The Plant Hunters

The Plant Hunters
ISBN: 9780233005164
Publication Date: 1 May 2017

The Plant Hunters tells the story of our fascination with plants and the discovery of new species. From ancient times, when Alexander the Great included naturalists in his entourage, this intriguing story moves across the world, as plants such as coconut trees, roses and numerous fruits and vegetables were introduced from one country to another.

The book traces the establishment of botanical gardens and the discovery through exploration of plants that made or broke economies, for instance tulips, tea and rubber. Travelling right around the world and throughout history, this is the tale of the botanical pioneers who changed the face of landscapes.

About the Author

Carolyn Fry is a journalist and author specializing in science, conservation and natural history. A former Editor of Geographical, the magazine of the Royal Geographical Society, she is a contributor to BBC Online (science and technology), New Scientist, BBC Wildlife, The Times, Independent on Sunday, theguardian.com (environment) and Kew Magazine. She is author of The World of Kew, the book that accompanied the 2007 BBC TV series A New Year at Kew. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Carolyn lives in London.