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Jonathan Silvertown - An Orchard Invisible. A Natural History of Seeds.  - 9780226757735 - V9780226757735
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An Orchard Invisible. A Natural History of Seeds.

€ 40.12
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Description for An Orchard Invisible. A Natural History of Seeds. The story of seeds, in a nutshell, is a tale of evolution. This book presents the oft-ignored seed with the natural history it deserves, one nearly as varied and surprising as the earth's flora itself. It delves into the science of seeds: How and why do some lie dormant for years on end? How did seeds evolve? Num Pages: 224 pages, 21 halftones. BIC Classification: WNP. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 55 x 85 x 23. Weight in Grams: 408.
The story of seeds, in a nutshell, is a tale of evolution. With "An Orchard Invisible", Jonathan Silvertown presents the oft-ignored seed with the natural history it deserves, one nearly as varied and surprising as the earth's flora itself. In a clear and engaging style, he delves into the science of seeds: How and why do some lie dormant for years on end? How did seeds evolve? The wide variety of uses that humans have developed for seeds of all sorts also receives a fascinating look, studded with examples, including foods, oils, perfumes, and pharmaceuticals. An able guide with an eye for the unusual, Silver-town is happy to take readers on unexpected - but always interesting - tangents, from Lyme disease to human color vision to the Salem witch trials. But he never lets us forget that the driving force behind the story of seeds - its theme, even - is evolution, with its irrepressible habit of stumbling upon new solutions to the challenges of life.

Product Details

Publication date
2009
Publisher
The University of Chicago Press United States
Number of pages
224
Condition
New
Number of Pages
224
Format
Hardback
Place of Publication
, United States
ISBN
9780226757735
SKU
V9780226757735
Shipping Time
Usually ships in 7 to 11 working days
Ref
99-1

About Jonathan Silvertown
Jonathan Silvertown is professor of ecology at the Open University, Milton Keynes, and is the author of Demons in Eden and editor of Fragile Web.

Reviews for An Orchard Invisible. A Natural History of Seeds.
"Anyone who has ever marveled at the idea of a tree exploding from something as tiny as a seed will exalt in the beauty of this book." - San Francisco Chronicle "I loved this little book.... An Orchard Invisible practically spills over with interesting insights." - Boston Globe "A subtle but engaging narrative of the evolutionary struggles of seeds.... Each of the first twelve chapters of this book tells a remarkable story, accompanied by well-chosen literary excerpts." - Times Literary Supplement "Silvertown is a witty botanist with a flair for seeds.... All botanists will enjoy this tribute to seeds." - Choice "Seeds may look small and boring, yet tricks, bribes and devious deceptions lie at the heart of their evolution, as ecologist Jonathan Silvertown entertainingly recounts in this fascinating celebration of the green world upon which all human life depends." - New Scientist "A fabulous book.... Silvertown's skills are in telling stories. Expect wonders, too.... In this book, Silvertown has produced a gem.... Read it as a gardener, scientist, food aficionado, historian, botanist, or naturalist, and you'll not be disappointed." - Times Higher Education"

Goodreads reviews for An Orchard Invisible. A Natural History of Seeds.


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