TREES, LEAVES, FLOWER

Cashew

Cashew stalks
swell as the
fruit ripens.

Hollow where nuts Cashew nuts A toxic resin in
were cracked and the cashew shell
can irritate the skin.
ground with a stone by
ancient people about nut
10,000 years ago.

Peanut Brazil

The edible seed Prehistoric nutting stone Extra-hard shell can
is covered by a thin, be cracked open by birds
reddish brown seed coat. These wrinkled nuts
have a buttery flavor. with very tough beaks.
Sweet chestnut
ne nut
Pi

Pecan

A spiny sheath Stubby pine
protects up to three nuts can be
developing nuts.
up to 3 in
(8 cm) long.

including almonds, pistachios, coconuts, containing up to four nutlike seeds. Since they 151
English walnuts, pecans, and cashews, while grow beneath the soil, they are also known as
pine nuts are seeds found inside pine cones. groundnuts. Of the nuts shown here, hazelnuts
Peanuts are the strangest so-called nut. Once and sweet chestnuts are the only “true” nuts.
pollinated, peanut flowers push a stalk into the Their hard shells are the flesh of the fruit, while
soil to produce an underground bean pod the part we eat is the seed.

Eat your The red leaves give
greens! this plant its other
Flowering plants name, red chicory.
Savoy
Raw leaves
are often added
to salads.

cabbage These fibrous, wrinkly Lettuc e
leaves keep their shape
when cooked.

Radicchio

Peppery leaf ard
adds a spicy

flavor to salads.

Brussels sprouts Rainbow ch

Arugula

Leafy

greens contain

vitamin K,

which helps

wounds
heal.

Small, round These colorful plants are
leaf buds resemble packed with vitamin K and
baby cabbages.
other essential nutrients.

Almost 2,500 plants are known to have
leaves you can eat, but some taste better
than others. While many leafy vegetables are
eaten raw in salads, others are cooked into a
wide variety of dishes around the world. Packed
with nutrients, these edible leaves come in many
colors and shapes and form an essential part
of a healthy diet.

Eat your greens!Red cabbage
Kale
The crunchy leaf
stalks can be eaten

raw or stir-fried.

Bok choy

The bitter leaves
become sweeter
after a frost.

Spinach The leaves of the red cabbage Tightly packed
are sweeter and tougher than ball of leaves
those of the white cabbage.

Watercress These peppery leaves
grow both on land and
in streams.

These delicate GIANT CABBAGE
leaves lose water
Endive
and shrivel up
when cooked.

Heaviest cabbage Children
(138 1⁄3 lb/62.7 kg)
(Weight of
two children)

Inner leaves are The heaviest cabbage ever grown was a whopping
pale because they 138 1⁄3 lb (62.7 kg), the average weight of two young
receive less sunlight. children. It was grown in Alaska in 2012.

For thousands of years, people have cultivated Each was bred by humans for bigger leaves, 153
leafy vegetables to produce new varieties that more leaf buds, thicker leaf stalks, or different
give better harvests and more interesting flavors. colors. The vibrant rainbow chard and
The results of these gradual changes can be radicchio plants seen today are also a result
clearly seen in the differences between of careful selection by breeders over time.
vegetables like Brussels sprouts, savoy The crisp lettuce, too, was once a weed with
cabbage, kale, red cabbage, and broccoli, prickly leaves and stems and was grown
all of which are the same species of plant. by the ancient Egyptians for its oily seeds.

Peas and Lima beans
beans
Flowering plants These pale beans
Winged Four frilly wings Each small have a buttery
beans run along the length pod contains texture and flavor.
of each edible pod. two circular seeds.
Blacpke-aesyed
Fava beans
Lentils are
These flattened rich in vitamins
beans grow to 1 in and minerals.
(2.5 cm) in length.

Lentils

Up to 14 beans are Adzuki beans
produced per pod.

Runner beans Pink beans or young
seed pods are both
popular side dishes.

CHICKPEAS GALORE

Chickpeas The Great Pyramid Its distinct black spots
13.3 million tons give this seed its name.
(Weight of
two pyramids)

The world produced 13.3 million tons of chickpeas in 2016, Short pods
most of which was grown in India. This harvest weighed twice contain two or
as much as the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, known to weigh three edible seeds.
6.5 million tons.

Chickpeas

Peas, beans, and lentils are types of Humans started farming pulses because their
seeds known as pulses. They are rich in seeds can be easily dried and stored for when
proteins, fiber, and nutrients and have food is scarce. Lentils are one of our oldest
been eaten by humans around the world crops, with archaeological evidence showing
for thousands of years. Today, India is that humans ate them more than 13,000 years
the biggest grower and consumer of ago in Greece, while 7,500-year-old chickpeas
154 pulses, particularly lentils. have been found in excavations in Turkey.

These small dried
beans come in many

different colors.

Peas Tepary beans

Around six to seven
round peas are usually
produced in each pod.

Borlotti beans The red speckles “Pulse”
disappear when
Mung this bean is cooked. comes from the
beans
Soybeans These tiny beans are Latin puls,
often cooked with sugar
in Asian baked goods. meaning “thick

gruel, porridge,

or mush.”

The white flowers
of the snow pea

usually self-pollinate.

Snow peas

A scar on the seed
lets water in, allowing
it to germinate.

Unripe pods

Today, we eat the fresh green seed pods Drought-resistant are eaten raw
of winged beans, runner beans, and tepary bean plants can or in a stir-fry.
snow peas, as well as the seeds themselves.
Fava beans, lima beans, and borlotti survive very dry conditions and thrive in
beans also have tasty protein-filled seeds. hot countries like their native Mexico. It is
Soybeans can be used to feed farm animals, important to cook all beans before eating
make oil, and produce foods such as tofu. because they contain proteins that can be
harmful if not destroyed by heat.

All squashed up!

Flowering plants This stripy squash Green pumpkin Edible seeds, held
inside bright yellow
can grow up to flesh, are a good
19 1⁄2 in (50 cm) long. source of zinc.

Cushaw pumpkin A hooked neck
gives this warty
yellow squash
its name.

Csrqouoaksnheecsk

The round fruits
change color from green
to orange as they ripen.

Pumpkin

PLUMP PUMPKIN

Heaviest Hatchback car
pumpkin
2,624 lb
(1,190.5 kg)

The world record for the heaviest pumpkin
ever grown was in 2016 for a fruit weighing
2,624 lb (1,190.5 kg), around the same
weight as a hatchback car.

Although they are typically eaten as Almost all species of squash originally come
vegetables, squashes are actually the from Central and South America but are now
fruits of creeping vine plants that belong grown around the world, particularly in India and
to the gourd family. There are many China. These large and fleshy fruits are rich in
types of squashes, and they come in vitamins. The vitamin content is particularly high
156 lots of curious shapes. in squashes with orange and yellow flesh, such

The fibrous skeleton of a The teardrop-shaped
dried and peeled luffa can be fruits taste like chestnuts
used with soap and water as and are popular in Japan.

a bath sponge.

The green
skin is a great
source of fiber.

Dried luffa

This fruit’s skin Hubbard squash Cucumber
turns bitter once the

luffa grows longer than
4–4 3⁄4 in (10–12 cm).

Luffa Thick necks These giant
do not contain squashes can weigh
seeds so yield up to 39 1⁄2 lb (18 kg)
a lot of flesh.
but are much tastier

when smaller.

Blue Hubbard Hulusi flutes are
squash traditional Chinese
instruments made of
Butternut squash a gourd and three

Long necks bamboo pipes.
can stretch
Gourd
to more than
35 in (90 cm).

Tromboncino

Pattypan Shaped like a flying
squashes saucer, these fruits are
a slightly sweeter version
of a zucchini.

as green pumpkins and Hubbard squashes. raw or pickled. Edible pattypan squashes are 157
Most of these fruits are cooked and eaten as popular fall decorations, while other squashes
savory dishes such as soups and stews, but with hard skins, known as gourds, can be dried
some sweeter varieties, including pumpkin and used to make everyday items such as jars,
and butternut squash, are also baked into bottles, or even musical instruments, including
cakes and pies. Cucumbers are typically eaten maracas, flutes, and drums.

PUMPKIN BOAT RACE Paddling giant pumpkins for canoes, contestants
race around a lake at the Tualatin Pumpkin Regatta
in Oregon. Held every fall, such events are hugely popular not just in the US but also countries
including Canada and Germany. Pumpkins are easily converted into boats, since they are already
partly hollow inside, making it a simple task to carve out space for a rower to sit inside.

Developing from star-shaped, yellow flowers, the bigger in a variety of other holidays and festivals. American families
varieties of pumpkins can swell rapidly to enormous sizes— gather every year for Thanksgiving, which is famous for its
some measure more than 13 ft (4 m) around the middle and pumpkin pie. At Halloween, on October 31 each year, children
weigh 992 lb (450 kg). In the Tualatin race, competitors in many countries carve out pumpkins to look like scary
wearing costumes and life jackets paddle their pumpkins or funny faces, then put a candle inside to give them an
295 ft (90 m) and back. Pumpkins are also the main attraction eerie glow, to frighten off evil spirits.

Bulbs, stems, Onion

and stalks
Flowering plants When cut, these fleshy bulbs
Car doon release a chemical that makes
your eyes sting and water.

Bark is stripped
from the trunk to
reveal the crunchy
vegetable inside.

Harvesting palm trunks Heart of palm Leaf stalks are eaten
after removing the
Rhubarb spiny leaf blades. Celeriac
The thick stem tastes Asparagus
Fleshy leaf stalks are like celery and can reach
often stewed with sugar up to 6 in (15 cm) across.Leek
and eaten in desserts.
Spears of
OVERSIZED ONION asparagus
emerge from the
In 2014, the largest ever onion was grown in the UK. The earth in spring.
ginormous bulb weighed 18 3⁄4 lb (8.5 kg), approximately
the same weight as a pug dog.

Largest onion Pug The cylindrical
bulbs turn white
underground.

Many plants make food in the Bulbs, such as leeks, onions,
warmer months and then store it and garlic, are made up of fleshy
in their bulbs, stems, and stalks. leaves, while celeriac, asparagus,
This makes these vegetables a and kohlrabi are swollen
valuable food source for the winter stems that are tastiest eaten
months, and humans have eaten when young and tender.
160 them for thousands of years. Other vegetables,

The feathery leaves,
swollen stem, and seeds
all taste like licorice.

Garlic

Up to 20 cloves
of garlic make up
each bulb.

Swollen stems taste like a
sweeter version of broccoli.

Kohlrabi Water

chestnuts

are grown
underwater in

flooded fields called

paddies.

Water The crunchy
chestnut underground
stem is often eaten
These conical, tender in Chinese dishes.
shoots of the bamboo
plant are widely used
in Asian cooking.

The salty stems
of this coastal
plant are often
eaten with fish.

Bamboo Samphire Fennel
shoot plant. However, young bamboo shoots
contain natural toxins, which must be
including rhubarb and cardoons, are the removed by boiling in water. Hearts of 161
leaf stalks of the plant, although the leaves palm are harvested from the trunks of
themselves are not edible. The enlarged base several types of palm trees. Samphire is
of fennel is made of both swollen stems and an asparagus-like plant that grows in coastal
leaf stalks. The growing tips of many different areas. Its stems can be eaten raw or boiled.
types of bamboo are eaten as bamboo shoots,
but harvesting them does not harm the mature



LIVING
WITH PLANTS

Living with plants Plants and
people

The earliest people were hunter-gatherers, always on the move searching
for food such as meat, berries, and seeds. Then around 12,000 years ago,
the first farming began in the Fertile Crescent, a region in the Middle East.
Here, people settled down and learned to sow, harvest, and store crops—
the ancestors of wild grasses—and domesticate animals.

How plants have changed Sowing seeds ❯ For thousands of years, people

Humans have cultivated many plants have sowed seeds by hand. Here, as the man
since farming began. Teosinte, an ancient drives the plow, the woman follows behind
wild relative of corn, bore just a few sowing the seeds.
hard kernels. Farmers noticed that
some teosinte plants produced more
kernels and with a softer texture
so planted these the next season.
Over time, this selective
farming method led to the
large cobs we eat today.

