Botanical – serie

Eucalypts, iconic to Australia, have shaped art, science and landscapes worldwide. With around nine hundred species, from towering giants to compact mallees, these trees inspire awe and curiosity. Their hardwood has driven industries, sparked protests and even toppled governments. Their aromatic leaves hold healing properties yet fuel devastating wildfires.This book blends Aboriginal knowledge and Western science to uncover the rich natural history, biology and conservation of eucalypts. It explores their evolution, cultural significance and surprising roles in modern life, offering insights into sustainable ways to coexist with these remarkable trees. Featuring stunning photographs from fifty years of fieldwork, this is the first comprehensive review of Aboriginal eucalypt wisdom, paired with cutting-edge scientific discoveries.

Elegant and beautiful, rich in history and supremely useful, birches have played an extraordinary yet largely unrecognized part in shaping both our natural environment and the material culture and beliefs of millions of people around the world.For thousands of years they have given people of the northern forests and beyond raw materials in the form of leaves, twigs, branches and bark, as well as wood and sap, not simply to survive but to flourish and express their identity in practical and spiritual ways. Tough, waterproof and flexible, birch bark has been used for everything from basketry and clothing to housing and transport, musical instruments and medicines, as well as a means to communicate and record sacred beliefs: some of our most ancient Buddhist texts and other historic documents are written on birch bark. Birches have not only shaped regional cultures – creating, for example, the Native American wigwam and the birch bark canoe – but continue to supply raw materials of global economic importance today. Birch explores the multiple uses of these versatile trees as well as the ancient beliefs and folklore with which they are associated. Richly illustrated, this book presents a fascinating overview of their cultural and ecological significance, from botany to literature and art, as Anna Lewington looks both at the history of birches and what the future may hold in store for them.

Since Antiquity few trees have had a greater impact on the world’s culture and economy than the mulberry. The sole food of the silkworm, the leaves of the mulberry brought prosperity not only to ancient China, but to all nations that learned the art of silk production. Mulberry bark was used to make the first paper and the succulent, blood-red fruit of the Black Mulberry has inspired poets from Ovid to Shakespeare. The medicinal properties of all parts of the tree have been known for millennia, making it a tree of choice for medieval monastery gardens, while its anti-diabetic effects are opening exciting avenues of research today.This sumptuously illustrated book tells the remarkable story of the mulberry tree and its migrations from China and Central Asia to almost every continent of the globe. It will appeal to all who wish to know more of the rich history of this emblematic tree.

The reputation of the oak is based not on superlatives but on personality. In human terms, it is not a celebrity, but a reliable citizen. Its enduring legacy is evident in place- and surnames, in landmarks and buildings and as a sturdy staple of engineering material.More than any other tree, the oak has been a symbol of strength and durability. Venerated in pagan societies, elements of its worship were absorbed by other religions: Celtic mythology, for example, where it is believed to be a gateway between worlds; or Norse, where it is sacred to Thor, god of thunder, as the tree most often struck by lightning. The oak has been adopted by many countries as a national symbol, particularly in western Europe and the United States. Several individual oaks are of great historical importance, such as the Royal Oak within which King Charles II of England hid to escape the Roundheads, and the Charter Oak in Hartford, Connecticut, which became a symbol of American independence.In Oak, Peter Young illuminates and examines this magnificent and ubiquitous tree, tracing its biological history in its many manifestations, natural and cultural. Much-loved internationally, the oak is to be found in works of art, folk-tales, poems and songs. Oak narrates the biography of the tree that since time immemorial has been a symbol of loyalty and strength, generosity and renewal.

Reaktion’s new ‘Botanical’ series is the first of its kind, integrating horticultural and botanical writing with a broader account of the cultural and social impact of plants. In that sense, the South African geranium (the enduring, if confusing, common name for the genus Pelargonium) is perhaps the perfect plant to inaugurate the series. The story of the geranium’s inexorable rise encompasses many other historical narratives: from plant hunting to commercial cultivation; from the role of plants in alternative medicine and the philanthropic imagination to changing styles in horticultural fashion.Geraniums were first collected by seventeenth-century Dutch plant hunters on the sandy flats near present-day Cape Town, and before long wealthy collectors and enterprising nurserymen were competing for this latest rarity to grace their hothouses. But the geranium was not destined to be a fashionable exotic for long: scarlet hybrids were soon to be found on every cottage windowsill and in every park bedding display, and the horticultural backlash began. Today geraniums can be found throughout the world, their widespread use in food and perfume manufacture as well as floral display exemplifying the global industrialization of plant production.In Geranium, Kasia Boddy details how the cheerful and amenable geranium remains a plant that many love and others love to hate, but above all it is a flower that is seldom ignored. Featuring numerous fine illustrations, Geranium explores the ever-changing image of the plant as portrayed in painting, literature, film and popular culture worldwide.

