Wherever there is greenery, photosynthesis is working to make oxygen, release energy, and create living matter from the raw material of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. Without photosynthesis, there would be an empty world, an empty sky, and a sun that does nothing more than warm the rocks and reflect off the sea.

Eating the Sun is the story of a world in crisis; an appreciation of the importance of plants; a history of the earth and the feuds and fantasies of warring scientists; a celebration of how the smallest things, enzymes and pigments, influence the largest things, the oceans, the rainforests, and the fossil fuel economy. Oliver Morton offers a fascinating, lively, profound look at nature's greatest miracle and sounds a much-needed call to arms--illuminating a potential crisis of climatic chaos and explaining how we can change our situation, for better or for worse.

Text extracted from opening pages of book: TL CARNIVOROUS PLANTS BY FRANCIS ERNEST LLOYD D. Sc. k c. ( Wal f, ); F. R. S. C., F. L. S. Emeritus Professor of Botany, M. cGill University 1942 WALTHAM, MASS., U. S. A. Puomned oy the Cnronica Botanica Company First published MCMXLH By the Chronica Botanica Company of Waltham, Mass., U. S. A. All rights reserved New York, N. Y.: G. E. Stechert and Co., 31 East loth Street. San Francisco, CaL: J. W. Stacey, Inc., 236-238 Flood Building. Toronto 2: Wm. Dawson Subscription Service, Ltd., 70 King Street, East. Mexico, D. F.: Livraria Cervantes, Calle de 57 No. i, Despacho 3; Ap. 2302. Rio de Janeiro: Livraria Kosmos, Caixa Postal 3481. Buenos Aires: Acme Agency, Bartolom6 Mitre 552. Santiago de Chile: Livraria Zamorano y Caperan, Casilla 362. London, W. 1: Wm. Dawson and Sons, Ltd., 43 Weymouth Street. Moscow: Mezhdunarodnaja Kniga, Kouznetski Most 18. Calcutta: Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 294 Bow Bazar Street. Johannesburg: Juta and Co., Ltd., 43 Pritchard Street. Sydney: Angus and Robertson, Ltd., 89 Castlereagh Street. Made and printed in the U. S. A. PREFACE The experience which has led to the writing of this book began in 1929 when, examining a species related to Utricularia gibba, / made an observation of some importance in understanding the mechanism of the trap. This begot a desire to study as many other species of the genus as I could obtain for com parison, primarily to determine the validity of my conclusions. My feeling that research in this field was promising was strengthened by the discovery that the pertinent literature was singularly barren of the information most needed, that is to say, precise accounts of the structure of theentrance mechanisms of the traps. And an examination of much herbarium material, because of the meagreness of the underground parts of the terrestrial types resulting from indifferent methods of collection, forced the conclusion that, even had other difficulties inherent in studying dried material not intervened, it would be necessary to obtain adequately preserved specimens. This meant a wide cor re spondence and, if possible, extensive travel. The uncertainty of achieving the latter made the former imperative. The responses to my requests for help were numerous and generous from all parts of the world, with the result that there came to me from many sources well preserved material which fairly represented the genus, for it brought to me some 100 of the total of 250 or more species. The most lavish single contribu tion was put at my disposal by my teacher and friend, KARL VON GOEBEL, who gave me a collection of Utricularia collected by him in the tropics of the Old and New Worlds, and in temperate Australia. Many others, while they may have contributed less in amount, could have been no less generous, for the work of collecting, preserving, packing and posting specimens is by no means an easy job. Travels included two journeys, one to Africa and one to Africa and Aus tralia, the latter made possible by a parting gift from my colleagues of McGill University on my retirement from the Macdonald Chair of Botany in 1935. At the university centres visited I was afforded all kinds of help: laboratory space, guidance to promising localities and means of transportation. Several summers were spent also at the Botanical Institute of the University of Munich on the original invitation of ProfessorGOEBEL, seconded, after his death, by Professor F. VON WETTSTEIN and his successor Dr. F. C. VON FABER. During my preoccupation with Utricularia / had to prepare two presi dential addresses, and I was thus led, as has many another in like circum stances, to give an account of the whole field of plant carnivory. My interests were widened in this way, and soon I became imbued with the idea of bringing together, and perhaps of adding to, our knowledge of this fascinating group of plants. This extended my list of desiderata. On my requests sent to various correspondent

