The Junipers of the World contains a synthesis of data on evolution by examining: Geographic Variation: Pan-Arctic variation in Juniperus communis, etc. Speciation in sections of the genus: Species concepts, Speciation in Juniperus section Juniperus, etc. In addition, Keys to Juniperus are provided by region: Eastern Hemisphere, Europe (including Azores, Canary Islands, Asia Minor and Africa), Central Asia (Turkmenistan to western Himalayas), China, Far East (Japan, Korea, Sakhalin Island, Taiwan), Western Hemisphere, Continental North America, United States and Canada, Mexico and Guatemala, and the Caribbean. Also included are Species' Descriptions, Distribution Maps and Plant Photos, and chapters on Hybridization, Ecology, Cultivated Junipers, Commercial uses of leaf and wood oils of Juniperus, a Cross Indexed Synonymy of Juniperus, and Tables on the Leaf essential oils by species in sections. This book supplements the web site www.juniperus.org and the reader will find literature citations and a detailed discussion of data that is not present on the web site. "The Junipers of the World is now the authoritative reference for Juniperus" "Prof. Adams has presented arguments for the recognition of species and varieties by showing the data analyses that led to taxonomic decisions. This is one of the few treatments that really integrates data and the reasoning behind taxonomic decisions. In addition, Prof. Adams is candid in admitting that the recognition of some taxa are not well supported and deserve additional study." "An essential reference book that will be useful for herbaria, museums, wildlife biologists, Range scientist, foresters, ecologists and all who are involved in identification and study of Juniperus species."

After Alexander von Humboldt, in 1804, had returned from his extended journey through the equinoctial regions of the New World and published his experiences under the title Aequinoctialgegenden des Neuen Continents, his contemporaries were as fascinated and enthralled as von Humboldt himself by his Natural Painting of the Tropical Countries (1807), by "cactic forms," "barrel trees," "mimosa ferns," and many other things which he had seen during his journeys and that were unknown in Europe at that time. Already, Humboldt found that "all animal and vegetable development is bound to fixed, eternally acting types which determine the physiognomy of nature." For this reason, the author starts his book with descriptions of the habitats of "rare plants," the tropical rain forest, deserts and semideserts, primeval Madagascar, and the boundary regions of plant life.

Although the author deals with giant trees, millennial plants, and other curiosities, he is not so much concerned to present, in word and picture, odd shapes and formations of plants that will strike the eye of the uninformed and nonbotanists, but he is much more anxious to point out those less conspicuous peculiarities that the layman will normally miss if his attention is not drawn to these items. Thus, the author presents in word and picture carefully selected examples of interesting pollination mechanisms, opening times of various flowers, Linné's floral clock, humming birds and bats as pollinators, ecologically and physiologically specialized groups of plants such as epiphytes, halophytes, rootless plants, parasites, and saprophytes as well as magic plants, witches' plants, and poisonous plants. Finally, the author deals with the "fossil book of nature," showing that the present plant cover of the earth is the result of a development of many millions of years. Wherever you open the book, you will find "curiosities of the plant kingdom."

Text and illustrations will appeal not only to the expert but also to the amateur botanist, giving him valuable information for his roving expeditions in nature so that he may experience for himself all of those curiosities.

This book covers general knowledge for beginners, from purchasing a plant up to how to care for it. It includes information on household products for pest control, along with a section on maintenance tips for tropical plant technicians in the industry. It also has a quickcheck for fast answers and a section on allergies and skin care.

The first book ever on the much maligned nettles of the world presents a story of these followers of mankind and his cattle throughout history. This study centres on the most abundant and sub-cosmopolitan common stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), but also deals with other nettles throughout the world. Tropical tormentors rich in species include the notorious nettle trees with their formidable stings which fascinated the Europeans after their discovery by botanists on the round-the-world trips of exploration in the 17-19th centuries. Many people on their travels will have met the nettle trees of the Indo-Malay region and other stinging nettles in North and South America, India, etc., which sting and have beautiful flowers but are called nettles; these are also dealt with. The first microscopists and their descriptions of the beautiful stinging hair; the uncovering of the mechanism of its action and the more recent elucidation of the toxins causing the characteristic symptoms is a fascinating one and takes up 3 chapters.

The book includes the 100 major scientific works published on the common stinging nettle and never brought to the notice of the general public before. The author spent six years studying the ecology of the nettle patch, its invertebrate herbivores (mainly insects) and vertebrate herbivores (cattle, deer, etc.,) and their interactions with other plants: its secret life is recorded in line drawings and photographs (1000+ individual items). It was not possible to publish these in colour but they are in full colour on a CD-ROM (300 dpi) at the back of the book. Covered also are nettle folklore, fibre use in World War I & II, as a food, fodder, herbal medicine, growth as a competitor plant, habitats, sex (unique exploding stamens), breeding systems, variation, evolution etc.!! Some the world's most beautiful butterflies would not exist without nettles.

"The most wonderful plant in the world," "astonishing production," "faculties eminently superior to every other vegetable production," "the great wonder of the vegetable kingdom," "miraculum naturae" – just a few historic words used to describe Venus's flytrap, words not out of place today.

It was Arthur Dobbs (1689-1765), Governor of North Carolina, who first made the plant known to botanists. In a letter to the English cloth merchant and naturalist-collector Peter Collinson (1694-1768), dated 2 April 1759, Dobbs writes:

"We have a kind of Catch Fly sensitive which closes upon anything that touches it"

For the first time the story of this unique plant, its Culture, Natural History and early Botanical History, is told in a single book.

Set forth are the techniques used by the most experienced, seasoned and successful growers. Whether it's winter, spring, summer or autumn, you'll know what to do, when and how.

An informative explanation of the plant's taxonomy, morphology, distribution, habitat and vulnerability is given, with an in-depth look at the mechanisms behind trap closure.

An authoritative account of the plant's early botanical history is presented. Read about its arduous journey from North America to England, how it came to be called "Dionaea muscipula" or "Venus's flytrap," and the mischievous truth behind the peculiar name "tipitiwitchet" given to the plant by American naturalist John Bartram (1699-1777). A fascinating and intriguing story, it is augmented with biographical memoirs of the eighteenth century naturalists and botanists who shaped the plant's early history.

Este libro está dirigido al público en general. No son necesarios conocimientos de botánica ni formación científica para leerlo. Está concebido como un viaje desde el remoto pasado, hace más de 3.500 millones de años, cuando aparecieron los primeros organismos fotosintéticos, hasta la vegetación del presente. A lo largo de sus páginas se explican lo principales aspectos de la vida de las plantas, como la fotosíntesis o alternancia de generaciones. También se explican las bases de la evolución biológica y de la selección natural. Se recorren las principales clases de vegetales, algas, musgos, helechos y plantas superiores, explicándose su funcionamiento y formas de reproducción.

Sin renunciar al rigor científico, se exponen los diferentes temas de manera clara y sencilla. El libro le será útil a cualquier persona interesada por las plantas. Los lectores que deseen ampliar la información, podrán encontrar recuadros donde se tratan en más detalle determinados aspectos relevantes. Esto resultará especialmente adecuado para los estudiantes de ciencias medioambientales, biológicas, farmacia, ingenieros de montes o agrícolas. Es especialmente adecuado para aquellos que quieran formarse como guías de parques naturales o monitores de actividades al aire libre.

También pretende educar la sensibilidad de manera que se fomente el aprecio por las formas de vida vegetal y el respeto por el medio ambiente.