Carnations permeate our culture from the wedding bed to the funeral wreath. Derided in Shakespeare as ‘nature’s bastards’, they challenged the tulip as the florist’s favourite flower, and went on to give their blessing to both a military coup and a Soho night club. Spanning the world from the gardens of the Ottoman Empire to the Mothers’ Day traditions of America via Chinese medicines and French empresses, Carnation is the first book to tell the cultural history of this hugely important flower.Twigs Way traces the trials and tribulations of early breeders, the florists’ fascination with striped and spotted varieties, delightful names such as the ‘Lustie Gallant’ and the ‘Bleeding Swain’, and the symbolism of the red, white and even the green carnation, which was made famous by Oscar Wilde. Those who appreciate the carnation’s glorious scent, both sensuous and soothing, will delight in the knowledge that the carnation can heal body and mind, used by herbalists in Europe and China. As it ranges from the traditions of the medieval marriage bed to Renaissance paintings of the Madonna and Child, this lavishly illustrated book will entertain anyone with an interest in history, art or culture. It is full of unexpected delights that will charm the mind and invigorate the senses – just like the carnation itself.

The rose is the world’s favourite flower – and always has been. It is the greatest floral symbol of love and romance the world over, and touches people’s hearts at many points in their lives as the flower most often chosen to celebrate significant milestones – weddings, anniversaries, births and deaths. This book traces the journey of the rose across the centuries, from battles to bouquets, charting its botanical, religious, literary and artistic history.From Cleopatra’s rose-petal-filled bed to Nijinsky’s Spectre de la rose, from the highly prized attar of rose oil so beloved by the ancient Persians to top-brand perfume labels today, and from Shakespearean myths about the Wars of the Roses to the significance of Queen Elizabeth i’s embroidered dresses, Rose encapsulates the story of what makes this botanical family so loved. Using historical, literary and botanical sources from the world’s major rose-growing nations, with vibrant illustrations from across the centuries and tales of medieval best-sellers, nurserymen’s rivalries and changing tastes in the flower bed, Rose will be a delight to read for both the gardener and non-gardener alike.

Ripe, sensuous, irresistible: the cherry tree and its stunning blossoms conjure up many literal, metaphorical and visceral sensations. We enjoy cherry picking, a cherry on top, and even, on occasion, to lose one’s cherry. Cherries have been consumed since prehistoric times, reaching great popularity among the ancient Romans. They have come to symbolize such divergent concepts as fertility, innocence and seductiveness, inspiring Dutch still-life paintings, Freudian theory, contemporary pop artists and one of the first food emojis. In Japan and other Asian cultures, the short-lived but beautiful cherry blossoms are important elements throughout art and literature.In this intriguing natural and cultural history, Constance L. Kirker and Mary Newman recount the origins, legends, celebrations, production and health benefits of this beloved tree.

Ash is a beautifully illustrated account of the botanical and cultural faces of the ash tree. The book maps the tree’s evolution and geographical spread across the entire Northern Hemisphere over the last 44 million years, and describes the 43 species that grace the planet today. Edward Parker also explores the botany, cultural history and medicinal uses of the tree, from its significance in ancient Indo-European cultures, to its remarkable properties in treating Alzheimer’s disease. In addition he looks at topical issues, such as the devastating effects that the spread of the emerald ash borer beetle and the ash dieback fungal infection are having on Northern Hemisphere forests.