'Treeture Creatures and Flowerbuds' is a delightful series of rhyming stories accompanied by fascinating facts and beautiful illustrations, carefully put together to inspire a love for trees and nature. Each story focuses on a different set of trees and flowers, taking the reader on a journey of discovery as they learn about the characteristics that make each living thing unique and special. When an unsuspecting beech leaf is whisked away on a ball, she learns a lot about the trees and flowers that surround her as she bounces, floats and squelches her way back to her beloved beech tree! The third book in this wonderful series is just as captivating as the first! Beech the Beech Leaf is both educational and enchanting, with bright, beautiful illustrations and fascinating facts to delight and inform its young audience. The story can be complimented by portable Tree and Flower Trail Swatch booklets, which encourage readers to get out and about with Beech and her friends (sold separately).

Originally published in 1887, the author has written about the many and varied flora and fauna he has encountered on his jaunts in and around the Surrey village of Selborne, most of which is in the form of letters. It is noted that had the observer made such detailed notes on the people of this time as he did about the animals and birds, then 'we should then have had a picture of England just before the beginning of our present era, and a wonderful difference it would have shown.' Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. Contents Include: Letters to Thomas Pennant Letters to The Hon. Daines Barrington A Naturalist's Calendar From The Year 1768 To The Year 1793 Observations In Various Branches of Natural History Observations on Birds Observations on Quadrupeds Observations on Insects and Vermes Observations on Vegetables Meteorological Observations

"Plants Alive" is designed to get amateurs interested in exploring the plant world around them and to give them the skill to record their observations through guided nature journaling. It then offers, to those who have been captivated by the field, advanced techniques for study. The book can be very useful in guiding science students into real science activities in rural, suburban, and urban environments. The authors questioning format will stimulate curiosity and entice readers to thing about possible answers. For a variety of reasons, educators will embrace this book. First of all, it is a course in botany without any of the stigmas attached to textbooks. Also unlike texts, "Plants Alive!" enables students to do real science, and not just read about it. Experiments and exercised pass off as hands-on science abound, but opportunities for students to do real science and report their findings to the scientific community are rare.

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.

’n Regstreekse, voor die hand liggende en effektiewe gids tot boom-identifikasie.

Dié boek se titel sê dit alles! Hierdie bygewerkte tweede uitgawe verskaf ’n duidelike uiteensetting van hoe bome saamgestel is en waarna om op te let wanneer ’n boom geïdentifiseer word. Die boek bestaan uit twee dele:

- Deel 1 beskryf en illustreer duidelik die verskillende dele van ’n boom en hul rol in boomidentifikasie.

- Deel 2 bevat ’n sleutel tot 43 boomgroepe, gebaseer op maklik waarneembare stingel- en blaarkenmerke. Dit gee ’n duidelike oorsig van elke groep, sowel as die Suider-Afrikaanse boomfamilies wat in die onderskeie groepe verteenwoordig word. Talle kleurfoto’s en verduidelikende illustrasies ondersteun die teks wat dié handleiding toeganklik en gebruikersvriendelik maak.

Identifiseer die Bome van Suider-Afrika sal lesers toerus met ’n goeie begrip van die bou van bome en waarna hulle moet oplet om dit korrek te kan identifiseer.

Also available in English as How to Identify Trees in Southern Africa .

