The Big, Bad Book of Botany

"This combination of history, mythology, lore, science and sheer entertainment takes us on a tour of the world's most unusual plants." — Sacramento Bee

The Big, Bad Book of Botany introduces a world of wild, wonderful, and weird plants. Some are so rare, they were once more valuable than gold. Some found in ancient mythology hold magical abilities, including the power to turn a person to stone. Others have been used by assassins to kill kings, and sorcerers to revive the dead. Here, too, is vegetation with astonishing properties to cure and heal, many of which have long since been lost with the advent of modern medicine.

Organized alphabetically, The Big, Bad Book of Botany combines the latest in biological information with bizarre facts about the plant kingdom's oddest members, including a species that is more poisonous than a cobra and a prehistoric plant that actually "walked." Largo takes you through the history of vegetables and fruits and their astonishing agricultural evolution. Throughout, he reveals astonishing facts, from where the world's first tree grew to whether plants are telepathic.

Featuring more than 150 photographs and illustrations, The Big, Bad Book of Botany is a fascinating, fun A-to-Z encyclopedia for all ages that will transform the way we look at the natural world.

"A great read for both plant-lovers and novices alike." —Dr. Ellen Prager, oceanographer and Safina Center Fellow

"Every page yields something to catch the reader's interest." — Publishers Weekly

"All the exuberance of a kid's garden." — Wall Street Journal

"Entertaining . . . Full of history and intriguing cultural tidbits." — Miami Herald

"Wonderfully weird." — Garden & Gun

"A real kick to read." — The American Gardener