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Books > Sport & Leisure > Natural history, country life & pets > Plant life: general > General
From the New York Times-bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Trees, this guide to awakening your senses and engaging deeply with the forest is the perfect gift for hikers and walkers. "This book will fast-track you into the joys of spending time amongst the trees."--Tristan Gooley, author of The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs and How to Read Water You'll be changed after reading this fine and enchanting book."--Richard Louv, author of Our Wild Calling and Last Child in the Woods When you walk in the woods, do you use all five senses to explore your surroundings? For most of us, the answer is no--but when we do, a walk in the woods can go from pleasant to immersive and restorative. Forest Walking teaches you how to engage with the forest by decoding nature's signs and awakening to the ancient past and thrilling present of the ecosystem around you. What can you learn by following the spread of a root, by tasting the tip of a branch, by searching out that bitter almond smell? What creatures can be found in a stream if you turn over a rock--and what is the best way to cross a forest stream, anyway? How can you understand a forest's history by the feel of the path underfoot, the scars on the trees along the trail, or the play of sunlight through the branches? How can we safely explore the forest at night? What activities can we use to engage children with the forest? Throughout Forest Walking, the authors share experiences and observations from visiting forests across North America: from the rainforests and redwoods of the west coast to the towering white pines of the east, and down to the cypress swamps of the south and up to the boreal forests of the north. With Forest Walking, German forester Peter Wohlleben teams up with his longtime editor, Jane Billinghurst, as the two write their first book together, and the result is nothing short of spectacular. Together, they will teach you how to listen to what the forest is saying, no matter where you live or which trees you plan to visit next.
Of course, we are entirely dependent on plants for our food and the air we breathe, but did you know that 5,000 mature English oak trees were used in the construction of Admiral Nelson's flagship HMS Victory, or that sweet peas were involved in the birth of the science of genetics? King Cotton was the driver of the slave trade, which was the first domino to fall in the American Revolution, and cotton was also the catalyst for the Industrial Revolution. These, and many other extraordinary facts in Fifty Plants that Changed the Course of History, highlight the dynamic ways in which plants have influenced human history. This beautifully designed and illustrated volume provides an engaging guide to the fifty key plants that have had the most impact on human history. Packed full of information, the book includes details about the habitat and characteristics of each plant, fact boxes, full colour photographs and lovely botanical illustrations. Weaving together strands of economic, political and agricultural history, each entry is a fascinating look at the most influential plants known to mankind.
Botanists and seed collectors Rod and Rachel Saunders set out on what seemed to some to be an impossible mission – to find and photograph, in full bloom, all gladioli species found in South Africa and to collect and share their observations in a field guide. They had found all but one species before their untimely deaths at the hands of kidnappers in a forest in KwaZulu-Natal. In the wake of this tragic event, friends and colleagues collaborated to keep the Saunders’ dream alive. This book is the result their collective efforts. Gladioli are showy bulbous plants that fall within the Iris family, and the bulk of species are endemic to South Africa. Comprehensive and lavishly illustrated with more than 1,300 photographs, this guide covers the 166 Gladiolus species known to occur in the region. The book is divided into seven taxonomic sections, according to the species’ distinguishing features. Each species is presented on a double-page spread, with a full plate of color photographs, including close-ups of diagnostic features, different color forms and habitats. Botanical descriptions cover identification (corm, cataphyll, spike, bracts, anthers, pollen, capsules, seeds, and scent), distribution, pollination, conservation status, and notes on ecology and the authors’ personal observations in the field. Distribution maps and flowering periods are given for each species, and tables highlight differences between similar-looking gladioli. There are almost 300 recognized species, widely distributed across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, with more than half of the species found in southern Africa, making this book useful to botanists world-wide, as well as to horticulturist, propagators, students, gardeners and anyone with an interest in natural history.
