How Plants Work

A large-format, heavily illustrated look at the wide adaptability and rich diversity of the plant kingdom

All the plants around us today are descended from simple algae that emerged more than 500 million years ago. While new plant species are still being discovered, it is thought that there are around 400,000 species in existence. From towering redwood trees and diminutive mosses to plants that have stinging hairs and poisons, the diverse range of plant life is extraordinary. How Plants Work is a fascinating inquiry into, and celebration of, the complex plant kingdom.

With an extended introduction explaining the basics of plant morphology—the study of plant structures and their functions—this book moves beyond mere classification and anatomy by emphasizing the relationship between a plant and its environment. It provides evolutionary context drawn from the fossil record and information about the habitats in which species evolved and argues for the major influence of predation on plant form. Each section of the book focuses on a specific part of the plant—such as roots, stems and trunks, leaves, cones and flowers, and seeds and fruits—and how these manifest in distinct species, climates, and regions. The conclusion examines the ways humans rely on plant life and have harnessed their capacity for adaptation through selection and domestication.

Abundantly illustrated with 400 color images documenting a wide range of examples, How Plants Work is a highly informative account about an integral part of our natural world.




400 color photos and meticulously drawn figures

Scanning electron microscopy images offer close-up views of plant structures

Diverse examples from around the world

Plant morphology in an evolutionary context