A hard coat
makes the
few kernels

tough to eat.

Teosinte Corn

Modern farming methods Other ways people use plants

Not only have the plants we farm changed, but modern agricultural Medicine
machines help us sow, grow, and harvest crops more easily and From headaches to
quickly than ever before. Over the centuries, the population of the cancer, more than 50,000
world has exploded and continues to grow. Without modern farming plants around the world
methods, billions of people would go hungry. are used to treat diseases.

To harvest a field using Combine harvester Cosmetics
a machine, the entire Many plant-based chemicals
that are fragrant or moisturizing
crop must mature at the are used in cosmetics such
same speed and reach as shampoos and perfumes.
a similar height.
Furniture
Farming in ancient Egypt Trees provide all the lumber
used to make furniture. Forests
In ancient Egypt, farming began along the banks of the must be carefully managed to
Nile River. Every summer the river flooded the land, replace the trees that are used.
leaving fields watered and rich in nutrients. Here the
ancient Egyptians grew staple foods, such as wheat Paper
and barley, as well as a variety of fruits and vegetables. Most paper comes from trees.
Wood chips are mixed with water
to make a pulp, which is flattened
and dried into thin sheets.

Building materials
Lumber is also a popular
building material for houses
because it is strong, insulating,
and environmentally friendly.

Clothes
The seed fibers of cotton and
stem fibers of flax, hemp,
and bamboo are often used
to make fabrics.

Musical instruments
The woods of some trees can
produce deep, rich sounds and
have been used for centuries to
make musical instruments.

Cattle-drawn plow ❯ The first plows

were pulled by people. The ancient
Egyptians were the first to domesticate

cattle and use them to pull heavier
plows to cut tracks in the soil
for sowing the seed.

The spices of life

The young, green Cumin
berries turn brown
once dried in the sun.

Each seed pod Dried seeds
releases a single cumin
seed when dried. Turmeric

Allspice Dried berries

These seeds have a nutty flavor
and are common in Asian and
Middle Eastern cuisines.
cPrhai
Sesame Dried seeds WasabiFiery green
wasabi sauce is
This red fruit contains eaten with sushi Underground
capsaicin, a chemical that in Japan. stems, or
gives chiles their spicy heat.
Paste rhizomes, are
rie ifleirse ground into bright
Star anise
yellow powder.

Dried fruits

The star-shaped
fruit tastes
like licorice.

Fresh and dried
turmeric

Without spices—the dried seeds,
fruits, roots, and bark of plants—our
food would be much less tasty. For
thousands of years, people have been adding
spices to their cooking to flavor, color, and
preserve their food. Some spices, such as
turmeric and ginger, are used as health

remedies, too.

Unripe fruits are cooked
and dried into peppercorns.

Dried seeds Dried fruits The spices of life
Black pepper
Cubelike seeds are often
used in Indian cooking.

Fenugreek

These tiny black Peppercorns
seeds are ground to
make a hot sauce. are the world’s most

Dried seeds commonly
traded spice.
Each droopy seed
pod can grow up to Each seed pod
6 in (15 cm) in length. contains about a dozen
cardamom seeds.

Dried Green
seed pods cardamom

The red, outer covering
around this seed is used to
make another spice called mace.

Vanilla Mustard Ginger Dried seeds

Dried Nutmeg
seed pods
The fragrant red
The inner bark of stigmas are harvested
the cinnamon tree is
harvested and cut carefully by hand.
into small sticks.

Harvesting cinnamon Underground Saffron
stems have a
Cinnamon sticks
hot, spicy flavor.

Many spices come from tropical plants from East route to India. Instead, he found chile 167
Asia. Our appetite for their flavors makes them peppers, which he brought back to Europe.
highly valuable, and it was the demand for spices Today we take for granted the exotic ingredients
that drove European explorers and traders to sail in our kitchen pantries. We can’t imagine not
the globe in search of precious supplies in the having pepper on the table, a hot dog without
15th and 16th centuries. The Italian explorer mustard, or ice cream without vanilla. The
Christopher Columbus reached the Caribbean most expensive spice in the world is saffron,
Islands while trying to find a new spice trade which is worth more than gold by weight.

Helpful
herbs

Flat-leaf p
Living with plants Chewing these
arsley leaves can help
Curly parsley freshen breath
Thymeafter eating garlic.

Leaves have In German These fragrant
a strong taste leaves were once given
and in ancient folklore, places to knights before battle
Greece and
Rome were fed where thyme to inspire courage.
to chariot
horses to give grows wild are said
them strength.
to be blessed
MUMMIFICATION
by fairies.
In ancient Egypt, people
who died were mummified Coriand er
to preserve their bodies.
After cleaning and The leaves are The aromatic
embalming the body most well known as leaves have a tart,
of a dead person, it was the dried herb used lemony flavor.
wrapped in linen bandages, on pizza toppings.
along with herbs such as
thyme and mint. The herbs’ Oregano

fresh and fragrant scents were Using herbs dates back to ancient
considered sacred. times. In ancient Greece, eating thyme
was believed to cure poisoning, while
Herbs are plants that are used to rosemary was thought to help memory,
flavor food, give perfume its smell, and scholars used to put rosemary in
or provide medicinal qualities. Some their hair to help them during exams.
have fragrant leaves or flowers that
can be eaten fresh. Others are woody
168 and added to cooking or used dried.

Spicy leaves taste like Dill
licorice and are used
in Asian cooking.

Helpful herbs

Thai basil Dill seeds are
used as a spice.
In the past, these
hairy, gray-green

leaves were used
to ward off evil.

Mint These delicate,
feathery leaves

are often eaten
with seafood.

These leaves are used in Dill leaves
toothpaste and sweets.

Chives
Rosemary

The leaves
are used for
flavoring food.

Sage

Needlelike rosemary The hollow,
leaves grow on woody tubular stems taste
like onion—and the
plants that can reach
up to 7 ft (2 m) tall. flowers do, too!

In the Middle Ages, herb gardens were common in Modern science has proven some of the
European monasteries: monks grew sage as a qualities of herbs—mint oil is known to
remedy and also to clean their teeth. The plant’s kill mosquito larvae, for example. Other
scientific name, Salvia, comes from the Latin for ideas are based on superstition, such as
“I am well.” Oregano is also healing. In Chinese the medieval practice of drinking dill tea
medicine, it is used to help digestive problems. to repel a witch’s curse.

Living with plants Plant
products

Plants provide many of the materials Fruit ❯ The large, smooth
we use every day. From tree trunks we
harvest timber to build houses, wood fruits of the coconut palm
to turn into paper, and resins to make contain a seed known as the
varnish. Dyes can be made from berries coconut. It has a hard, hairy
and leaves, and textiles from plant fibers. shell and edible white flesh.
Some plants have many uses. In Malaysia,
for example, the coconut palm is called
the “tree of a thousand uses” because
almost every part of this tree is useful.

Coconut water,
the liquid found
inside the immature
seed, is a delicious
drink that is rich

in nutrients.

Utensils, such as this Ropes can be made Oil is extracted from
cup, can be carved from coir, the fibers the white flesh for
from coconut shells. of the coconut husk. use in cooking.

Logs of coconut timber
are often used in construction
because they do not decay easily.

Musical instruments, Trunk ❯ Coconut palms can grow up
such as this Hawaiian
pahu drum, are made to 98 1⁄2 ft (30 m) tall. Their slender,
from coconut timber. flexible trunks, which have a ringed
pattern, allow them to bend rather
than break in strong winds.

170

A male flower opens,
sheds pollen, and falls

off within a day.

Flower ❯ Coconut flower stalks Sugar is made from the
sweet sap in the stalks
contain spikes growing from a of the flower buds.
fleshy stem. Male flowers grow at the
tops of the spikes, while female ones Other plants and their products
grow at their base. Both types of flowers

produce nectar to attract insects.

Cpaolcmonut Cotton
White fibers surround
the seeds of the cotton
plant. In the wild,
these fibers drift off in
the wind, carrying the
seeds to new places to
grow. The fibers can be
removed from the seeds
and spun into threads to
make textiles.

Brooms are Thread
made from the
stiff, dried midribs Hemp
of coconut leaves. This was one of the
first plants to be used
for clothing. The long
fibers that make
up the stem of the
plant are used to
make threads that
can be woven into
fabrics or twisted
into string.

String

Coconut leaves Cork oak
can grow up to The waterproof outer
6 ft (1.8 m) wide. bark of the cork oak
tree is used to make
stoppers for bottles, Cork Layer of bark
floor tiles, and many stopper has been
other household removed.
objects. The bark
grows slowly and
is harvested once
a decade.

Leaf ❯ Mature coconut palms have Baskets can be Rubber
made by weaving The milky sap of the
around 35 leaves, each of which together the leaflets rubber tree is harvested
grows from a single bud at the top of coconut leaves. by cutting a line into its
of the tree. Coconut leaves can trunk and collecting the
grow up to 19 3⁄4 ft (6 m) in length. liquid that drips out.
When set, rubber
is an elastic
material used to
make gloves, shoe
soles, and tires.

Tire

SHRINKING FOREST Mist rises in the hot air above a mountain rain forest
known as the Leuser Ecosystem, on the Indonesian
island of Sumatra. Dense with trees pushing up through the rain forest layers, the tallest rise 150–200 ft
(45–60 m) to emerge above the canopy. This unique habitat is the last place where Sumatran
orangutans, tigers, elephants, and rhinoceroses coexist in the wild.

Tropical rain forests cover around 6 percent of the world’s hydroelectric dams, and farming. Increase in demand for
land, yet produce 40 percent of all oxygen and are often lumber and wood pulp for paper has led to a rise in illegal
called the lungs of the Earth. The Leuser Ecosystem covers logging. Human activity is putting many of the species of
around 10,100 sq miles (26,300 sq km), about the size of plants and animals in the region, which are not found
Massachusetts. However, rain forest cover in Indonesia is anywhere else in the world, at risk of extinction. It also
rapidly decreasing to make room for palm oil plantations, threatens the health of the whole planet.

Ylang-ylang Natural
beauty
Henna Hand decorated
Henna leaves are crushed with henna
before they can be used as hair
Sandalwood
dye or to decorate hands and
feet for special occasions.

This scented paste is
made from powdered
sandalwood and is

used as a skin cleanser.

Cucumber extract Perfume The yellow-gold
has soothing properties oil is, in fact, a

and is used widely in liquid wax made
skin care products. from seeds.

Jojoba

Waxy yellow Cucumber
flowers have an
exotic fragrance.

For thousands of years, people have used Many different parts of plants are used to
plant products to make themselves look make beauty products. Ylang-ylang and
and smell good. Floral fragrances and lavender flowers each contain scents that can
plant-based potions are still big business be distilled for use in perfumes. It is extracted
today, with many people preferring to use by steaming. Sandalwood is just that—the
174 natural products rather than artificial ones. aromatic, oily inner wood of a tree, which has

Nut butter

Fatty seeds are
used to make shea
butter, a popular
moisturizer.

Shea Lavender

Dried cocoa Cocoa Dried flowers are
beans used to extract oil.
This thick,
The fragrant oil has
fleshy leaf has a soothing, healing qualities.
gel-like sap inside.
Cocoa butter, Goats Argan
made from the
crushed insides climb argan Oil extracted from the seed
of cocoa beans, nourishes skin, hair, and nails.
is melted to make trees to eat the fruit
body creams.
and disperse the
seeds in their

droppings.

Clear leaf sap is added to many skin
care products for its soothing properties.

Body scrub mixed
with argan oil

Inside an aloe vera leaf

Bath bombs infused
with eucalyptus oil
nourish hair and
soothe the skin.

Aloe vera Eucalyptus bath bombs Eucalyptus

natural antiseptic and healing qualities. While the to a paste, release a strong orange-brown dye. 175
seeds of the shea nut, kernels of the argan fruit, The sap inside the thick spiky leaves of the aloe
and cocoa beans must all be roasted in order to vera plant is not only a soothing gel for burns
release their rich oils, the seeds of the jojoba but also has moisturizing properties. Cleopatra,
plant can simply be crushed. It is the leaves of the queen of ancient Egypt, attributed her great
the henna plant that, when dried and mashed beauty to her use of aloe vera!

