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Botany, the study of plants. If you are looking for a botanical book, or a lot of books on botany, check these out.
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'Teaming with microbes' uses clear, straight-forward language to describe what is going on in the soil, something that all gardeners should understand.
Using stunning microscopic photography the authors bring readers up-to-date with current thinking on the importance of endomycorrhizal fungi, and other recent developments in gardening science.
An accessible explanation of how to create rich, nurturing, living soil - without resorting to harmful synthetic chemicals.
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First published in 1990, Botany for Gardeners has now been expanded and updated. Brian Capon is professor of botany at California State University, so he comes with the right credentials. But the photographs and the beautifully clear illustrations are also his work. For instance, the difference between a stolon, a runner and a sucker is nicely and graphically shown.
What happens inside a seed after it is planted? How do plants adapt to their environment? How is water transported from soil to leaves? Why are minerals, air and light important for healthy plant growth? The explanations are detailed but not too technical.
Armed with this information, the gardener has no more excuses.
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This major two-volume botanical reference book covers over 1,000 genera in outstanding colour photographs and authoritative, detailed text.
Bridging the gap between scientific texts and everyday horticultural books, this guide provides an unrivalled insight into the relationships between garden plants and their environments, the history of plant development (as studied through fossils), and the most up-to-date DNA studies, set to revolutionise classification. It will become an indispensable aid to any aspiring gardener.
Volume I: Trees, Shrubs and Climbers covers over 450 genera of woody plants listed in botanical order. It starts with descendants of the Jurassic - tree ferns, ginko, conifers, through the earliest flowering plants, on to catkin-bearing and fruit trees, ending with maples and other advanced flowering plants. The distinctive cordyline, palm, and bamboo families are treated separately.
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Ever wondered whether eggshells really deter slugs? Or whether they drown in beer? Or whether baking soda deters powdery mildew? Tobacco kills pests?
Gillman gives the myth, the practice, the theory, the 'real story', and 'what it means to you' for each garden remedy.
Interesting to dip into, and to check whether what you have always done is really worth doing.
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A very detailed and precise explanation to provide a basic understanding of science.
Although the presentation is a little daunting, Mary Pratt, ex-biology teacher, takes the terror out of subjects such as plant parts, seeds and germination, soil management, pest control, biodiversity, GM, plant classification.
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'Nobody ever yet rooted a cutting or germinated a seed. Those are things that only plants can do. The propagator's job is to provide them with the conditions they need to get on with it.' This is the premise of Peter Thompson's classic is now in its second edition, but still focuses on 'observing how plants reproduce naturally.'
Thompson works his way through the biology, seed collection and storage, basic techniques and problems, before going through trickier plant groups such as mosses and ferns, patio annuals, alpines, bromeliads, etc.
Probably too detailed for the general amateur, Creative Propagation is written in a direct and thorough style that makes the book accessible to the amateur enthusiast, as well as useful for the professional expert
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The Inquisitive Gardener
By Rob Rowlinson & Jonathan MacDonald
Paperback, 196 pages
R & M Publishing (2004)
ISBN: 0954829204
Indicative price (confirm before purchase): £7.99 (RRP
£7.99)
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For any horticultural society considering a quiz evening, or for any keen
gardener wishing to test his knowledge, this is a useful book full of
gardening trivia questions, crosswords, head scratchers, quizzes,
wordsearches 'and much more.'
Unfortunately it is marred by poor spelling. In the ten answers to the very
first test, for example, three are incorrectly spelt (lineament, wayfaring
and ginkgo) which bodes ill for the word searches. The authors could also
benefit from reading a recent bestseller on the use of the apostrophe.
But while the grammar is faulty, the horticultural knowledge is extensive
and the questions really tough.
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That's it for this category. Click here to suggest a book on botany and we'll do our best to review it.
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