Plant Science

In this wide-ranging and accessible new book, biologist-turned-perfumer Elise Vernon Pearlstine turns our human-centered perception of fragrance on its head and investigates plants' evolutionary reasons for creating aromatic molecules. Delving into themes of spirituality, wealth, power, addiction, royalty, fantasy, and more, Pearlstine uncovers the natural history of aromatic substances and their intersection with human culture and civilization.

An accessible and compelling story of a scientist's discovery of plant communication and how it influenced her research and changed her life.

Embark on an unparalleled journey into the heart of nature with "The Magic of Mycology: An Enthusiasts Guide to Cultivating and Understanding Psilocybin Mushrooms" by Chris J. Conlan. This meticulously crafted book serves as a comprehensive guide to the enchanting world of psilocybin mushrooms, blending historical insights, scientific research, and practical cultivation advice to offer a rich and multifaceted exploration of these mystical fungi.

Explore the strange and remarkable stories of poisonous and even deadly plants. Science, history, and true crime converge in an informative and exciting look at Mother Nature's ghoulish garden. From a hallucinogenic fungus linked to the Salem Witch Trials to the weed that killed Abraham Lincoln's mother, learn how certain plants evolved toxicity to avoid being consumed by predators and became the predator on their own.

Terence McKenna hypothesizes that as the North African jungles receded, giving way to savannas and grasslands near the end of the most recent ice age, a branch of our arboreal primate ancestors left the forest canopy and began living in the open areas beyond. There they experimented with new varieties of foods as they adapted, physically and mentally, to the environment. Among the new foods found in this environment were psilocybin-containing mushrooms.

The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants by the U.S. Army is a must-have resource for anyone interested in survival, foraging, or outdoor exploration. This guide offers detailed descriptions, illustrations, and instructions to help readers identify edible plants across various environments while avoiding toxic species. Originally created for military survival training, the book covers a wide range of plants, from fruits and nuts to roots and greens, and provides guidance on how to harvest and prepare them safely.

Like many doctors and nutrition experts, bestselling author Dr. Steven Gundry has long endorsed the ketogenic diet—a style of eating that heavily restricts carbohydrate intake to make the body burn fat for fuel. Because ketosis offers a variety of health benefits, including weight loss, reduced risk of illness, and enhanced energy, Dr. Gundry believed his patients’ efforts to adhere to the challenging regimen was worthwhile. That is, until his research uncovered a shocking truth: We’ve gotten keto all wrong.

In 1637, one Dutchman paid as much for a single tulip bulb as the going price of a town house in Amsterdam. Three and a half centuries later, Amsterdam is once again the mecca for people who care passionately about one particular plant—though this time the obsessions revolves around the intoxicating effects of marijuana rather than the visual beauty of the tulip. How could flowers, of all things, become such objects of desire that they can drive men to financial ruin?

Nick Gallows has one goal: prevent the Apocalypse. But time is running out faster than he can imagine, and the Forebears of Ingenga are closing in. To stand a chance, Nick must venture through the rift that unleashed unspeakable horrors upon his city. On the other side, he finds an arctic wasteland crawling with monsters and a fortress under siege—the stronghold of the elusive Black Witch that has haunted his dreams. Forced to fight through hundreds of thousands of savage creatures, Nick must decide if aiding the Witch is worth the risk.

A natural history of the wilderness in our homes, from the microbes in our showers to the crickets in our basements Even when the floors are sparkling clean and the house seems silent, our domestic domain is wild beyond imagination. In Never Home Alone, biologist Rob Dunn introduces us to the nearly 200,000 species living with us in our own homes, from the Egyptian meal moths in our cupboards and camel crickets in our basements to the lactobacillus lounging on our kitchen counters. You are not alone.

Tobacco was first cultivated and enjoyed by the indigenous inhabitants of the Americas, who used it for medicinal, religious, and social purposes long before the arrival of Columbus. But when Europeans began to colonize the American continents, it became something else entirely - a cultural touchstone of pleasure and success and a coveted commodity that would transform the world economy forever.

In her wise and elegant new audiobook, Jane Goodall blends her experience in nature with her enthusiasm for botany to give listeners a deeper understanding of the world around us. Long before her work with chimpanzees, Goodall's passion for the natural world sprouted in the backyard of her childhood home in England, where she climbed her beech tree and made elderberry wine with her grandmother. The garden her family began then, she continues to enjoy today. Seeds of Hope takes us from England to Goodall's home-away-from-home in Africa.

A prize-winning memoirist and nature writer turns to the lives of plants entangled in our human world to explore belonging, displacement, identity, and the truths of our shared future.

Cuando pensamos en las plantas, nos sentimos tentados a atribuirles dos características: inmovilidad e insensibilidad. Pero investigaciones científicas llevadas a cabo durante los últimos cincuenta años han demostrado que las plantas son sensibles, se comunican e intercambian información, duermen, memorizan, cuidan de sus hijos, tienen su propia personalidad, toman decisiones e incluso son capaces de manipular a otras especies. Su capacidad para resolver los problemas que se les presentan ha sido probada por los estudios más recientes.

The Unlikely Peace at Cuchumaquic is both an epic story and a cry to the heart of humanity based on the author’s realization that human survival depends on keeping alive the seeds of our “original forgotten spiritual excellence.” Prechtel relates our current state of ecological crisis to the rapid disappearance of biodiversity, indigenous cultures, and shared human values. He demonstrates how real human culture is exterminated when real (not genetically modified) seeds are lost.

Herbal remedies have centuries-long track records of health benefits in traditional holistic medicine. And more recently, herbs, plants, spices, and mushrooms have been enjoying a new spotlight as vital parts of every health-conscious menu. In this evidence-based guide, you'll explore the health benefits actually backed up by modern scientific research!

Jennifer Jewell brings listeners on an insightful year-long journey exploring the outsize impact one of nature's smallest manifestations—the simple seed. She examines our skewed notions where "organic" seeds are grown and sourced, reveals how giant multinational agribusiness has refined and patented the genomes of seeds we rely on for staples like corn and soy, and highlights the efforts of activists working to regain legal access to heirloom seeds that were stolen from Indigenous peoples and people of color.

In this thrilling installment of the best selling "Apocalypse Regression" series, Nick Gallows emerges as a guildmaster, forming the Daedalus Guild to combat not only the supernatural threats lurking in dungeons but also the complexities of leadership. As graduation dungeon tests loom over Hillcrest School of Excellence, Nick's mettle is put to the ultimate test as he faces a colossal Wyrm, a Vampire, and more. Friendships, rivalries, and the mysterious appearance of events outside of Nick’s original timeline converge into a tale of unparalleled suspense and magical intrigue.

We live in a world of seeds. From our morning toast to the cotton in our clothes, they are quite literally the stuff and staff of life, supporting diets, economies, and civilizations around the globe. Just as the search for nutmeg and the humble peppercorn drove the Age of Discovery, so did coffee beans help fuel the Enlightenment and cottonseed help spark the Industrial Revolution. And from the fall of Rome to the Arab Spring, the fate of nations continues to hinge on the seeds of a Middle Eastern grass known as wheat.

Drawing from her experiences as an Indigenous scientist, botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer demonstrated how all living things—from strawberries and witch hazel to water lilies and lichen—provide us with gifts and lessons every day in her bestselling book Braiding Sweetgrass. Adapted for young adults by Monique Gray Smith, this new edition reinforces how wider ecological understanding stems from listening to the earth's oldest teachers: the plants around us.