Plants of the world

Living with plants Australian postage This 100-yen coin shows The blue of this national
stamps have featured cherry blossoms that are flower is used on Estonia’s
its national flower—the flag to represent the country’s
fluffy golden wattle. celebrated in Japan each year
in the spring festival hanami. sea, sky, and lakes.

CattleyBarazoil rchid Glory lily Zimbabweerry blossom Japan

Golden wattle Ch

Australia orea

These huge flowers
can grow up to 8 in
(20 cm) across.

Cornflower

Estonia

poppy This wildflower This colorful
HimalayanBhbultaune from Bhutan has flower, also known
distinctive yellow
or amber anthers. as the flame lily,
belongs to a plant
Coffee plant
that is protected
Ethiopia in Zimbabwe.

The arabica
coffee plant
originates
in Ethiopia.

The maple leaf
associated with Canada
symbolizes unity, peace,
and tolerance.

Ros e of Sharon South K This is a wreath of
Pakistan’s national flower,
the sweet-smelling jasmine.

Maple This flower is also known Jasmine Pakistan
as mugunghwa, which means
Canada
“eternal blossom that never fades.”

Countries around the world often have Some countries choose a beautiful local
a special connection to particular plants, flower to represent their nation, such as
rare or common. Many use flowers or the showy cattleya orchids of Brazil
trees as national symbols, often because and the glory lily of Zimbabwe. Australia
these plants are culturally or spiritually observes Wattle Day on September 1 to
176 important to the people living there. celebrate the golden wattle that grows

According to legend, The bell-shaped
tea was first made flowers of this
from tea leaves in Chilean vine
China in 2737 bce. bloom between

March and May.

Tea China Iris France Plants of the worldChilean
Lavender Portugal bellflower
Rose England The rose was a symbol
of royalty in England Chile
Purple lavender and later became the
flowers grow on spikes national flower. This flower inspired the
fleur-de-lis symbol, used
and appear across The cone-shaped by the kings of France.
Portugal in the summer. center holds the
growing seeds.

In The lotus is the sacred
symbol of India, and
Portugal,
represents purity and grace.
lavender

was believed to

ward off

evil spirits.

Lotus India

across southern Australia as a sign of spring. The features on the Canadian flag. The country that 177
national flower of Bhutan, the Himalayan blue comes to mind when you say “tea” is China, the
poppy, is so rare that it was once believed to be first to brew the hot drink from the plant’s leaves—
a myth and is called the “blue yeti.” The national and the world’s biggest producer today. In India,
tree of Canada, the syrup-producing maple tree, the national flower is the lotus. Hindu gods are
is found in each of its provinces, and its leaf often shown standing on this sacred flower.

Plant science

Living with plants Although people have always relied on plants, the science 1600s
of plants—known as botany—has been studied for only
around 2,500 years. Early scientists described the Hydroponics, a method of
medicinal properties of plants, while later researchers growing plants in a nutrient-
investigated them to learn how they survive and thrive.
filled liquid rather than in
350 bce 1200s the soil, is first described in

Theophrastus, Arabian scientist Ibn the 1600s. This technique
a student of the al-Baytār writes can produce more food
Greek philosopher the Compendium on in the same space and
Aristotle, is the first Simple Medicaments is a popular method of
to study plants for and Foods, featuring growing plants today.
their own sake. He the names of 1,400
writes the first plants, foods, drugs, Ibn al-Baytār
botanical books, and their uses. was one of the
describing around most influential
500 plants. writers on botany
in medieval times.

The garden exists today
in its original location,
in Padua, Italy.

60 ce

Greek botanist Pedanius
Dioscorides writes De Materia
Medica, a book on medicinal
plants, which is used for the
next 1,500 years.

1545 1561

The world’s oldest botanical garden, the The plant Cordia sebestena
Orto Botanico di Padova, is built. The is named after German
garden was used to grow medicinal
botanist Valerius Cordus. He
plants and teach students about them. describes plant features and

medicinal properties for
the first time in his book

Historia Plantarum,
published in 1561.

1789 Most Every kernel on one ear
plastics will not of corn is unique and
English naturalist Gilbert break down for can look different
White describes the time thousands of years, but from one another.
of year that different plants plant-based “bioplastics”
bloom. Today, scientists have been developed
use this information to that will break down
study how climate change into compost.
is affecting flowering times.

1800s 1838 1983

Austrian monk and scientist German botanist Matthias Jakob American scientist Barbara
Gregor Mendel uses pea plants to Schleiden publishes Contributions McClintock is awarded the
to Phytogenesis, in which he Nobel Prize in 1983 for her
explore how plants inherit their argues that all plants are made research into the inheritance
characteristics. Like humans, a of tiny units called cells. of corn (maize) traits and
plant gets half of its characteristics how this is controlled.
from the female plant and half Plant cell This work has led to other
important discoveries in
from the male plant. the field of genetics.

1753 2008

Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus The Svalbard Global Seed Bank is
publishes Species Plantarum, which built in Norway in 2008. This building
establishes the scientific naming
system for plant organisms. stores seeds from around the
world in case they are
1950s needed in the future.

American scientist Norman Borlaug
develops a disease-resistant, dwarf
wheat variety, which helps feed
billions. Before the 1950s, tall wheat
plants often blew over before the

top-heavy crops could be harvested.

The book contains
data on the 5,940
plants known at
the time.

SPACE GARDEN Over millions of years of evolution, plants have become
perfectly adapted for life on Earth. They are most certainly
not adapted to growing in space, yet that is exactly what the plants shown here are doing. As part of
an experiment on the International Space Station (ISS), its crew members are growing fresh
vegetables in a “space garden” to try to improve their diet.

Plants are sensitive to their surroundings. Their roots grow grow upright, like plants on Earth. They are given water
toward sources of water, and their stems grow toward the containing vital nutrients, and the ISS crew breathes out the
light. They also react to gravity, growing up and away from its carbon dioxide the plants use to make the sugar they need
downward pull. In space, however, these plants are growing to grow. In this process, the plants give off oxygen, which
in zero gravity, with their roots held down by woven mats. improves the air quality within the space station, while the
The attraction of the artificial lights above them makes them sugar is turned into plant tissue that the crew can eat.

Glossary Glossary

Aerial root Biofuel Chlorophyll Evergreen

A root that grows from the A renewable fuel produced A green pigment. A plant that keeps its
stem of a plant above from plant matter, algae, Plants use the leaves throughout
the surface of the ground. or animal waste. chlorophyll in their the year.
cells to harvest the
Algae Bonsai energy in sunlight. Fertilization

Plantlike, mostly water- A tree or shrub grown in a pot Compound leaf The combination of
dwelling, organisms such as and kept in miniature form a male cell from pollen
seaweed, which contain the by special pruning. Bonsai A leaf that is divided into and a female egg, which
green pigment chlorophyll. is also the name given to two or more leaflets. goes on to produce a
this type of pruning. young plant known
Anther Conifer as an embryo.
Bract
The part of the flower’s An evergreen tree or shrub Floret
stamen that produces pollen. A specialized type of leaf. that has needlelike leaves.
Bracts, sometimes brightly All conifers bear cones. A small flower, usually
Bark colored, help protect buds one of many making
and flowers on some Corm up the head of a flower
The tough outer layer of the plants and can also serve such as a daisy.
roots, trunk, and branches to attract pollinators. A swollen, bulblike
of woody plants such as underground stem. Frond
trees and shrubs. Bulb
Cotyledon A long leaf that usually
Underground fleshy consists of smaller
leaves that store The first food-storing leaf, leaflets. They are seen
food for a plant. or pair of leaves, formed in plants such as ferns
inside a seed. and palms.

Deciduous

Describes a plant that sheds
its leaves each year at the end
of a growing season.

Dicot Fungus

A flowering plant that Microorganisms
produces two seed leaves including mushrooms
(cotyledons) when it first and toadstools. Fungi
starts to grow. are more closely

Buttress root Dormant related to animals
than to plants.
A root that grows out from In an inactive state. Many
the trunk of a tree, giving it plants become dormant in the Germination
extra support. winter or in times of drought,
remaining alive but shutting The process in which a
Canopy down to save energy. seed starts to sprout and
grow into a plant.
An almost continuous layer
of branches and leaves Drupe Harvest
formed high above
the ground by A fleshy fruit, such as a plum The process of cutting
treetops. or cherry, containing a single and gathering crops from
hard seed or stone. the field when ripe.

Epiphyte Host plant
A plant that grows on another A plant that is used by

182 plant for support without another for support

taking nutrients from it. and/or nutrients.

Inflorescence Petals Glossary

A group of flowers on The brightly colored parts of a Pollinator Stamen
a single stem. flower that attract pollinating
insects and birds to a plant. An animal, such as a bee, The male part of a
Kernel moth, or bird, that makes flower that includes the
Photosynthesis the fertilization of plants pollen-producing anther.
A grain or the inner part possible by moving
of a fruit, stone, or nut. The process by which a pollen from flower Stigma
green plant uses the energy to flower.
Lateral root in sunlight to create food for The female part of a flower.
itself from water in the soil Rhizome
A root that extends and carbon dioxide in the air. Succulent
sideways from a main An underground stem
root to anchor a plant Plant that grows horizontally, A plant that stores water in
more firmly in the soil. putting out shoots and thickened, fleshy leaves or
A living organism, from a moss roots as it spreads. stems. Succulents include cacti.
Leaflet to a tree, that produces its own
food by photosynthesis. Root hair Taproot
One of the smaller leaflike
parts of a compound Pneumatophore A microscopic hairlike A thick, central root that
leaf growing from growth that extends from grows straight downward.
the leaf stalk. A straight aerial root that a root and increases the
extends upward through amount of water and Tendril
Lenticel swampy soil, enabling a plant nutrients that a plant
to exchange gases, or can take in. A threadlike, twining
One of the tiny pores on “breathe.” stalk that vine plants
a plant stem that helps in Sap use to attach themselves
the exchange of gases Pollen to a supporting object.
between the plant and The juices in plant cells.
its environment. The tiny powdery grains that Tepal
contain the male reproductive
Lichen cells, which combine with the A flap around flowers that
female reproductive cells of a functions as both a sepal
An organism made up plant to make seeds. and a petal.
of a fungus and an alga,
working together. Pollination Tuber

Monocot The transfer of pollen grains A thick underground stem or
from a male flower, or part of root that some plants use for
A flowering plant that produces a flower, to the female parts of storing nutrients.
just one seed leaf (cotyledon) a flower, to fertilize the eggs
when it starts to grow. so seeds can develop. Vine

Nectar A plant that climbs or trails
along the ground, supporting
The sugary liquid produced its stem with tendrils or by
by plants to attract pollinating twining itself around a
animals. supporting object.

Node Sepal

A point on a stem A small, leaflike flap,
from which leaves, usually green, that
shoots, branches, or surrounds and protects
flowers can grow. the petals of a flower.

Nutrients Setting seed 183

Minerals used by The process in which
a plant to fuel its a plant starts producing
growth. seeds after its flowers have
been pollinated.
Parasitic
plant Spore

A plant that lives on A tiny reproductive structure
another and takes found in nonflowering plants
nutrients from it. such as ferns.

Plant index Plant index

In this book, plants are called by their “common names”—the names used in everyday life by ordinary
people, and which can vary from country to country. However, when scientists around the world talk
about a plant, to avoid confusion, they use its scientific name. This is based on an internationally
recognized naming system and is in Latin. A plant’s scientific name is made up of two parts: the first
is the genus, or group, of plants it comes from, and the second is the name of the specific species.

