's Complete Herbal" is a reworking of that classic text for a modern day audience. The book identifies each of Culpeper's herbs and spices, with a description of their appearance and Latin name/family; plus descriptions of the herbs' uses in medicine, dyeing and/or cuisine from the Greeks to the present day. Informative and entertaining, and is packed with interesting facts associated with herbs. For example, most herbs have their uses attached to their old names: Lungwort cured lung illnesses, Fleabane was strewn to get rid of fleas, Wolfbane poisoned wolves, and Henbane killed chickens. Dog's Grass was chewed by dogs when they were sick, Eye-Bright cured eye illnesses, Ducks-Meat was pond-algae, Gout-Herb cured gout, Mad-Wort cured the bite of a mad dog, Heart's-Ease was for heart illness, and Rupture-Wort and Spleen-Wort helped ruptures and spleen illnesses. Arranged alphabetically, "Breverton's Complete Herbal" describes 250 herbs and spices while containing feature sidebars and spreads on scented herb/medicinal gardens, the great herbalists, as well as New World herbs.

Gardens Illustrated magazine acknowledges that gardeners love plants and want to know their origins and parentage as well as details about colour, form and habit. This book brings together 25 of the best plant features from the magazine in one highly illustrated volume. Written by a band of well-known plant experts, the profiles include essential information on the provenance of the each species, helping readers to understand the plant's needs. The authors have, in many cases, observed the plant growing wild and all have intimate knowledge of each species and its preferred environment. performers and curiosities - Plant Profiles opens gardeners' eyes to the diversity of the plant families featured, enabling them to introduce new species into their gardens that not only look at home, but really flourish.

The Garden and Greenhouse Flowers manual is a reference manual on diseases which attack garden and greenhouse flowers. The manual identifies various types of diseases which are known to invade these plants located throughout North, Central, and South America.The recordings include diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, viroids, phytoplasmas, and nematodes. Causal disease agents are described and illustrated in some cases and diseases and disease control measures are also discussed. A manual such as this is never finished since new reports of diseases are continuously reported.

Become a Skilled Doctor of Plant Care!

This easy-to-use reference fully explains more than 50 of the most common plant diseases -- where they occur, what they look like, what to do about them, and the long-term prognosis for the affected plants. Most important, gardening expert Barbara Pleasant recommends proven organic methods for controlling each disease.

The Gardener's Guide to Plant Diseases features:

-- Informal encyclopedia style, making information and answers very easy to find.

-- Illustrations that show the techniques for distinguishing between look-alike symptoms of different diseases.

-- Cross-referenced list of common vegetables and fruits and the diseases most apt to affect them.

-- Loads of facts on symptoms and tips for detecting diseases (including those diseases that are often too small to see).

-- Simple, inexpensive organic treatments to halt the spread of each disease and prevent its recurrence.