The unrivalled beginner's guide to identifying the most common species of tree in northern Europe. This is the perfect pocket guide for anyone who wants to identify those deciduous or evergreen species they may come across on hill or in dale, in the town or in the countryside. For each tree included in the book, there is a wealth of both textual and visual identification information. Remarkably detailed illustrations show not only the overall shape of the tree but also details of leaf shape, flowers, fruits, and bark. There's also information on the origin of each species, its height, preferred habitat, and growing conditions. Illustrations of cones, catkins, nuts, and fruits allow you to distinguish between similar species at a glance. The introduction covers the life cycle of trees, the establishment of woodland, people's relationship with forests, and how to go about identifying trees, plus the all-important question--what exactly is a tree?
Scattered across the Scottish Highlands are the last surviving remnants of the Caledonian forest which have survived, naturally seeding and growing since the last ice age. Visiting these ancient woods provides an emotional connection to the past with visible traces of the people who lived and worked there over the centuries. There is also a chance to look forward, after one of the greatest conservation success stories means a new future for the pinewoods and their spectacular wildlife. This journey to the pinewoods offers a natural spectacle alongside a rich cultural heritage. Lavishly illustrated with many colour photographs, maps, and drawings by wildlife artist Darren Rees.
The field guide to Mana Pools National Park is compiled from the work of a wide range of specialists in each field. It encompasses all groups of animals and plants found in the area; mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, arthropods, and botany. The idea of the guide is to reduce the size of the library visitors might otherwise need on a visit to Mana Pools National Park, and as a field companion for guides and National Parks rangers. With a few minor variants it is a handy tool for anywhere in the Zambezi valley. This edition replaces and updates Jan Teede’s previous volume published in 1988.
Wildcraft Your Way to Wellness In Southeast Medicinal Plants, herbalist CoreyPine Shane is your trusted guide to finding, identifying, harvesting, and using 106 of the region's most powerful wild plants. Readers will learn how to safely and ethically forage, and how to use wild plants in herbal medicines, including teas, tinctures, and salves. Plant profiles include clear, color photographs, identification tips, medicinal uses and herbal preparations, and harvesting suggestions. Lists of what to forage for each season makes the guide useful year-round. Thorough, comprehensive, and safe, this is a must-have for foragers, naturalists, and herbalists in West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
Written with the non-specialist in mind, this guide is a must-have for flower lovers, hikers, tour guides and tourists – anyone interested in identifying the wild flowers that grace the Cape Peninsula. Wild Flowers of the Cape Peninsula covers the most remarkable and commonly seen wild flowers of Table Mountain, Silvermine and Cape Point. The book was originally published as Common Wild Flowers of Table Mountain in 2007, then revised in 2013 to include the flowers of Silvermine. This new edition offers:
This handy handbook, which can be used independently or as a companion to "The Trees of Florida" and "The Shrubs and Woody Vines of Florida," makes it possible to easily identify all of Florida's native and naturalized woody plants. The text is formatted as a traditional botanical key, offering a series of either/or decisions leading to the precise identification of a plant in hand. Designed primarily for field use and targeted to both amateurs and professionals, the keys are clear, concise, non-technical, and rely on conspicuous and easily seen features with emphasis on characteristics that are observable year-round. An important addition to any plant lover's field gear.
A globe-trotting, behind-the-scenes look at the dazzling world of
flowers and the fascinating industry it's created.
FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY - everyone will love this traditional game featuring 64 of the world's best loved and fascinating trees PLAY AND LEARN - this board game comes with a leaflet with interesting information and quirky facts for all the trees featured in the game. Learn about familiar trees such as the chestnut, oak, magnolia, and ash, as well as lesser known species like the blue quandong and dragon's blood GREAT GIFT - perfect for nature or conservation lovers of all ages, for families who love playing games, and for families who enjoy spending quality time together SOMETHING TO TREASURE - this is a quality product made to last, with beautiful illustrations and attractive packaging EXPLORE THE ENTIRE SERIES - this game is part of the bestselling bingo series, a collection of games for nature lovers and enthusiastic board gamers. Other games in the series include Bug Bingo, Cat Bingo, Dog Bingo, Monkey Bingo, Ocean Bingo and Royal Bingo Play bingo with 64 spectacular trees from around the world. Each player gets a game card with 25 trees: be the first to get all the trees on your card to win BINGO! The accompanying booklet notes the distinguishing features of each tree, along with fascinating nuggets of information about how humans and animals live alongside them.