A Apricot Prunus armeniaca 143 Blue spruce Picea pungens 59 Celeriac Apium graveolens var.
Argan Argania spinosa 175 Blueberry Vaccinium cyanococcus 139 rapaceum 160
Acai berry Euterpe oleracea 142 Arrowhead Sagittaria 136 Bok choy Brassica rapa var. chinensis
Acorn Quercus robur 25, 150 Artichoke Cynara scolymus 165 Century plant Agave americana 94
Adzuki bean Vigna angularis Arugula Eruca sativa 152 153 Charentais melon Cucumis melo
Arum lily Zantedeschia aethiopica 67 Borlotti beans Phaseolus vulgaris 155
154, 165 Asian bleeding heart Bougainvillea Bougainvillea 106 var. cantalupensis 149
African moringa Moringa stenopetala Bracken Pteridium aquilinum 53 Cherry Prunus avium 142
Lamprocapnos spectabilis 70 Bradford pear Pyrus calleryana 82 Cherry blossom Prunus serrulata
95 Asparagus Asparagus officinalis Brazil nut Bertholletia excelsa 151
Alder Alnus 25 Brazillian waterweed 72–73, 176
Allspice Pimenta dioica 166 134–135, 160 Chickpea Cicer arietinum 154
Almond Prunus dulcis 150 Atlas cedar Cedrus atlantica 58, 61 Egeria densa 85 Chicory Cichorium intybus 77
Aloe vera Aloe vera 174–175 Australian Christmas tree Bristlecone pine Pinus 58 Chikoo Manilkara zapota 147
Alpine pink Dianthus alpinus 104 Broadleaf stonecrop Chile pepper Capsicum annuum 166
Alpine spotted orchid Nuytsia floribunda 102–103 Chilean bellflower
Austrian pine Pinus nigra 6, 56–57 Sedum spathulifolium 104
Dactylorhiza majalis 104 Avocado Persea americana 22 Broom forkmoss Lapageria rosea 177
Amaryllis Hippeastrum 80 Chinese bayberry Myrica rubra 139
Amazonian water lily B Dicarnum scoparium 122 Chinese elm Ulmus parvifolia 125
Brussels sprouts Brassica oleracea Chinese fringetree
Victoria amazonica 32–33 Bamboo Bambusa vulgaris 27, 161
American beech Banana Musa 68, 134 152 Chionanthus retusus 116–117
Banks’ rose Rosa banksiae 74 Bryum moss Bryum capillare 46–47 Chinese juniper Juniperus chinensis
Fagus grandifolia 112 Barley Hordeum vulgare 22, 131 Buddha’s hand Citrus medica
American eelgrass Barrel cactus Echinocactus grusonii 125
var. sarcodactylis 144–145 Chinese redbud Cercis chinensis 116
Vallisneria americana 84–85 91, 92 Buddleia Buddleja davidii 69 Chinese rose Rosa chinensis 11,
American pearl laceleaf Baseball plant Euphorbia obesa 95 Bulbophyllum Bulbophyllum 78
Bat-faced cuphea Cuphea llavea 70 Burdock Arctium lappa 14–15, 24 74–75
Anthurium scandens 15 Bean Phaseolus vulgaris 21 Butter and eggs Triphysaria eriantha Chives Allium schoenoprasum 169
American sycamore Bee orchid Ophrys apifera 70–71 Christmas cactus Schlumbergera
Platanus occidentalis Beech Fagus 26, 109 103
113 Beet Beta vulgaris 22, 136 Butterfly agave Agave potatorum truncata 93
Angel wings Begonia Begonia hybrid 37 Cinnamon Cinnamomum 167
Caladium bicolor 7, 36 Belladonna Atropa belladonna 100 36–37 Citron Citrus medica 145
Ant fern Lecanopteris Bilberry cactus Butternut squash Clematis Clematis 107
40, 53 Cloudberry Rubus chamaemorus
Antarctic hair grass Myrtillocactus geometrizans 92 Cucurbita moschata 157
Deschampsia antarctica Bird-of-paradise plant Butterwort Pinguicula cyclosecta 99 138
128 Clumping bamboo
Apple Malus 30–31, Strelitzia reginae 66–67 C
117, 135 Bird’s nest fern Asplenium nidus 118 Fargesia murieliae 128
Bishop’s cap cactus Cabbage Brassica oleracea Coast redwood Sequoia sempervirens
var. capitata 134
Astrophytum myriostigma 93 112, 114–115
Bitter melon Momordica charantia Cactus mistletoe Cobra plant Darlingtonia californica
Tristeryx aphyllus 102
148–149 98
Black currant Ribes nigrum 138 Calypso orchid Calypso bulbosa 122 Cobweb house-leek Sempervivum
Black pepper Piper nigrum 167 Camel thorn Acacia erioloba 40, 94
Black-eyed peas Vigna unguiculata Candelabra primrose arachnoideum 104–105
Coco de mer Lodoicea maldivica 23
154 Primula bulleyana 87 Cocoa Theobroma cacao 175
Blackberry Rubus fruticosus 24, 138 Cardoon Cynara cardunculus 160 Coconut palm Cocos nucifera 11, 25,
Blackthorn Prunus spinosa 117 Carrion plant Stapelia gigantea 82
Bladderwort Utricularia 99 Carrot Daucus carota 134, 136–137 111, 150, 170–171
Blanket flower Gaillardia 76 Carrot fern Onychium japonicum 53 Coffee Coffea 22, 176
Blood orange Citrus sinensis Cashew Anacardium occidentale Common eelgrass Zostera marina 85
Common daisy Bellis perennis 77
144 151 Common fig Ficus carica 111, 135
Blue agave Agave tequilana 40 Cassava Manihot esculenta 137 Common haircap
Blue fescue Festuca glauca 128 Castor oil plant Ricinus communis
Blue hubbard squash Polytrichum commune 49
101, Common juniper
Cucurbita maxima 157 Cattail Typha latifolia 86
Cattleya orchid Cattleya 176 Juniperus communis 60
Cattleya purpurata Cattleya Common kettlewort Blasia pusilla

purpurata var. coerulea 79 48
Common liverwort

Marchantia polymorpha 10, 49
Common maidenhair fern

Adiantum aethiopicum 53

Foxglove Digitalis purpurea 66 Iris Iris 26, 177 Plant index
Frangipani Plumeria rubra 66 Ivy broomrape
Common milkweed Dill Anethum graveolens Gac Momordica cochinchinensis 148
Asclepias syriaca 41 ‘Mariska’ 169 Garlic Allium sativum 161 Orobanche hederae 102
Dodder Cuscuta 102 Geranium Pelargonium 36 Jacaranda Jacaranda mimosifolia 117
Common snowberry Dog rose Rosa canina 74 Ghost gum Corymbia aparrerinja 113 Jack-in-the-pulpit
Symphoricarpos albus 87 Giant onion Allium giganteum 81
Dragon arum Dracunculus Giant rhubarb Gunnera manicata 86 Arisaema triphyllum 123
Common tamarisk moss Thuidium vulgaris 82 Ginger Zingiber officinale 167 Jackal food Hydnora africana 82
tamariscinum 48 Dragon fruit Hylocereus undatus Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba 33, 57, 83, 110 Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus 146
147 Glittering wood moss Jamaican tangelo Citrus
Coneflower Echinacea 76 Dragon’s blood tree
Coriander Coriandrum sativum Dracaena cinnabari 110–111 Hylocomium splendens 48 reticulata x Citrus paradisi 145
Durian Durio zibethinus 82–83, 147 Globe thistle Echinops ritro 76 Japanese blood grass
22, 168 Durum wheat Triticum Glory lily Gloriosa superba 176–177
Cork oak Quercus suber 171 turgidum var. durum 131 Goji berry Lycium barbarum 138 Imperata cylindrica 129
Corkscrew hazel Corylus avellana Dwarf iris Iris danfordiae 81 Golden wattle Acacia pycnantha 176 Japanese holly fern
Dwarf pomegranate Punica Gorse Ulex 41
‘Contorta’ 16–17 granatum var. nana 125 Gourd Lagenaria siceraria 157 Cyrtomium falcatum 52
Corn Zea mays 21, 23, 131, 164 Grape Vitis vinifera 43, 139, 140–141 Japanese maple Acer palmatum
Cornflower Centaurea cyanus 6, 176 E–G Grapefruit Citrus paradisi 145
Corpse lily Rafflesia arnoldii 103 Green almond Prunus dulcis 142–143 125
Cotton Gossypium hirsutum 171 Echeveria Echeveria 94 Green cardamom Elettaria Japanese painted fern Athyrium
Coulter pine Pinus coulteri 60 Elderberry Sambucus nigra 110
Crab apple Malus sylvestris 124 Elephant grass cardamomum 167 niponicum pictum ‘Metallicum’ 53
Crack willow Salix fragilis 113 Green pumpkin Cucurbita pepo 156 Japanese winterberry Ilex serrata
Cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon Ormiscanthus giganteus 129 Guava Psidium guajava 147
Elephant’s ear Alocasia x amazonica Guelder rose Viburnum opulus 67 124
138 Japanese wisteria Wisteria
Crenshaw melon Cucumis melo 148 33 H–K
Crimson glory Endive Cichorium endivia 153 floribunda 124
English ivy Hedera helix 16, 32, 107 Hair-awn muhly grass Jasmine Jasminum officinale 176
Rosa ‘Crimson Glory’ 75 English oak Quercus robur 33, 111, Muhlenbergia capillaris 129 Javan cucumber
Crookneck squash
113 Hairy-leafed apitong Alsomitra macrocarpa 22–23
Cucurbita moschata 156 English walnut Juglans regia 150 Dipterocarpaceae 22 Jojoba Simmondsia chinensis 174
Crowfoot grass Epicattleya Rene Marques Joshua tree Yucca brevifolia 111
Haleakala silversword Jujube Ziziphus jujuba 142
Dactyloctenium aegyptium 128 Epicattleya ‘Rene Marques’ 78 Argyroxiphium sandwicense var. Juliet rose Rosa ‘Sweet Juliet’ 75
Crown imperial Fritillaria imperialis Eucalyptus Eucalyptus 33, 68, 111, 175 macrocephalum 105 Kaffir lime Citrus hystrix 145
European holly Ilex aquifolium 111 Kajari melon Cucumis melo 148
82 European larch Larix decidua 60 Hares-tail grass Lagurus ovatus 129 Kale Brassica oleracea 153
Cucamelon Melothria scabra 148 European silver fir Abies alba 59 Hart’s tongue fern Kauri Agathis australis 60
Cucumber Cucumis sativus 12–13, Everlasting pea Lathyrus latifolia 106 Key lime Citrus aurantifolia 145
Eyebright Euphrasia rostkoviana 103 Asplenium scolopendrium 52 Kiaat Pterocarpus angolensis 22
157, 174 False saguaro cactus Heart leaf fern Hemionitis arifolia 53 King protea Protea cynaroides 67
Cuipo Cavanillesia platanifolia 25 Heart of palm Bactris gasipaes 160 Kiwi Actinidia deliciosa 134
Cumin Cuminum cyminum 166 Pachycereus pringlei 93 Helosis Helosis cayennensis 102 Kohlrabi Brassica oleracea 161
Curly parsley Petroselinum crispum Fanwort Cabomba aquatica 84 Hemlock Conium maculatum 100 Korean fir Abies koreana 61
Fava beans Vicia faba 154 Hemp Cannabis sativa 171 Korean melon Cucumis melo var.
168 Fawn lily Erythronium revolutum 123 Henna Lawsonia inermis 174
Cushaw pumpkin Fennel Foeniculum vulgare 161 Himalayan blue poppy makuwa 149
Fenugreek Trigonella foenum-graecum Kumquat Citrus japonica 145
Cucurbita argyrosperma 156 Meconopsis grandis 176
Cycad Cycas revoluta 57 167 Himalayan may apple L–M
Figaro dahlia Dahlia hybrida 10
D Fir clubmoss Huperzia selago 49 Podophyllum hexandrum 105 Laburnum Laburnum anagyroides
Fissidens moss Fissidens fontanus Holly Ilex 32, 37 116–117
Daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus 80 Honey locust
Dahlia Dahlia 36–37 118 Lady’s slipper orchid
Daikon Raphanus sativus 137 Flame vine Pyrostegia venusta 107 Gleditsia triacanthos 34–35 Cypripedioideae 122
Damson Prunus domestica var. Flamingo lily Anthurium 36 Honeydew melon Cucumis
Flat-leaf parsley Lamb’s ear Stachys byzantina 40
insititia 143 melo var. ‘Honey Dew’ 149 Large duck orchid
Dancing ladies orchid Petroselinum crispum 168 Horned melon
Flowering rush Butomus umbellatus Caleana major 71
Oncidium 71, 119 Cucumis metuliferus 149
Dandelion Taraxacum officinale 84 Hornwort 185
Forest star moss Mnium hornum 48
24–25, 32, 136 Forget-me-not Myosotis alpestris 104 Ceratophyllum demersum 84
Darth Vader plant Aristolochia Four-leaved pink sorrel Horse chestnut

salvadorensis 70 Oxalis tetraphylla 35 Aesculus hippocastanum 23,
Date Phoenix dactylifera 143 35
Dead horse arum Hosta Hosta fortunei var.
hyacinthina 122
Helicodiceros muscivorus 83 Hot lips Psychotria elata 71
Deodar cedar Cedrus deodara 58 Hubbard squash Cucurbita
maxima 157
Hyacinth Hyacinthus 81
Iceberg rose Rosa
‘Schneewittchen’ 75
Indian pipe Monotropa uniflora 70