Our penchant for keeping house plants is an ancient practice dating back to the pharaohs. House Plants explores the stories behind the plants we bring home and how they were transformed from wild plants into members of our households.A billion-dollar global industry, house plants provide an interaction with nature, and contribute to our health, happiness and well-being. They also support their own miniature ecosystems and are part of the home biome.Featuring many superb illustrations, this book explores house plants' botanical history and cultural impact, from song (Gracie Fields’s ‘The Biggest Aspidistra in the World’), literature (George Orwell’s Keep the Aspidistra Flying) and cinema (Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors) to fashion, technology, painting and contemporary design.

In this book, Dan Torre explores the intriguing and multifaceted natural, cultural and social history of the orchid. Orchids are one of the largest families of plants – approximately 8 per cent of all the Earth’s flowering species. They are known for their beautiful flowers with bright colours, delicate forms and delicate fragrances. However, when we look deeper into their world, we find that they are much more than an elegant flowering plant and behave in unexpected ways that no other flowers do.Philosophers have contemplated them; countless artists have celebrated them; millions of people have cultivated them, displayed them and even consumed them. Orchids occupy our thoughts, our stories, our societies, our greenhouses, our florists, our supermarkets and our homes. And that is merely the beginning.

Whether crag-bound on a lonely moor or busy with birdlife on a city street, the rowan is a tree that captivates the senses and stimulates the imagination. Its delicate, feathery leaves, creamy spring blossom and scarlet clusters of autumn fruit have delighted artists, poets and plant enthusiasts through the ages.Rooted in ecology, Rowan is the first in-depth social history of this much-loved plant. Addressing topics from myth, medicine and folklore to Romanticism and cultural nationalism, and from the literature of revolutionary Russia to Land Art and contemporary rewilding, Oliver Southall uncovers the many meanings of the mountain ash: as a marker of regional identity and resistance to internal colonisation, as a potent symbol of political and personal nostalgia, and as a focus for environmental activism made ever-more pressing by climate change and biodiversity loss.Taking the reader on a surprising and eclectic journey, Rowan charts our changing relationships with nature and landscape, raising urgent questions of how we value and relate to the non-human world.

Carnivorous plants are a unique group, possessing modified leaves to trap, kill and consume small creatures. As a result they are often depicted as killers in films and literature, yet some regard them as exotic and beautiful specimens to collect and display. In this abundantly illustrated and highly entertaining book, Dan Torre describes the evolution, structure and scientific background of carnivorous plants. He also shows how these plants – singular, arresting, beautiful yet deadly – have inspired our imagination and been represented in art, literature, cinema, animation and popular culture.

With their delicate green and white blooms, snowdrops may seem fragile, yet they possess remarkable resilience. Treasured by gardeners for their ability to bloom early in the year, they also hold significance beyond the horticultural world. From Victorian Britain, where snowdrop bands promoted chastity, to their adoption as symbols by charitable organizations today, their cultural impact is far-reaching, symbolizing purity, hope and solace. Snowdrops have long been depicted in art, poetry and prose, and they offer medicinal properties as a source of galantamine, used in Alzheimer’s treatment. Now available in paperback, Snowdrop is the ideal companion for anyone interested in the emotional and cultural aspects of these much-loved plants.

Pine trees, admired for their resilience, have been the subjects of artists for centuries, symbolizing wisdom and longevity in China and Japan. Their symbolic significance spans cultures and time, from classical worshippers of Bacchus to inspiring the establishment of national parks in North America. The natural history of pines showcases their ability to thrive in challenging environments, fascinating scientists. Their resin provides adhesives, waterproofing agents, and medicines, while their wood is ubiquitous in buildings, furniture, and paper pulp. Their cones fascinate with intricate shapes and offer pine nuts for both animals and humans. Throughout history, pines have inspired artists, writers, and photographers. Beautifully illustrated, Pine explores the rich inspiration and practical uses of these rugged, aromatic trees.

Bamboo has an unparalleled history; it is very old, and at the same time very new. Bamboo plays a vital role in the survival of many animals and ecosystems as well as having unique characteristics that offer potential solutions to modern ecological dilemmas – it grows extremely quickly, for example, making it an easily renewable resource. With the advent of modern research and technologies, the use of bamboo has increased dramatically – it competes with hardwoods as home flooring and can be found in the skins of aircraft and concrete reinforcements. This book draws on a vast array of sources to build a complete picture of bamboo in both history and our modern world.

