Reaching for the Sun: How Plants Work

Description

From their ability to use energy from sunlight to make their own food, to combating attacks from diseases and predators, plants have evolved an amazing range of life-sustaining strategies. Written with the non-specialist in mind, John King's lively natural history explains how plants function, from how they gain energy and nutrition to how they grow, develop and ultimately die. New to this edition is a section devoted to plants and the environment, exploring how problems created by human activities, such as global warming, pollution of land, water and air, and increasing ocean acidity, are impacting on the lives of plants. King's narrative provides a simple, highly readable introduction, with boxes in each chapter offering additional or more advanced material for readers seeking more detail. He concludes that despite the challenges posed by growing environmental perils, plants will continue to dominate our planet.

John King is Professor Emeritus of Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. He is a past President of the Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists and in 2001 he was awarded their highest honour, the Gold Medal, 'in recognition of outstanding contributions to plant physiology in Canada'. The first edition of Reaching for the Sun (Cambridge University Press, 1997) was nominated for the Rhone-Poulenc (now Aventis) Prize for Science (General Category).

'... one of the best-written, general accounts of plant biology that I know ... if you are looking for a book to stress the significance of modern plant science/fascination of botany on young minds (or even not-so-young ones), look no further than the 2nd edition of John King's Reaching for the Sun!' Annals of Botany '... I enjoyed the book. It was interesting and presented many examples of plant species and environments from around the world.' The Forestry Chronicle '... highly recommended for any citizen looking for a straightforward and thorough overview of plants and their lives.' Plant Science Bulletin