Large-flowered trillium Meadow horsetail P–R Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria
Trillium grandiflorum 123 Equisetum pretense 48–49 87
Pampas grass Cortaderia selloana
Lavender Lavandula angustifolia Mediterranean cypress 129 Purple pussypaws
175, 177 Cupressus sempervirens 110 Cistanthe umbellata 96–97
Papaya Carica papaya 146
Lebanon cedar Cedrus libani 59 Mexican fire barrel Parrot flower Impatiens psittacina Queen of the Andes Puya raimondii
Leek Allium ampeloprasum 80–81, 160 Ferocactus pilosus 93 28
Lemon Citrus limon 145 70
Lentil Lens culinaris 23, 154 Milk thistle Silybum marianum 25 Parrot’s feather Queen of the Night Epiphyllum
Lettuce Lactuca sativa 152 Mint Mentha 26, 169 oxypetalum 91
Lily of the valley Convallaria majalis Mistletoe Viscum album 102 Myriophyllum aquaticum 85
Mock orange Philadelphus coronarius Parsnip Pastinaca sativa 136 Queen Victoria agave
100 Passion flower Passiflora helleri 41 Agave victoria-reginae 95
Lima bean Phaseolus lunatus 154–155 116 Passion fruit Passiflora edulis 146
Lingonberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea 138 Pattypan squash Cucurbita pepo 157 Radicchio Cichorium intybus 152, 165
Little bluestem Monk’s hood cactus Pea Pisum sativum 155, 179 Radish Raphanus raphanistrum 137
Astrophytum ornatum 90–91 Peach Prunus persica 22, 142 Rainbow chard Beta vulgaris var.
Schizachyrium scoparium 10 Peanut Arachis hypogaea 151
Living stone Lithops helmutii 95 Monkey puzzle tree Pear Pyrus communis 135 vulgaris 152–153
Llareta Azorella compacta 94 Araucaria araucana 60 Pearl millet Pennisetum glaucum 131 Rainbow eucalyptus
Lodgepole pine Pinus contorta 11, 60 Pecan Carya illinoinensis 151
Long strap fern Moth orchid Phalaenopsis 78 Persian cornflower Eucalyptus deglupta 112–113
Mother of thousands Rambutan Nephelium lappaceum
Campyloneurum phyllitidis 119 Centaurea dealbata 77
Long-petaled lewisia Kalanchoe daigremontiana 26 Persimmon Diospyros 112, 146 146–147
Petunia Petunia cultivars 37 Raspberry Rubus idaeus 138
Lewisia longipetala 105 Mountain buttercup Pincushion moss Red cabbage Brassica oleracea 153
Lotus Nelumbo nucifera 24, 136, 177 Ranunculus montanus 105 Red cross orchid Epidendrum
Love in a puff Leucobryum glaucum 123
Mulberry Morus 138 Pine Pinus 113 radicans 78
Cardiospermum halicacabum 22 Mung beans Vigna radiata 155 Pine nut Pinus gerardiana 151 Red currant Ribes rubrum 138
Luffa Luffa acutangula 157 Munstead wood Rosa ‘Munstead Pineapple Ananas comosus 146 Red disa Disa uniflora 79
Lupine Lupinus 11, 34 Pineapple lily Eucomis bicolor 82 Red hot poker Kniphofia uvaria 67
Lychee Litchi chinensis 147 Wood’ 74 Pineapple zamia Macrozamia lucida Red powderpuff
Macadamia
Musk rose Rosa moschata 75 61 Calliandra haematocephala 66
Macadamia integrifolia 150 Mustard Brassica 167 Pink quill Tillandsia cyanea 67 Resurrection plant
Magnolia Magnolia 117 Mutisia Mutisia 77 Pink wood sorrel Oxalis debilis 80
Male fern Dryopteris filix-mas 50–51, Pistachio Pistacia vera 150 Selaginella lepidophylla 94
N–O Pitch pine Pinus rigida 61 Rhubarb Rheum rhabarbarum 135, 160
52 Plum Prunus domestica 142 Rice Oryza sativa 130–131, 132–133
Manchineel Naked man orchid Orchis italica 70 Pomegranate Punica granatum 22 Rosa Mundi Rosa officinalis
Nasturtium Tropaeolum 32 Pomelo Citrus maxima 35, 144, 165
Hippomane mancinella 101 Necklace orchid Pong pong Cerbera odollam 101 ‘Versicolor’ 75
Manchurian striped maple Poppy Papaver 22, 28–29, 67 Rosary pea Abrus precatorius 100
Pholidota imbricata 119 Pot marigold Calendula officinalis 22 Rose Rosa 37, 41
Acer tegmentosum 112 Potato Solanum tuberosum 137 Rose Rosa hybrida 177
Mango Mangifera indica 142 Nectarine Prunus persica 143 Powdery strap airplant Rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacus 176
Mangosteen Neon broom cactus Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis 169
Catopsis berteroniana 98 Rough horsetail Equisetum hyemale
Garcinia mangostana 147 Arrojadoa penicillata 93 Prayer plant Calathea 37
Maple Acer 31, 176 Prickly pear Opuntia 91, 92–93 87
Marsh clubmoss Nerine Nerine bowdenii 80 Primrose Primula vulgaris 66 Royal poinciana Delonix regia 116
Nordmann fir Abies nordmanniana Prostrate speedwell Rubber Hevea brasiliensis 171
Lycopodiella inundata 48 Rubber tree Ficus elastica 18–19
Marsh marigold Caltha palustris 111 Veronica prostrata 105 Runner bean Phaseolus coccineus
Pumpkin Cucurbita pepo 156,
69, 86 Norway maple Acer platanoides 154
Maui-island aster 25, 108–109 158–159 Rutabaga Brassica napobrassica 137
Rye Secale cereale 131
Hesperomannia arbuscula 76 Norway spruce Picea abies 61
186 Meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis Nun orchid Phaius tankervilleae 79
Nutmeg Myristica fragrans 167
126 Oat Avena sativa 130
Oca Oxalis tuberosa 137
Old man cactus Cephalocereus senilis

93

Old man of the Andes
Oreocereus leucotrichus 11

Oleander Nerium oleander 101
Olive Olea europaea 142–143
Oncidium Oncidium croesus 78
Onion Allium cepa 160
Orange Citrus sinensis 144
Oregano Origanum vulgare

168

Organ pipe cactus
Stenocereus thurberi 92

Oriental fountain grass
Pennisetum orientale 129

Orthotrichum moss
Orthotrichum anomalum 119

Ostrich fern Matteuccia struthiopteris
52–53

Outeniqua yellowwood
Afrocarpus falcatus 60

Overnight scentsation
Rosa ‘Overnight scentsation’ 60

S–T Sphagnum Sphagnum 49 Plant index
Spider plant Chlorophytum comosum
Sacred fir Abies religiosa 58 Thai basil Ocimum basilicum 169 Watercress Nasturtium officinale 153
Saffron Crocus sativus 167 27–28 Thistle Cirsium 40 Watermelon Citrullus lanatus 148
Sage Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’ Spinach Spinacia oleracea 153 Thurber’s stemsucker Waterwheel plant
Spotted fritillary
168–169 Pilostyles thurberi 102 Aldrovanda vesiculosa 98
Saguaro Carnegiea gigantea 69, 91, 92 Fritillaria atropurpurea 105 Thyme Thymus vulgaris 168 Wax plant Hoya 66
Samphire Salicornia europaea 161 Squill Hyacinthoides non-scripta 122 Tibetan cherry Prunus serrula 113 Welwitschia Welwitschia mirabilis 57
Sandalwood Santalum album 174 Staghorn fern Tiger lily Lilium tigrinum 64–65 Wheat Triticum 33, 130
Santa Claus melon Cucumis melo Tigger melon Cucumis melo 148 Whistling thorn acacia
Platycerium superbum 118–119 Tillandsia air plant
‘Santa Claus’ 149 Stanhopea Stanhopea wardii 79 Vachellia drepanolobium 41
Satsuki azalea Rhododendron Star anise Illicium verum 167 Tillandsia 118 White baneberry
Star fruit Averrhoa carambola 146 Titan arum
indicum 124–125 Star jasmine Actaea pachypoda 100–101
Savoy cabbage Brassica oleracea Amorphophallus titanum 83 White clover Trifolium repens 35
Trachelospermum jasminoides 106 Tomato Solanum lycopersicum 135 White egret flower
var. sabauda 152 Star moss Tortula ruralis 10 Treasure flower Gazania rigens 76
Scots pine Pinus sylvestris 124 Stiff clubmoss Tromboncino Cucurbita moschata Pecteilis radiata 71
Sensitive plant Mimosa pudica 34 White poplar Populus alba 113
Serpentine sugarbush Lycopodium annotinum 10 157 White skunk cabbage
Stifftia Stifftia chrysantha 76 Tropical pitcher plant Nepenthes x
Protea curvata 104 Stinging nettle Urtica dioica 41 Lysichiton camtschatcensis 87
Sesame Sesamum indicum 166 Stinking iris Iris foetidissima 83 red leopard 98–99 White snakeroot
Shea Vitellaria paradoxa 175 Stinking toe Hymenaea courbaril 34 Trumpet pitcher plant
Siberian dwarf pine Pinus pumila 58 Strangler fig Ficus religiosa 120-121 Ageratina altissima 100
Silk floss Ceiba speciosa 112 Strawberry Fragaria 21, 27, 134, 139 Sarracenia 99 Whorl flower Ainsliaea 76
Silver birch Betula pendula 33 Sugar maple Acer saccharum 32, 110 Tulip Tulipa 36, 81 Wild desert gourd
Silver fern Cyathea dealbata 35 Sugar pine Pinus lambertiana 59, 61 Turkish hazelnut Corylus colurna
Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis 59 Sugarcane Saccharum officinarum Citrullus colocynthis 95
Slipper orchid Paphiopedilum 79 150–151 Wild garlic Allium ursinum 122
Sloe Prunus spinosa 143 16, 130 Turmeric Curcuma longa 166–167 Winged beans
Smooth hornwort Phaeoceros laevis Sun pitcher plant Heliamphora Turnip Brassica rapa subsp. rapa 136
Twisted moss Tortula ruralis 48 Psophocarpus tetragonolobus 154
10 heterodoxa x minor 99 Wisteria Wisteria 106
Snapdragon Antirrhinum majus 70 Sun rose Cistus x argenteus U–V Wolfsbane Aconitum napellus 101
Snow pea Pisum sativum var. Wollemi pine Wollemia nobilis 60
‘Peggy Sammons’ 17 Umbrella grass Cyperus alternifolius Wood anemone
saccharatum 11, 155 Sunblest rose Rosa ‘landora’ 74 85
Snowy woodrush Luzula nivea 127 Sundew Drosera capensis 99 Anemone nemorosa 123
Soft rush Juncus effusus 87 Sunflower Helianthus 22, 38–39, 77 Valerian Valeriana officinalis 83 Yew Taxus baccata 101
Soft shield fern Polystichum setiferum Swamp rose mallow Vanda Vanda 79 Ylang-ylang Cananga odorata 174
Vanda orchid Vanda Gaud 11 Yubari King melon Cucumis melo
52 Hibiscus moscheutos 86 Vanilla Vanilla 167
Soft tree fern Dicksonia antarctica Sweet chestnut Castanea sativa 151 Velvet feather-moss ‘Yubari King’ 149
Sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus 67 Zululand cycad
11, 52 Sweet potato Ipomoea batatas 27 Brachythecium velutinum 49
Sorghum Sorghum bicolor 130 Sweet vernal grass Venus flytrap Dionaea muscipula 98 Encephalartos ferox 60
Soybeans Glycine max 155 Virginia creeper Zygopetalum Zygopetalum 78
Spangle grass Anthoxanthum odoratum 126–127
Swiss cheese plant Parthenocissus quinquefolia 107
Chasmanthium latifolium 128–129 Virginia waterleaf
Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides Monstera deliciosa 32
Sword fern Nephrolepis exaltata 123 Hydrophyllum virginianum 36
118 Tamarack larch Larix laricina 59
Tamarind Tamarindus indica 34
Taro Colocasia esculenta 137
Tea Camellia sinensis 40, 177
Teosinte Zea mays parviglumis 164
Tepary beans

