"This volume covers all aspects of plant cultivation and migration. The text includes an explanation of plant names and a list of general references on the history of useful plants." -- SciTech Book News"This study in ethno-botany will serve programs in anthropology, history, biology, and agriculture." -- Lawrence Looks at Books, Gale Reference Reviews"The distinguished authors have gathered much valuable information into this book... Each chapter provides many references to the literature... Highly recommended." -- Choice

• Part 1 The Seeds of Time, Ghillean T. Prance; Chapter 1 The Hunter-Gatherers, Ivan Crowe; Chapter 2 Origins and Spread of Agriculture, David R. Harris; Part 2 The Migration of Plants, Ghillean T. Prance; Chapter 3 Gathering Food from the Wild, Andrea Pieroni; Chapter 4 Grains, Mark Nesbitt; Chapter 5 Roots and Tubers, Helen Sanderson; Chapter 6 Fruits, Charles R. Clement; Chapter 7 Herbs and Vegetables, Jane M. Renfrew, Helen Sanderson; Chapter 8 Nuts, Seeds, and Pulses, Georgina Pearman; Chapter 9 Spices, Barbara Pickersgill; Chapter 10 Caffeine, Alcohol, and Sweeteners, Hans T. Beck; Chapter 11 Psychoactive Plants, Richard Rudgley; Chapter 12 Plants as Medicines, Michael Heinrich, Andrea Pieroni, Paul Bremner; Chapter 13 Fragrant Plants, By Sue Minter; Chapter 14 Ornamentals, Peter Barnes; Chapter 15 Natural Fibers and Dyes, Frances A. Wood, George A.F. Roberts; Chapter 16 Wood, Tony Russell; Chapter 17 Materials, Daphne Hakuno; Part 3 Today and Tomorrow, Ghillean T. Prance; Chapter 18 Age of Industrialization and Agro-Industry, Andrew B. Jacobson; Chapter 19 Invasives, Vernon Heywood; Chapter 20 Conservation of Wild Plants, David R. Given, Nigel Maxted; Chapter 21 Conservation of Crop Genetic Resources, Nigel Maxted, David R. Given;