Flora : inside the secret world of plants
(Book)

Foreword by Barbara W. Faust, Director, Smithsonian Gardens.

Includes index and glossary.

"From tiny mosses and delicate ferns to vibrant blooms and stately palms, Flora invites you to explore the plant kingdom from the ground up, and from root to leaf tip. DK's elegant introduction to botany is packed with sumptuous photos and crystal-clear illustrations that explain the mechanics of photosynthesis, why leaves change color, how cacti store water, and how seeds know when to grow. Filled with fascinating stories of how plant roots and leaves communicate with their neighbors and how flowers use color and scent to interact with-- and manipulate-- the creatures around them, Flora is a fresh and engaging introduction to the mysterious inner workings of the plant world."--Amazon.com.

"Explore the intricate inner workings of the plant kingdom-- where seeds become shoots, and flowers become fruits-- with this spectacular introduction to botany and how plants work. Stunning photography and engaging text combine to explain the intimate secrets of both the familiar and exotic, from roses and lilies to rainforest orchids, mangroves, and cacti. Discover how plants in scorching deserts, on frozen mountain peaks, and along coastal shores adapt to the challenging conditions in which they grow. Learn how roots and leaves provide food and energy, and how plants deploy extraordinary strategies to protect their precious resources from animals and insects-- from bristly stems, thorny branches, and sticky resin to chemical messages designed to attract help from other creatures. Chapters on roots, stems and branches, leaves, flowers, and seeds and fruits ensure that every part of the plant is thoroughly explored. Meet plants with leaves that eat meat, flowers that use color and scent to communicate with their pollinators, and trees that withstand hurricanes, as well as seeds and fruits designed to travel phenomenal distances to fertile ground. To complete the picture, there is a detailed catalog of more than 70 significant plant families-- from onions and orchids to tree ferns, horsetails, and club mosses-- together with a full list of all the families in the plant kingdom."--Dust jacket.