Phaseolus acutifolius 155
Tephrocactus

Tephrocactus aoracanthus 93

W–Z 187

Wasabi Eutrema japonicum 167
Water chestnut Eleocharis dulcis 161
Water hawthorn

Aponogeton distachyos 85
Water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes

84

Water lettuce Pistia stratiotes 85
Water lily Nymphaea 84
Water spearmint Mentha cervina 87

Index Index

A B C coco de mer 22, 23
coconut palm 25, 111, 150,
acorns 25, 150 bamboo 26, 27, 128, cabbage 134, 152, 153
aerial roots 15, 19 129, 161 cacti 11, 90–91, 151, 170–171
African moringa 95 Compendium on Simple
agave 36, 40, 41, 94, 95 banana 134 92–93, 102
algae 12 barley 22, 131 cactus mistletoe Medicaments and Food 178
almond 142, 143, 150, 151 barrel cactus 91, 92 compound leaves 34–35
aloe vera 175 baseball plant 95 102, 103 cones 56–57, 58–59, 60–61
alpine pink 104, 105 bats 68–69 California, US conifers 54–55, 109, 110,
alpines 104–105 beans 154–155
Amaryllis 80, 81 beauty products 165, 114–115 114–115
Amazonian water lily 32, 33 camel thorn 40, 41, 94, 95 cones 56–57, 60–61
American sycamore 113 174–175 Canada 176, 177 pine family 58–59
ancient plants 48–49 bee orchid 70, 71 candelabra primrose 87 Contributions in Phytogenesis
bees 65, 68, 71 canopy, rain forest 119 179
see also ferns; mosses beet 136 capsules 47 corals 12
Andes, South America 28 Belize 88–89 cardoon 160, 161 Cordus, Valerius 178
angel wing 36, 37 belladonna 100 Caribbean Sea 88–89 coriander 22, 23, 168
angiosperms 11 Bhutan 176, 177 carnivorous plants 98–99 cork oak 171
animals bioplastics 179 carrion plant 82, 83 corkscrew hazel 17
bird-of-paradise 66, 67 carrot 134, 136, 137 corms 136
defenses against 40 birds 68–69 Cascade Range, California corn 131, 164, 179
for seed spreading 24, 25 bird’s nest fern 119 corpse lily 103
grazing 43, 126 blackthorn 116, 117 114–115 cosmetics 165, 174–175
ant fern 40, 53 bladderwort 99 cashew 151 cotton 171
aphids 17 blades 30, 127 cassava 137 crab apple 124
apple 30–31, 116, 117, blossoms 72–73, castor oil plant 101 cranberry 138
124, 135 cattail 86, 87 creeping plants 16, 106–107
aquatic plants 84–85 116–117 cedars 58–59, 61 crimson glory rose 75
argan 175 blue fescue 128, 129 celeriac 160 crops 128, 131, 136, 154,
arrowhead plants 136 blue spruce 59 century plant 94, 95 164–165
arum lily 67 bonsai trees 124–125 cereal plants 130–131 crown imperial plant 82, 83
asparagus 135, 160 Borlaug, Norman 179 Charentais melon 148, 149 cucumber 13, 22, 148, 157,
Atacama Desert, Chile borlotti bean 155 cherry tree 72–73, 113, 117, 174
96–97 botanical gardens 178 cuipo 25
Australia 176 botany 178–179 142 culinary nut 150–151
Australian Christmas tree bougainvillea 106 chestnut 151 cycada 57
102, 103 bracts 67 chickpea 154 cypress 110
Austrian pine 56 Bradford pear 82, 83 chicory 77
avocado 22 Brazil 176 Chile 96–97, 177 D
bridges 18–19 chile pepper 166, 167
bristlecone pine 58 China 177 daffodil 80, 81
broadleaf stonecrop 104, China rose 11, 74 dahlia 36, 37
Chinese bayberry 138, 139 daikon 136, 137
105 Chinese elm 125 daisies 10, 76–77
Brussels sprout 152, Chinese juniper 125 dancing ladies orchid 70, 71
Chinese redbud 116, 117 dandelion 24, 25, 32, 136,
153 chlorophyll 12, 31, 43
Buddha’s hand 144, Christmas cactus 93 137
citron 144, 145 date 142, 143
145 citrus fruits 144–145 dead horse arum 83
buds 28, 29, 108 clematis 106, 107
bulbs 80–81, 160–161 climbing plants 16, 91,
burdock 14–15, 24, 25
butter and eggs 103 106–107
butterflies 41, 68, 69, 79 clothing fibers 165
butternut squash 157 cloudberry 138, 139
butterwort 99 clubmoss 47, 48, 49
buttress roots 15 coast redwood 112, 114–115
cobweb house-leek 104, 105
cocoa bean 175

deciduous trees 59, 109, fissidens moss 118 H jasmine 106, 176
110, 111 flakes 91 jojoba 174, 175
flame vine 107 hairs, root 15 Juliet rose 75
defenses 40–41 flamingo lily 36 hart’s tongue fern 52, juniper 60, 125
bark 112, 113 florets 38–39 Kajari melon 148, 149
poison 40, 81, 95, flowering rushes 84, 85 53 kale 153
100–101, 143 flowers 12, 13, 28–29, haustoria 103 kauri 60, 61
spines 41, 91, 92, 95, 112 hazel 17, kettlewort 48, 49
spots 37 64–65, 80–81 kiaat 22
thorns 40–41, 95, 106 cacti 90 150, 151 king protea 67
coconuts 171 heart leaf kiwi fruit 134
De Materia Medica 178 forms and shapes 66–67, kohlrabi 160, 161
desert plants 91, 92, 94–95, 68, 70–71 fern 53 Korean melon 149
grasses 126 heart of palm 160, 161 kumquat 145
97 imitating other flowers helosis 102, 103
dicots 11, 21 and plants see mimicry hemiparasites 102–103 L
dill 169 national flowers 176–177 hemlock 100
dinosaurs 54–55 scents 68, 69, 82–83 hemp 171 laburnum 116
Dioscorides, Pedanius 178 food storage 21, 80, 136, 160 henna 174, 175 ladybugs 68, 69
diseases 37, 112, 113 forest plants 91, 109, herbs 168–169 Lanzarote, Spain 140–141
dodder 102, 103 122–123 high altitude plants 104–105 larch 58–59, 60–61
dog rose 74, 75 rain forest plants 15, 33, Himalayan blue poppy 176, large duck orchid 71
durians 82, 83, 147 93, 109, 119, 172–173 large-flowered trillium 123
dwarf pomegranate 124, 125 see also conifers 177 lateral roots 14, 15
dye 116, 170, 175 fossil 51, 53 Himalayan may apple 105 lavender 174, 175, 177
frangipani 66 Historia Plantarum 178 leaflets 35
E fritillary, spotted 105 holly 36, 37, 111 leaves 13, 14, 21, 30–31,
fronds 50, 52–53 holoparasites 103
echeveria 94 fruits 13, 28, 116, 134–135, honeydew melon 148, 149 171
edible bulbs 81, 160–161 170 honey locust 35 as defenses 41
elderberry 110, 111 citrus 144–145 horned melon 149 grasses 127
elephant grass 129 melons 148–149 hornwort 10, 47, 84, 85 shapes and sizes of
elephant’s ear 33 soft fruits 138–139 horse chestnut 22, 23 32–33, 34–35, 86
embryos 20, 21 stone fruits 142–143 horsetail 47, 49, 54, 87 vegetables 134, 152
English ivy 16, 32, 107 tropical fruits 146–147 Hubbard squash 157 Lebanon cedar 58, 59
English oak 33, 111, 113 fungal diseases 113 hummingbirds 68, 69 leek 81, 160
fungi 12 hyacinth 81 legume 11
acorns 25, 150 hydroponics 149, 178 lemon 145
English walnut 150, 151 G Hyperion (world’s tallest lentil 154
ephemeral plants 96–97, lettuce 152, 153
gac 148, 149 tree) 114–115
123 garlic 122, 123, 161 189
eucalyptus 110, 111, 113, geranium 36 I
germination 20, 21, 22, 25,
175 Ibn al-Baytar 178
European silver fir 59 28 iceberg rose 75
evergreen trees 59, 109, ginger 166, 167 India 18–19, 154, 177
ginkgo 32, 33, 57, 83, 110, indoors, growing
110–111
everlasting pea 106 111 (hydroponics) 149, 178
extinction 51, 79, 173 glory lily 176 inflorescences 66
eyebright 103 glucose 12 Inokashira Park, Japan
goji berry 138
F golden wattle 176 72–73
gorse 41 insects 53, 68–69, 79, 82
false saguaro cactus 92, 93 gourd 148, 156, 157 International Space Station
fanwort 84, 85 grain 130–131
farming 132–133, 165 grapevine 139, 140–141 (ISS) 180–181
fava bean 154, 155 grasses 10, 126–127, iris 26, 81, 83
fennel 161
ferns 11, 46, 50–51, 52–53, 128–129, 130–131 J–K
grassland plants 91, 127
54–55, 123 groundnut 151 Jackal food plants 82, 83
living on other plants guava 146, 147 jackfruit 146
118–119 gymnosperms 11, 46 Jamaican tangelo 145
Fibonacci sequence 39 Japan 72–73, 117, 125,
fiddleheads 50
fig 111, 120–121, 135 176
fir 58–59, 60–61, 110–111 Japanese painted fern

