Wonders of the Plant Kingdom: A Microcosm Revealed

This is a selection of striking and informative images of pollen, seeds and fruit as you have never seen them before. It will appeal to anyone interested in natural botany, wildlife, art and photography. Authors include a leading artist and botanists from the world-renowned Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. A ground-breaking collaboration between an artist and two botanists, this book tells the story of how flowers disseminate their pollen and how the pollinated flower turns into a fruit beginning a whole new chapter in a plant's life. It is the success or failure of a fruit to disperse its seeds that decides the survival or extinction of a species. This crucial role of fruits and seeds explains the fascinating spectrum of strategies and ruses that plants have evolved over millions of years to achieve their dispersal. This book combines extraordinary images with a clear, easily accessible, yet scientifically accurate text explaining the different forms of pollen, seeds and fruit, and their role in preserving the biodiversity of our planet.