Atlas of Botany

From the earliest green shoots to dense tropical forests, discover how plants spread across the world to build our environment.

Plants first emerged on a very different looking Earth 500 million years ago. As land masses moved, plants were brought together in fierce competition with one another, or separated to continue their lives in very different conditions. On this evolutionary journey, they developed ingenious strategies to disperse and extend their range, and increase their diversity.

Plants have populated almost every part of Earth's land surface - from tropical zones to cracks in city pavements - and have fundamentally shaped Earth's natural regions. Mapping the changing conditions and continents of the ancient world and the biomes of the modern one, Atlas of Botany explores how plants have overcome the challenges of survival, and how they have interacted with pollinators and people along the way.

In the pages of this sumptuous botanical book, you will discover:

A unique blend of information that brings plant science, geography, nature, and human history together for an unparalleled view of plant life on Earth
The intricate and sometimes bizarre ways that plants have adapted to live everywhere
A detailed understanding of where plants come from and the conditions they prefer to grow in


Produced in association with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh this beautiful book combines the best elements of gardening books, science books, and nature books - featuring botanical illustrations, detailed photography, and clear, concise explanations - to tell the story of how plants evolved and survived - and continue to thrive.