Concise, all-in-one guide to the mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs of the Fynbos Biome, featuring over 400 species

South Africa’s Fynbos Biome, which spans the country’s Western and Eastern Cape provinces, is one of the richest floras in the world. In addition to its spectacular botanical diversity, the region is also famous for its remarkable variety of fauna, with some species occurring nowhere else – from the tiny Micro Frog to the brightly coloured Orange-breasted Sunbird and the large, strikingly marked Bontebok.

The first of its kind, this concise field guide covers more than 400 species in four animal groups: mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs. The species accounts include key identification features and are paired with full-colour photographs and distribution maps. This guide encompasses popular tourist destinations such as the Cape Peninsula, the Kogelberg, the Cederberg, the Agulhas Plain, the West Coast and Baviaanskloof.

_________________ 'BRITAIN'S FINEST LIVING NATURE WRITER' - THE TIMES WINNER OF THE THWAITES WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 2015 What really goes on in the long grass? Meadowland gives an unique and intimate account of an English meadow's life from January to December, together with its biography. In exquisite prose, John Lewis-Stempel records the passage of the seasons from cowslips in spring to the hay-cutting of summer and grazing in autumn, and includes the biographies of the animals that inhabit the grass and the soil beneath: the badger clan, the fox family, the rabbit warren,the skylark brood and the curlew pair, among others. Their births, lives, and deaths are stories that thread through the book from first page to last.

  Watch a thousand years unfold in the life of one magnificent tree! A thousand years ago, a tiny acorn fell to the ground. As the years pass, it grows . . . and GROWS into an enormous oak tree! As the centuries sweep by, children play games around the tree. Families dance about it. A fleeing king even hides inside its hollow trunk! The tree gives food and shelter to a host of animals, from squirrels and badgers to birds and beetles. After a thousand years, the ancient tree finally falls in a storm - but a new acorn sprouts, and the cycle of life begins all over again. The tree's magical life story is brought to life in Julia Donaldson's rich, dramatic rhyme. Victoria Sandøy's gorgeous, atmospheric illustrations perfectly capture the changing seasons, and the people and wildlife that pass by Children will love spotting all the creatures in the pictures, and seeing the games children play around the tree This is a book that encourages us all to look more closely at nature, and to appreciate the wonder of our ancient trees. The final pages of the book contain extra fascinating facts about oak trees and the animals that depend on them. Praise for The Christmas Pine, also by Julia Donaldson and Victoria Sandøy: "Magical . . . as well as paying tribute to tradition, the gentle rhythmic verse and stunning pictures illuminate the two other things close to Julia's heart: the power of children and song" Julia Donaldson is the author of many of the best-loved children's books ever written. She has been awarded a CBE for services to literature, and is the most celebrated children's writer in Britain today. Many of Julia Donaldson's beloved picture books have been made into award-winning animated films which are regularly shown on the BBC at Christmas.

Plants and Habitats combines the species and habitat approaches to plants and vegetation. Most of it is an identification guide to 700 plant species selected as those which are common, conspicuous or useful ecological indicators; species which collectively make up most of the vegetation in Britain and Ireland. There is also a separate habitats section describing the flora, ecology and management of habitats. With this combination of approaches Plants and Habitats aims to help people understand our vegetation at all scales, from individual plants to whole landscapes. The structure and plain English writing style are designed to help with species identification by non-specialists.Plants and Habitats is illustrated throughout with colour photos and some line drawings. For those working with habitat classifications, National Vegetation Classification (NVC) codes are incorporated throughout and there are summary tables cross-referencing various classifications. The book is written for a wide readership including those working or training in subjects connected with ecology, conservation, land management, and other environmental matters.

Called the work of "a mesmerizing storyteller with deep compassion and memorable prose" ("Publishers Weekly") and the book that, "anyone interested in natural history, botany, protecting nature, or Native American culture will love," by "Library Journal," "Braiding Sweetgrass" is poised to be a classic of nature writing. As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer asks questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces indigenous teachings that consider plants and animals to be our oldest teachers. Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take "us on a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise" (Elizabeth Gilbert). Drawing on her life as an indigenous scientist, a mother, and a woman, Kimmerer shows how other living beings offer us gifts and lessons, even if we've forgotten how to hear their voices.