Forests are restless. When a tree dies or a new one sprouts, the forest that includes it shifts. When new trees sprout in the same direction, the whole forest begins to migrate, sometimes at astonishing rates. Today, however, an array of obstacles-humans felling trees by the billions, invasive pests transported through global trade-threaten to overwhelm these vital movements. Worst of all, the climate is changing faster than ever before and forests are struggling to keep up. A deft blend of science reporting and travel writing, The Journeys of Trees explores the evolving movements of forests by focusing on five trees: giant sequoia, ash, black spruce, Florida torreya and Monterey pine. Zach St George visits these trees in forests across continents, finding sequoias losing their needles in California, fossil records showing the paths of ancient forests in Alaska, domesticated pines in New Zealand and new sprouts of blight-resistant American chestnuts in New Hampshire. Everywhere he goes, St George meets lively people on conservation's front lines, from an ecologist studying droughts to an evolutionary evangelist with plans to save a dying species. He treks through the woods with activists, biologists and foresters, each with their own role to play in the fight for the uncertain future of our environment. An eye-opening investigation into forest migration past and present, The Journeys of Trees examines how we can all help our trees, and our planet, survive and thrive.
There is a burgeoning interest in natural medicines in the United States. Among these natural health powerhouses are mushrooms, and here mycologist Greg Marley introduces ten species found in New England-and elsewhere, too, in many cases. Marley describes where to find and how to prepare these fungi and lists their health-supporting benefits. On a comforting note, Marley says there are no poisonous look-alikes for any of these beneficial fungi!
We've become used to thinking of plants as things for us to use: as food, tools, resources, or just as an attractive background to our own lives. But it's time to change our minds. New research shows that plants can think, plan - and may even have memories. We share our planet with beings whose potential we have only glimpsed. Featuring the writing of Robin Wall Kimmerer, Susie Orbach and Merlin Sheldrake, This Book is a Plant will be your handbook to the new reality: showing you a pathway to completely reimagine your relationship with a different kind of natural world. Delve into a world of moss and fungi: Sheila Watt-Cloutier transports us to the Arctic spring, Rowan Hisayo Buchanan discovers the pleasures of painting trees, and Rebecca Tamas puts roots down through earth and soil. This Book is a Plant is made from paper: it was once part of a tree. But it's also a seed: the first shoots of a radical new way of seeing the world around you. Featuring stunning illustrations by Eduardo Navarro, and accompanying a major 2022 Wellcome Collection exhibition, Rooted Beings.
Concise, all-in-one guide to the mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs of
the Fynbos Biome, featuring over 400 species
Since 1966 this concise list of southern African indigenous trees has been an indispensable companion for anybody interested in the diverse tree flora of the region. This fifth edition of the Pocket List has been updated to take into consideration recent advances in the classification and naming of trees. Included are 1 666 tree entries, most of these illustrated, covering all trees indigenous to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho. Indices of scientific names and synonyms, common names in several local languages, and standard tree numbers facilitate information retrieval. Updated distribution maps reflect the occurrence of the trees in the subcontinent, whilst symbols indicate their conservation status. The Saklys/Pocket List exists of six indexes: Index 1 contains 1 666 species and infraspecific taxa with their distribution maps, scientific names, FSA tree numbers, Afrikaans and English common names, illustrations, and icons depicting conservation status; Index 2 contains the Afrikaans and English common names in alphabetical order; Index 3 contains the indigenous common names in alphabetical order; Index 4 contains synonym scientific names; Index 5 contains the FSA tree numbers in numerical order; Index 6 contains the scientific family name with the corresponding Afrikaans and English common name.
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