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Orchid
Series: Botanical
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Orchid
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
A beautifully illustrated, natural, cultural and social history of orchids.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
Approximately eight percent of all the Earth's flowering species are orchids. Known for their beautiful flowers, delicate forms, and sweet fragrances, orchids are unlike any other flower. Orchids have been contemplated by philosophers, celebrated by artists, and cultivated or even eaten by millions. They occupy our thoughts, stories, greenhouses, supermarkets, and homes. Orchid surveys all of this and more as Dan Torre explores the intriguing and multifaceted natural and cultural history of orchids.
'Torre dazzles us again with his compelling blend of science, culture, and intrigue in this perfect entree into the bizarre and intriguing world of orchids. There are tales of dangerous liaisons between plants and animals, erotic orchid iconography in art, and all kinds of botanical skulduggery. As this book demonstrates so clearly, orchids are like no other plants (or living things) on this planet, and their stories must be read to be believed. Torre, as always, is the master storyteller.' – Tim Entwisle, director and chief executive, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, and author of Evergreen: The Botanical Life of a Plant Punk
Series: Botanical
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Orchid
Approximately eight percent of all the Earth's flowering species are orchids. Known for their beautiful flowers, delicate forms, and sweet fragrances, orchids are unlike any other flower. Orchids have been contemplated by philosophers, celebrated by artists, and cultivated or even eaten by millions. They occupy our thoughts, stories, greenhouses, supermarkets, and homes. Orchid surveys all of this and more as...Hardback$4499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
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Now in paperback, an enduring survey of the venerable trees. Since the pine tree is able to sprout after forest fires, on mountainsides, and in semi-desert climes, it is no surprise that the ever-resilient tree signifies longevity, wisdom, and immortality. From the pine cone staffs carried by the worshippers of Bacchus in the classical world to their role in the...Paperback$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
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Has a group of plants ever inspired such love in some, and such hatred in others, as rhododendrons? Their propensity towards sexual infidelity makes them popular with horticultural breeders, and early plant collectors faced mortal peril to bring stunning new species back to life. They can clothe whole hillsides or gardens with colour. But there is a darker side to...Hardback$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Rowan
Rowan is the first in-depth natural and cultural history of this much-loved plant, sometimes called mountain ash or dogberry. Through myth, medicine, literature, land art, and contemporary rewilding, Oliver Southall uncovers the many meanings of this singular reddish fruit shrub: a potent symbol of nostalgia on the one hand and of environmental activism on the other. Taking the reader on...Hardback$4499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Snowdrop
Quietly elegant flowers dressed in simple white and green, snowdrops look too fragile to cope with wintry weather. They are, however, very resilient and are treasured by gardeners for their ability to flower early in the horticultural year. In Snowdrop, Gail Harland explores how they have been used by non-gardeners too, as symbols of purity and of hope and consolation....Paperback$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Yew
Botanists around the world marvel at the unique characteristics of the yew, Europe's most ancient species of tree. It is a 'conifer' without resin or cones but with juicy scarlet fruits that feed many birds and animals. It has foliage that is poisonous to livestock but which wild animals can eat, and though it has an extraordinarily low rate of...Paperback$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Peony
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....Hardback$4499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Moss and Lichen
Moss and Lichen 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 categorisation. Mosses, integral to the plant kingdom, and lichens, a kingdom unto themselves, colonise a great variety of landscapes, from rainforests...Hardback$4499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Weeds
A wide-ranging scientific and cultural history of weeds that reveals just how interesting and useful these seemingly annoying plants can be. We spray them, pluck them, and bury them under mulch; and we curse their resilience when they spring back into place. To most of us, weeds are a nuisance, not worth the dirt they are growing in. But the...Paperback$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
House Plants
Our penchant for keeping houseplants 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 interaction with nature and contribute to our health, happiness, and well-being. They also support their...HardbackSold Out
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Orchid by Dan Torre is praised for its engaging blend of science, culture, and intrigue, offering an entrancing look into the unique world of orchids. The book covers fascinating stories about the relationships between orchids and animals, their role in art, and other intriguing botanical tales. Reviewers commend Torre's storytelling ability, highlighting his skill in making the world of orchids captivating and enlightening.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781789147087
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 01 July 2023
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Reaktion Books
Illustration: 127 illustrations, 111 in colour
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 138.0mm
Height: 216.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 256
About the Author
Dan Torre is a senior lecturer of design at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. His books include Cactus and Carnivorous Plants, also published by Reaktion Books.
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