53

miniature trees (bonsai) papaya 146, 147 Q
124–125 paper 165
mint 26, 169 parasitic plants 102–103
mistletoe 102 queen of the Andes 28
parrot flower 70, 71 queen of the night 91
mock orange 116 parrot’s feather 85
monk’s hood cactus 90 parsnip 136 Queen Victoria agave 94, 95

monocots 11, 21 passion flower 41 R
mosses 10, 46–47, 48–49, passion fruit 146
118–119, 122, 123 patterned plants 36–37,
Leuser Ecosystem 172–173 mother of thousands 26, 27 38–39 rachis 51
lewisia, long-petaled 105 moths 68 radial symmetry 39
lichens 12 mountain plants 104–105 pattypan squash 157 radicchio 152, 153
life cycles, plants 28–29 mulberry 138 pea 154–155 rainbow chard 152, 153
lima bean 155 multicolored (variegated) peach 22, 142 rainbow eucalyptus 113
lime 145 peanut 151 rain forest plants 15, 33, 93,
lingonberry 138, 139 plants 36–37 pear 135
Linnaeus, Carl 179 mummification 168 pecan 151 109, 119, 172–173
liverworts 10, 47, 49 musical instruments 165, 170 pepper 167 rambutan 146, 147
living bridges 18–19 mustard 167 perennial plants 28 red hot poker 67
living stone plant 95 Mutusia flower 77 perfume 117, 168, 174 red powderpuff 66
llareta 94, 95 persimmon 146, 147 redwood 112, 115
lodgepole pine 60, 61 N petals 29, 64, 78 reproduction 13, 26–27
long strap fern 119 petioles 30
lotus 177 naked man orchid 70 photosynthesis 12, 31, 181 see also pollination
lumber 165, 170, 173 national flowers 176–177 pineapple 146 resins 113
lupine 34 nectar 64, 65, 69, 98 pine nut 151 resurrection plant 94
lychee 147 nectarine 143 pines 58–59, 60–61, 113 rhizomes 26, 51, 137
lycopods 10 needles 58–59 pink quill 67 rhubarb 86, 87, 160, 161
nerine 80, 81 pinna 50 rice 130, 131, 132–133
M nitrogen 42–43 pistachio 150, 151 ricin 101
nonflowering plants 10, pitcher plant 98, 98–99 rings (tree) 109
magnolia 116, 117 plantlets 27 riverbank plants 86–87
male fern 50–51, 52 46–47 plum 117 roots 13, 14–15, 19, 50, 90,
manchineel 101 see also cones; ferns; pneumatophore roots 15
Manchurian striped maple mosses poisonous plants 40, 81, 95, 127
Nordmann fir 110, 111 epiphytes and parasites
112, 113 Norway maple 108–109 100–101, 143 103, 118–119, 121
mandarin orange 144 nuts 150–151 pollen 60, 64, 78, 79 first 20
mangroves 15, 88–89 pollination 53, 56, 60, 61, 64 underwater 84, 88–89
maple 108–109, 110, 111, O vegetables 134, 136
see also reproduction ropes 170
176, 177 oca 137 pollinators 64, 66, 68–69, rose hips 74, 75
leaves 32, 33 oils 75, 170 rose of Sharon 176
seeds 25 olive 142, 143 70–71, 78, 79 rosemary 168, 169
bats 91, 93 roses 11, 17, 74–75
birds 60, 66, 101
onion 81, 160 insects 53, 68–69, 79,
marigold 22, 23, 86, 87 orange 144
materials, from plants 82
158–159, 165, 170–171 orchids 11, 70–71, 78–79, pomegranate 22
Maui island-aster 76, 77 119 pomelo 35, 144
alpine spotted 104, 105 poppy 22, 28–29, 66, 67
McClintock, Barbara 179 cattleya 79, 176–177 potato 137
meat-eating plants 98–99 oregano 168, 169 prickles 41
medicinal plants 49, 75, 117, organ pipe cactus 92, 93 prickly pear cactus 92,
orthotrichum moss 118, 119
137, 165, 166, 168, 178 Orto Botanico di Padova 178 93
Mediterranean cypress Outeniqua yellowwood 60 primrose 66
ovaries 64, 65 products, from plants
110
melon 148–149 158–159, 165,
Mendel, Gregor 179 170–171
midribs 31 proteins 42–43, 150, 154
milk thistle 25 P pulses 154–155
milkweed, common 41
mimicry pumpkin 148, 156, 157,
for defense 41, 82–83 palms 11, 143 158–159
coconut palm 25, 111,
for pollination 69, 70–71, 150, 151, 170–171 purple loosestrife 87
190 78, 82–83 pampas grass 129 pussypaws 96–97

rubber 171 soil 42–43 thyme 168 water lettuce 85 Index
rubber fig 18–19 sori 51 Tibetan cherry 113 water lily 84, 85
runner bean 154, 155 soybean 155 tiger lily 65 watermelon 148, 149
runners, stem 26 space, plants in 74, 180–181 tigger melon 148, 149 water plants 84–85
rush 127 Spanish moss 118, 119 titan arum 83 water spearmint 87
rutabaga 136 Species Plantarum 179 treasure flower 76, 77 water storage 80, 90,
spices 166–167 trees 19, 108–109, 110–111
S spider plant 27 91, 94
spines 41, 91, 92, 95, 112 bark 112–113 waterweed 85
saffron 167 spores 46, 47, 50, 51, 52, 53 blossoms 72–73, 116–117 waterwheel plant 98
sage 169 sporophyte 47 bonsai trees 124–125 welwitschia 57
saguaro cactus 92 spruce 58–59, 60–61 plants growing on 77, wheat 130, 131
sakura 73 squash 156–157 118–119 White, Gilbert 179
squill 122, 123 tropical fruits 146–147 white baneberry 100, 101
samphire 161 staghorn fern 118, 119 Tualatin Pumpkin Regatta, white egret flower 70, 71
sandalwood 174 stalks, edible 160–161 US 158–159 white poplar 113
Santa Claus melon 149 stamens 64, 67 tubers 27, 137 white skunk cabbage 87
sap 17 star fruit 146, 147 tulip 36, 37, 81 whorl flower 76, 77
satsuki azalea 124 stems 13, 16–17, 26, 90, 92 turmeric 166 wild berries 138
Scalbard Global Seed Bank twining stems 107 wild rose 74
climbers and creepers wind, for seed spreading
179 106–107 V
scales 56, 57 rhizomes 26, 51, 137 25
scents 82–83 vegetables 135, 160–161 vanilla 167 winged bean 154, 155
Schleiden, Matthias Jakob stifftia 76, 77 variegated plants 36–37 wisteria 106, 124
stigmas 64 vegetables 134–135, wolfsbane 100, 101
179 stilt roots 15 wood anemone 122, 123
science, of plants 178–179 stipes 51 136–137, 180–181
seagrass 127 stomata 30 bulbs, stems, and stalks Y–Z
sedge 127 stone fruits 142–143 160–161
seedless plants 26–27 strangler fig 120–121 greens 152–153 yew 101
seedlings 28 strawberry 26, 27, 134, 139 peas and beans 154–155 ylang-ylang 174
seeds 20–21, 28, 64, 150, sugar 12, 31, 42, 171 squashes 156–157 Yubari King melon 149
sugarcane 16, 130, 131 veins 30, 31, 32, 49 Zimbabwe 176
164 sugar maple 110, 111 Venus flytraps 98
conifer 57, 60 sugar pine 58, 59 Vietnam 132–133
fruits 134–135 Sumatra, Indonesia vines 106–107, 139, 148, 156
shapes 22–23 172–173 vineyards 140–141
spreading of 24–25 sunblest rose 74, 75 Virginia creeper 106–107
sensitive plant 34, 35 sundew 99 Virginia waterleaf 37
sepals 78 sunflower 22, 23, 38–39, 77 vitamins 75, 134, 138, 144,
shea nut 175 sun rose 17 156
“short-lived” plants 96–97 sweet potato 26, 27 volcanic ash 140–141
silk floss 112 sweet vernal grass 126–127
silver birch 33 Swiss cheese plant 32, 33 W
simple leaves 32–33 symmetrical patterns 38–39
sitka spruce 59 water, coconut 170
sloe 143 T water, for seed spreading 25
snap traps 98 water hyacinth 84, 85
snowberry 87 tamarack larch 59
snow pea 155 tamarinds 34, 35
soft fruits 138–139 taproot 14
soft rushes 87 taro plant 136, 137
tea 40, 41, 137, 169, 177
tendrils 12, 107
teosinte 164
tepary bean plant 155
Thailand 71, 121
Theophrastus 178
thorns 40–41, 95, 106
Thurber’s stemsucker