In The Flower Hunter, Lucy Hunter takes us on an inspirational journey through a year in her garden and artist's studio set among the mountains of North Wales. Lucy's evocative, gently humorous words accompany her glorious photographs and exquisite floral arrangements, as she encourages the reader to marvel at the intricate cycles of the natural world, develop their own innate creativity and to look for beauty in the everyday. Her garden provides the raw materials for Lucy's floral artistry - breathtaking naturalistic arrangements with the painterly beauty and flourish of a Dutch still life. Simple projects accompany Lucy's text, from drying garden flowers for an autumnal wreath to making your own journals and natural dyes to assembling lavish arrangements that showcase the voluptuous beauty of garden roses. Lucy believes that we all have a creative voice buried deep within. The Flower Hunter will encourage you to find your own creativity and help it to blossom.

In order to learn the fascinating story of plants and the development of human civilisation. No other book covers so much - from sacred mushrooms to GM crops, from the religions of the seasons and harvest to the hobby of gardening - and is able to convey both the mysterious and the practical with equal ease and in an accessible, intelligent style. The future of the planet depends upon such knowledge and empathy.

"One tribe's traditional knowledge of plants, presented for the first time"

Residents of the Great Plains since the early 1500s, the Apache people were well acquainted with the native flora of the region. In "Plains Apache Ethnobotany," Julia A. Jordan documents more than 110 plant species valued by the Plains Apache and preserves a wealth of detail concerning traditional Apache collection, preparation, and use of these plant species for food, medicine, ritual, and material culture.

The traditional Apache economy centered on hunting, gathering, and trading with other tribes. Throughout their long history the Apache lived in or traveled to many different parts of the plains, gaining an intimate knowledge of a wide variety of plant resources. Part of this traditional knowledge, especially that pertaining to plants of Oklahoma, has been captured here by Jordan's fieldwork, conducted with elders of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma in the mid-1960s, a time when much traditional knowledge was being lost.

"Plains Apache Ethnobotany" is the most comprehensive ethnobotanical study of a southern plains tribe. Handsomely illustrated, this book is a valuable resource for ethnobotanists, anthropologists, historians, and anyone interested in American Indian use of native plants.

Originally published in 1928, this is a fascinating and extremely comprehensive guide to forest folklore. It is not only concerned with English lore and mythology, but also that of Asia and Europe. A thoroughly interesting and informative book for anyone interested in where some of our beliefs and customs originate. Contents Include: FORESTS OF ELD - Archaean Forests; Primeval and Tropical Forests - Cosmogonic and Traditional Forests - FABULOUS FORESTS; Forests of Romance and Myth - FORESTRY - Ban Forests or Royal Forests - Early Forestry - The Moon's Influence - Ancient Foresters - Forest Customs - GROVES - Earliest - Druids - Classic Groves - MYTHICAL DENIZENS OF THE FORESTS AND WOODS - Spirit of the Forest - Witches - Fairies - Demons - Wood Spirits - Wild Huntsman - Wood Nymphs - TREES - Trees in General - Shadow of Trees - Trees as the Origin of Mankind - Worship of Trees - Transformations into Trees - Trees Preside Over Marriages - Trees Planted at Births - Arboreal Tribes - Burial on Trees - Funereal Trees - Elsbeer Tree - Christmas Tree - Genealogical Tree - Devil Trees - Guardian Trees - Abode Tree - Speaking Trees - Life Tree - Bull Oaks - Mythical Trees - Sacred Trees - Traditional Trees - Famous Trees - Curious Trees - Marvellous Trees - FOLKLORE - Fossil or Petrified Forests and Trees - bark of Trees - Leaves of Trees - Thorns - Spines - Prickles - Origin of Fire - Divination - Divining Rod - Wands - The Man in the Moon - The Yule Log - Forest and Tree Legends