It’s Fascination of Plants Day!
Organized under the auspices of the European Plant Science Organisation, Fascination of Plants Day aims to encourage the public to become fascinated with plants and understand the important role plant science plays in the fields of agriculture, sustainability, horticulture, forestry, food, medicine and everyday life.
In celebration of the third anniversary of this global celebration, I would like to introduce you to a new book, Wonders of the Plant Kingdom, A Microcosm Revealed.
You may already be familiar with the other books by seed morphologist Wolfgang Stuppy, artist Rob Kesseler and pollen researcher Madeline Harley where they explore the world of plants through the scanning electron microscope (SEM). In their new book, the authors explore sexual reproduction in plants and explain the hidden processes and structures related to:
- Pollen
- Flower morphology
- Double fertilization
- Alternation of Generations
- The difference between pollen, spores and seeds
- Pollen grain morphology
- Pollination Syndromes (i.e., pollination by wind, water, insects, other animals)
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Seed dispersal (wind, water, insects, other animals and explosive strategies)
- The colors of fruits and seeds
The authors also include a section about art and botany.
Informative text and Kesseler’s color-coded images offer readers unique views of the plant world. This book has a definite “Wow” factor and is sure to engage any audience. To view examples of Kesseler’s work, visit his website, specifically his PHY-TOPIC gallery featuring SEM images of plants.
Published in February 2015, Wonders of the Plant Kingdom, A Microcosm Revealed can be purchased at an independent bookstore near you.
Literature Cited
Stuppy, Wolfgang and Rob Kesseler, Madeline Harley. 2014. Wonders of the Plant Kingdom, A Microcosm Revealed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press
ArtPlantae Today 