102, 103

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Kongkiatpaiboon 131bl, Koosen 22ca (Sunflower seeds), Vita Alexfiodorov 21crb (Bean), Alessio Cola / Alexpacha 139crb, Heinemann 138cl, De Agostini Picture Library 103tl, DEA /
Kosova 143r, Magone 138c, Maksym Narodenko 135ca, 138cb, Anne Amphlett 11br, Nadezhda Andriyakhina 136ca, Arkadyr ARCHIVIO B / De Agostini 52crb (Spores), DigitalVision /
Noppharat Manakul 154tl, Angel Luis Simon Martin 142crb 26ca, Atman 35cra, 161r, Aurinko 130bc, Natalia Bachkova Tony Anderson 20cra, Clay Perry / Corbis Documentary
(Green Almonds), Andrey Milkin 131r, Pusit nimnakorn 149tr, 29cl, Banprik 147clb, Barmalini 94–95c, 154tr, Beatricesirinun 74–75bc, Pankaj Upadhyay / EyeEm 112–113c, FlowerPhotos /
olegdudko 134ca (Kiwi), PaylessImages 149cr, Puripat penpun 71cb, Barbro Bergfeldt 167cl (Vanilla), Kateryna Bibro 137cr, UIG 29bl, Shem Compion / Gallo Images 151c, Joel Sartore /
57tc, pierivb 127crb, Teera Pittayanurak 170bc (Coconut tree), 149clb, Harald Biebel 117ca, Vladimir Blinov 128ca, Stephan National Geographic Image Collection 87cra, André De Kesel
D rebha 166crb, rook76 176cla, Natalie Ruffing 111c, David Bock 137c, Bombaert 41br, Pichest Boonpanchua 149clb 99cra, Konrad Wothe / Nature Picture Library 23cb, Lindeblad,
Schliepp 22cla, Alfio Scisetti 76cla, SHS PHOTOGRAPHY (Korean melon), 156ca, Alena Brozova 134ca, Charles Brutlag Matilda 36clb, 190br, Maximilian Stock Ltd. / Photographer’s
109br, Andrey Shupilo 17br, Genadijs Stirans 151cl, 21crb (Seed), Marc Bruxelle 32cr, 74tr, 124cb, Leonello Calvetti Choice 154cla, Mint Images - Art Wolfe 162–163, Mint Images
Phadungsak Suphorn 131cl, Nanthawan Suwanthong 6br, 169tl, 42–43c, Chernetskaya 22cl, Yutthana Choradet 161clb, - Paul Edmondson 123cla, I love Photo and Apple / Moment
Dmitriy Syechin 113tr, Poramet Thathong 149ca, Oksana Mohammed Anwarul Kabir Choudhury 166cl (Sesame), 174ca, 70clb, Jordan Lye / Moment 8–9, Moment / Callahan Galleries
Tkachuk 101cra, utima 135tr, Phong Giap Van 151cb, Bjoern Su Chun 67tr, Sharon Cobo 7tr, 125crb, Countrymama 148cra, 58l, Pavel Gospodinov / Moment 179br, Zen Rial / Moment
Wylezich 149crb, Svetlana Yefimkina 37crb, Yurakp 139cl Cpaulfell 41ca, Cynoclub 85cl, Jolanta Dabrowska 116tr, 166c, 129crb, Navdeep Soni Photography 174tr, Andrey Nekrasov
(Strawberries), Иван Ульяновский 10cra (Clubmoss), 47cr 186tl, Denira777 145tl, 161tl, Dewins 32clb, Dianazh 175tr, 85br, Micha Pawlitzki / Photodisc 78tr, Ed Reschke /
(Clubmoss); Alamy Stock Photo: RosaIreneBetancourt 7 60cr, Digitalimagined 35c, 48br, 49c, 60crb, Cristina Dini 174crb, Photolibrary 110tr, Piotr Naskrecki / Minden Pictures 102cb,
AB Historic 179cb, Afripics 22cb, All Canada Photos 70cra, Anton Ignatenco / Dionisvera 150cl, Le Thuy Do 116clb, Stephen Dalton / Minden Pictures 25tl, 68cb, REDA&CO /
122c, Archive PL 48cb, Arco Images GmbH 25tr, 101tr, Arterra 148–149tc, Dohnal 130br, 131br, Draftmode 23cl, 134cr Universal Images Group Editorial 106clb, James Morgan /
Picture Library 6tr, 25ca, 104ca, Bill Lea / Dembinsky Photo (Banana), 146tl, 157cl, Reza Ebrahimi 57crb, Ed8563 59ca robertharding 160cla, Paul Starosta 75tr, Manuel Sulzer 77ca,
Associates 123r, Bruce Montagne / Dembinsky Photo (Tamarack Trees), Ekays 33r, Emilio100 143tl, 179c, Empire331 Yuri Smityuk\TASS 68tr, Tiler84 111r, TimArbaev 170br
Associates 36crb, Auscape International Pty Ltd 60cl, Avalon / 12crb, Eyeblink 15tc, Ama F 107bl, Fibobjects 77br, Sergii (Latex), Universal Images Group / Auscape 95tl, David Lees /
Photoshot License 24bl, 58c, 107c, Steven Bade 161tc, Robert Koval / Fomaa 136bl, Gaja 16–17cla, Natalia Garmasheva 48ca, Corbis / VCG 178cb, Visuals Unlimited / Dr. Ken Wagner 41cl,
Biedermann 87c, Biosphoto 100–101t, 102clb, Blickwinkel 48cr, Patrick Gosling 122cla, Gow927 170–171c, Antonio Gravante Visuals Unlimited / Henry Robison 10cra, Buddhika
49crb, 53tl, 75cb, 79crb, 87br, 185tl, Joe Blossom 69cla, 106tl, 171crb (Wine cork), Richard Griffin 80cra, David Hayes Weerasinghe 167clb, Woraput / E+ 125tc; https://www.
Sebastien Bonaime 5bc, 116cb, 186–187b, Mark Boulton 111tc, 69crb, Artem Honchariuk 130c, Zeng Hu 11bl, Boonchuay flickr.com/photos/heinerc/: 71cr; iStockphoto.com:
Buiten-Beeld 15cb (Kapok Tree), Nigel Cattlin 20–21b, 28cb, Iamsumang 174cb, Andrii Iarygin 13, Anton Ignatenco 150cla, abriendomundo 96–97, Tamonwan Amornpornhaemahiran
47crb, 87cr, 127cb, Robert Clare 102tl, Jim Clark 122cr, Mark Artem Illarionov 22c (Peach stone), Imagoinsulae 59clb, Irabel8 107tr, anatchant 146c, Anna39 61tl, AntiMartina 122br, asiafoto
Collinson 41bl, Collpicto 52ca, Connection One 118clb, Rob 32cla, Irinaroibu 151crb, Irochka 77cla, Roman Ivaschenko 69c, Balky79 61cr, Ballycroy 122bc, Baramyou0708 118tl,
Crandall 104c, 184bl, Custom Life Science Images 41cra, 77bc, Wasana Jaigunta 128bc, 147cr, Janecat11 35clb, Jfanchin Chengyuzheng 155cl (Mung bean), 161cl, Creativeye99 150crb,
Jolanta Dąbrowska 49bl, 131l, Ethan Daniels 25cl, Universal 34crb, Jianghongyan 139cl, 147c, Justas Jaru?evi?ius / Jjustas 151cr, 154cr, cristaltran 132–133, Dafinchi 104–105bc,
Images Group North America LLC / DeAgostini 27tl, 92c, 22clb, Johannesk 118cb, Ang Wee Heng John | 12cb, Damocean 88–89, design56 146crb, 191cla, DigiTrees 116ca,
128cra, Danita Delimont 91cra, Douglas Peebles Photography Joophoek 176crb, Jpldesigns 32–33t, Numpon Jumroonsiri 116cl, DmitriyKazitsyn 109cb, DrPAS 117tc, Cislander / E+
91crb, Joel Douillet 75tc, 185cr, Stuart Fawbert 53cb, Florapix 24cl (Lotus seeds), Karelgallas 95br, Katerina Kovaleva / 157c, E+ / ranasu 16br, Eloi_Omella 140–141, Elpy 22ca,
60clb, 78clb, Flowers and Gardens by Jan Smith Photography Kkovaleva 148cr, Kav777 109clb (Tree), Kazakovmaksim 32ca, emer1940 100crb, Enviromantic 166r, Eyepark 119tr,
113cb, Shawn Hempel - Food 131ca, Frans Lanting Studio Kenishirotie 134cr, Kenmind76 135tl (pear), Khunaspix 171c, fcafotodigital / E+ 160c, Floortje 160cr, fotogaby / E+ 62–63,
119tl, Stephen French 137tr, Tim Gainey 86br, Bob Gibbons Liliia Khuzhakhmetova 171br, Kianlin 137ca, Sharon Kingston Griffin24 82–83c, joloei 147tr, Kynny 117br, lindarocks 107ca,
59r, 60clb (Outeniqua Yellowwood), 102cb (Ivy Broomrape ), 26crb, Klickmr 166cl, Sergey Kolesnikov 145cl, Kooslin 171cr lnzyx 112cb, lovelyday12 118r, malerapaso 67crb, Masuti 130l,
105tl, James Hackland 83r, Peter J. Hatcher 25crb, Urs (Hemp rope), Kostiuchenko 29tl, 29tl (flower), 29tl (poppy), Mickey_55 176c, Mikespics 23tl, milanfoto 152cra, Natefeldman
Hauenstein 79tc, David Hayes 78cla, Hemis 171crb, Heritage Tetiana Kovalenko 104l, 175tl, Lev Kropotov 111cb, 175clb, 155tc, Ninell_Art 82bc, Only_Fabrizio 142clb, PicturePartners
Image Partnership Ltd 178bl, HHelene 43bc, Historic Images Anna Kucherova 136cr, Tamara Kulikova 117cb, 138crb, 157clb, Pittapitta 174l, Ploychan 93ca, Portogas-D-Ace 147l,
179bl, Thomas Kyhn Rovsing Hjørnet 87bl, Friedrich von Wipark Kulnirandorn 106crb, Kurapy11 151tr, Andrey Rvimages 131bc, Sieboldianus 93r, 111tl, Sunnybeach 142cl,
Hörsten 79cb, D. Hurst 179cra, Rachel Husband 138ca, Kurguzov 145clb, Denys Kurylow 58cb, 109cb (Evergreen Tacojim 123bl, tiler84 11cb, Toktak_Kondesign 40cr,
imageBROKER 28bc, 59c, 68cla, 79c, 93c, 105tc, 110cb, Tree), Yauheni Labanau 7tc, 94cla, Kateryna Larina 107tl, UrosPoteko 155clb, Wushoung Wang 27clb, zlikovec 109crb; ©
120–121, imageBROKER / Guenter Fischer 71l, Johner Images Muriel Lasure 43cb, Robert Lerich 148cla, Lesichkadesign Jeremy Rolfe (CC BY): 80ca; Jonas Dupuich/Bonsai
81crb, Kyselova Inna 153c, Interfoto 167c, blickwinkel / Jagel 109clb (Leaf), 154bc, Sergei Levashov 30–31c, Lightzoom 157tl Tonight: 124c; Farhad Karami: 21br; James Kuether:
60cb, 100c, Juniors Bildarchiv GmbH 105cr, Steven J. (Brush), Liligraphie 153tl, Lirtlon 178crb, Luckyphotographer 54–55; Mary Evans Picture Library: Library of Congress
Kazlowski 92clb, Tamara Kulikova 36cla, Andrii Kutsenko 91tr, Ludoriri 116crb, Thomas Lukassek 86b, Natthapon M 124clb; Jim Mercer: 93cb; Susan Middleton: Photo by D.
176cb (Hibiscus), Hervé Lenain 113c, Shih-Hao Liao 117cla, 171clb, Robyn Mackenzie 66tc, Mahira 142crb (Almond), Liittschwager and S. Middleton, © 2000 76cb; Monterey Bay
Pete Oxford / Nature Picture Library 18–19, Steve 166ca, Goncharuk Maksym 144clb (Red blood orange), Nursery: Luen Miller 52cb (Carrot Fern); NASA: Kennedy
Gschmeissner / Science Photo Library 42bc, Margery Maskell Maocheng 157crb, Sarah Marchant 148ca, Massman 135br, Space Center 180–181, Marshall Space Flight Center 74cb;
46–47bc, mauritius images GmbH 82bl, 108–109t, 117cr, Buddy Josip Matanovic 94cb, Vivian Mcaleavey 152cla, Nicola National Geographic Creative: Michael Nichols 114–115;
Mays 152bl, MCLA Collection 170bc, McPhoto / Diez 156cla, Messana 92cla, Microstock77 171cra, Barbara Delgado-millea naturepl.com: Miles Barton 83cl, Simon Colmer 94ca, Adrian
Melba Photo Agency 26cla, MNS Photo 166cla, Jerome 5bl, 144clb, Miraswonderland 34clb, Maksim Mironov 102cr, Davies 34cla, 98cla, Chris Mattison 82br, 118c, MYN / Marko
Moreaux 166cb, Hilary Morgan 178c, Robert Murray 81cb, Elena Moiseeva 154cl, Graham Monamy 99bc, Tanakorn Masterl 100cla, Niall Benvie / MYN 4br, 53bl, Colin Varndell
Irina Naoumova 59ca, Jatesada Natayo 78c, National Moolsarn 171tr, Ruud Morijn 129cr, Msnobody 108ca, Tatiana 48cl; pflanzio.com: 53cla; Photo by Bryan Laughland: 61tr;
Geographic Image Collection 15ca, 119ca, Natural Visions Muslimova 142clb (Mango), N Van D / Nataliavand 29r, Natika PhytoImages: Dr. Daniel L. Nickrent 102crb; Rex by
123bc, Nature Photographers Ltd 70bc, Nature Photographers 134clb, David Cabrera Navarro 166c (Tahini), Nbvf 152c, Neirfy Shutterstock: imageBROKER 93cla, Jspix / imageBROKER
Ltd / Paul R. Sterry 113clb, blickwinkel / McPHOTO / NBT 28br, Pedro Turrini Neto 22c, Nevinates 135clb, 146c 70crb, Frederik / imageBROKER / Shutterstock 110ca;
61c, Neftali 177tr, SK Hasan Ali / Alamy Live News 157tl, Dean (Persimmon), Niceregionpics 146clb, Natthawut Nungensanthia Science Photo Library: Dr Keith Wheeler 15cb, Dr Morley
Nixon 41bc, NPS Photo 105tr, Jose Okolo 105crb, Onehundred 130cb (Sorghum), Omidiii 142tr, Tatsuya Otsuka 116cla, Read 44–45, Eye Of Science 40ca, Michael P. Gadomski 59tc,
Percent 81bl, George Ostertag 11ca, 103tc, 112crb, 113ca, Ovydyborets 35crb, 171cr, Palex66 145tr, Nipaporn Karl Gaff 49cb, Bob Gibbons 58cr, Steve Gschmeissner 28cb
Panther Media GmbH 76bc, 87bc, Picture Partners 101c, Panyacharoen 175cb (Aloe vera), Bidouze St phane 109crb (Poppy seedling), M P Land 95tc, Cordelia Molloy 69clb, John
Stefano Paterna 101cr, James Peake 71br, Thomas David (Rainforest), Photographieundmehr 138cla, 168cl, 169br, Serrao 61clb, Nigel Cattlin / Science Source 47cra, Merlin D.
Pinzer 78crb, Premium Stock Photography GmbH 117c, Steve Photographyfirm 160cb, Anna Kucherova / Photomaru 169c, Tuttle 69tr; Jenn Sinasac: https: // www.flickr.com / photos
Pridgeon 102c, Reda & Co Srl 52cb, Ian Redding 161cb, George Pikkystock 66crb, Pinkomelet 33cb, Chanwit Pinpart 94c, / jennsinasac 25cr (Used Thrice on the spread); Rituraj Singh:
Reszeter 25cb, RF Company 129bl, robertharding / Jack Pipa100 57tr, 137cb (Oca), 145crb, 149cl, 153cr, 156cra, 190tl, 176cra; SuperStock: Age Fotostock K22-216517 47cr,
Jackson 164–165b, RZAF_Images 40c, Kjell Sandved 176ca, Pixbox77 171tc, Pixelife 25clb, Planctonvideo 127cra, Andrii Biosphoto 27r, 85c, 112ca, Eye Ubiquitous 14–15c, J M Barres
David Sewell 24tl, shapencolour 95cb, Shoot Froot 142crb, Pohranychnyi 175cb, Olga Popova 49cla, Saran Poroong 38–39, / age fotostock 58crb, Juniors 84cr; Wellcome Collection
Ppy2010ha 136cla, Anastasiia Prokofyeva 21crb (Dicot), http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/: Science
Artaporn Puthikampol 66tl, Ra3rn 28ca, Radu Borcoman / Museum, London 49cra
Radukan 49ca, Rbiedermann 33br, 76br, Romasph 136cl, All other images © Dorling Kindersley
rRawlik 107r, Somphop Ruksutakarn 147crb, Sergey Rybin For further information see: www.dkimages.com
48bl, Thongchai Saisanguanwong 177tl, Roman Samokhin