This book is a fascinating exploration of mosses and lichens, celebrating the extraordinary biology, beauty and resilience of these unassuming organisms. Endowed with unique superpowers, from enduring desiccation to thriving in extreme habitats, mosses and lichens defy easy categorization. Mosses, integral to the plant kingdom, and lichens, a kingdom unto themselves, colonize a great variety of landscapes, from rainforests to deserts and urban pavements. Neglected in the past for their lack of flowers, these organisms now garner recognition for their significant role in maintaining the health of our world’s ecosystem. Elizabeth Lawson’s book shows how they shape landscapes, prevent erosion and sequester carbon, and surveys the biologists, artists and writers who celebrate their importance. Moss and Lichen inspires a newfound appreciation for these unsung heroes of the natural world.

To most of us, weeds can seem nothing more than intruders in gardens, farms and city streets. But the idea of the weed is a slippery one, constantly changing according to different needs, fashions and contexts. In a well-ordered field of corn, a scarlet poppy is a bright red intruder, but in other parts of the world it is an important cultural symbol, a potent and lucrative pharmaceutical source, or simply a beautiful ornament. Fat hen, which today we consider a pest, was in Neolithic times a staple crop, its seeds an important source of nutrition. Weeds sketches the history of the fashions and attitudes that have shaped our fields and gardens, showing that what we keep out of them is just as fascinating as what we put in.

People have always loved flowers, and peonies are among the most highly regarded, with petals of the finest silk and often a distinctive perfume. Their large, flamboyantly coloured blooms are attractive and photogenic, ideal for celebrations. Beyond the flowers, the colourful new shoots, described by landscape gardener Gertrude Jekyll as ‘dear rosy snouts’, add value and interest to any garden. Peonies appear in the art and literature of China, Korea, Japan, the classical Mediterranean and medieval Europe. Charles Darwin, as a child, was sent to count the peonies in his family garden, his first exercise in scientific data collection. Superbly illustrated, and covering cultural as well as botanical aspects, this book is an ideal companion for plant lovers wanting to learn more about this fascinating flower.

Apples have sustained, delighted and intoxicated people throughout history. This ubiquitous fruit has always been more than something to eat or drink; it is planted deep within the myths, religion and art of almost every culture. Icon of beauty, desire and sin, of wholesome country harvests, healthy eating and hidden poison, the apple is a symbol, recognized as readily as a brand of computers and a record label as it is on supermarket shelves.One of the most widely distributed fruits on the planet, spread by man, beast and bug over millions of years, today’s apples originated in the mountains of Central Asia and journeyed along the Silk Road to Europe and the New World. From the days of Charlemagne to Johnny Appleseed and the colonization of South Africa, settlers were required to plant apple orchards, leading to the development of new towns. The fruit figured in the politics of expansion and the displacement of Native Americans on the American frontier; once a seasonal fixture of every small farm, the apple is now a global commodity, produced, packaged and distributed as a mass-market item.This book explores the apple’s history and the latest debates about the use of agrichemicals, the rise of organic and heirloom orchards, and the hopes and fears of genetic crop modification. Beautifully illustrated with historic and contemporary images, and with a directory of popular and heirloom varieties, Apple is a mouth-watering exploration of this fascinating fruit.

Cacti are full of contradictions. They can be found in some of the harshest, driest and most barren environments on earth, yet some are delicate tropical plants that grow high among the branches of the rainforest canopy. Many cacti bristle with ferocious-looking spines, while others are completely bare. Nearly all exhibit remarkable floral displays – some having flowers that are even larger than the plant itself.Cacti have played a prominent role in human history for thousands of years. Some species were revered by ancient civilizations, playing a part in their religious ceremonies; other varieties have been heavily cultivated for food or for the production of the bright red dye cochineal – which is actually derived from a parasitic insect that feeds on the prickly pear cactus. Native to the American continents, cacti have spread worldwide and have become an important feature in many gardens and collections. Although not often in the culinary forefront of people’s minds, a number of varieties of cacti are delicious to eat – ‘dragon fruit’, produced by the cactus species Hylocereus undatus, is fast becoming one of the world’s most popular tropical treats.Cactus explores the natural, cultural and social history of cacti, and their representation throughout the world in literature, cinema, animation, art and design, and popular culture. This is a highly original, entertaining and richly illustrated book that will appeal to everyone with an interest in cacti.