Florapedia
Florapedia

Author: Carol Gracie

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2021-04-06

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 069121140X

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"This book is an engaging and informative compendium of flower facts. Similar in a nature to Lawrence Millman's Fungipedia, the book brings together a wide range of interesting facts and stories-ranging from the historical to the scientific to the whimsical. The book has roughly 100 entries, beginning with achlorophyllous flowers that feed on the roots of a host plant, and ending with zygomorphic flowers, that pose an interesting puzzle for pollinators. In the entries in-between, readers will explore with John and William Bartram, smell the rotting corpse flower, learn about the miniature ecosystems entangled in Spanish moss, and much more. Similar to Fungipedia, the book is intended for a general audience, but thanks to Gracie's depth and breadth of knowledge, and her artful prose, it will also appeal to seasoned flower enthusiasts. The entries are accompanied by approximately 50 line drawings from Amy Jean Porter"--

Florapedia
Florapedia

Author: Carol Gracie

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2021-04-06

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 0691217548

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A delightful illustrated treasury of botanical facts and fancy Florapedia is an eclectic A–Z compendium of botanical lore. With more than 100 enticing entries—on topics ranging from achlorophyllous plants that use a fungus as an intermediary to obtain nutrients from other plants to zygomorphic flowers that admit only the most select pollinators—this collection is a captivating journey into the realm of botany. Writing in her incomparably engaging style, Carol Gracie discusses remarkable plants from around the globe, botanical art and artists, early botanical explorers, ethnobotanical uses of plants, botanical classification and terminology, the role of plants in history, and more. She shares illuminating facts about van Gogh's sunflowers and reveals how a hallucinogenic weed left its enduring mark on the early history of the Jamestown colony. Gracie describes the travels of John and William Bartram—father and son botanists and explorers who roamed widely in early America in search of plants—and delves into the miniature ecosystems entangled in Spanish moss. The book's convenient size allows for it to be tucked into a pocket or bag, making it the perfect companion on your own travels. With charming drawings by Amy Jean Porter, Florapedia is the ideal gift book for the plant enthusiast in your life and a rare pleasure for anyone interested in botanical art, history, medicine, or exploration. Features a real cloth cover with an elaborate foil-stamped design

Geopedia
Geopedia

Author: Marcia Bjornerud

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2022-05-03

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 0691232725

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A garden of geologic delights for all Earthlings Geopedia is a trove of geologic wonders and the evocative terms that humans have devised to describe them. Featuring dozens of entries—from Acasta gneiss to Zircon—this illustrated compendium is brimming with lapidary and lexical insights that will delight rockhounds and word lovers alike. Geoscientists are magpies for words, and with good reason. The sheer profusion of minerals, landforms, and geologic events produced by our creative planet demands an immense vocabulary to match. Marcia Bjornerud shows how this lexicon reflects not only the diversity of rocks and geologic processes but also the long history of human interactions with them. With wit and warmth, she invites all readers to celebrate the geologic glossary—a gallimaufry of allusions to mythology, imports from diverse languages, embarrassing anachronisms, and recent neologisms. This captivating book includes cross-references at the end of each entry, inviting you to leave the alphabetic trail and meander through it like a river. Its pocket-friendly size makes it the perfect travel companion no matter where your own geologic forays may lead you. With whimsical illustrations by Haley Hagerman, Geopedia is a mix of engaging and entertaining facts about how the earth works, how it has coevolved with life over billions of years, and how our understanding of the planet has deepened over time. Features a cloth cover with an elaborate foil-stamped design

Fungipedia
Fungipedia

Author: Lawrence Millman

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2019-10-29

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 0691195382

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"This little book is big fun."—Michael Pollan An illustrated mini-encyclopedia of fungal lore, from John Cage and Terence McKenna to mushroom sex and fairy rings Fungipedia presents a delightful A–Z treasury of mushroom lore. With more than 180 entries—on topics as varied as Alice in Wonderland, chestnut blight, medicinal mushrooms, poisonings, Santa Claus, and waxy caps—this collection will transport both general readers and specialists into the remarkable universe of fungi. Combining ecological, ethnographic, historical, and contemporary knowledge, author and mycologist Lawrence Millman discusses how mushrooms are much more closely related to humans than to plants, how they engage in sex, how insects farm them, and how certain species happily dine on leftover radiation, cockroach antennae, and dung. He explores the lives of individuals like African American scientist George Washington Carver, who specialized in crop diseases caused by fungi; Beatrix Potter, creator of Peter Rabbit, who was prevented from becoming a professional mycologist because she was a woman; and Gordon Wasson, a J. P. Morgan vice-president who almost single-handedly introduced the world to magic mushrooms. Millman considers why fungi are among the most significant organisms on our planet and how they are currently being affected by destructive human behavior, including climate change. With charming drawings by artist and illustrator Amy Jean Porter, Fungipedia offers a treasure trove of scientific and cultural information. The world of mushrooms lies right at your door—be amazed!

Birdpedia
Birdpedia

Author: Christopher W. Leahy

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2021-07-06

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 0691218234

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A captivating A–Z treasury about birds and birding Birdpedia is an engaging illustrated compendium of bird facts and birding lore. Featuring nearly 200 entries—on topics ranging from plumage and migration to birds in art, literature, and folklore—this enticing collection is brimming with wisdom and wit about all things avian. Christopher Leahy sheds light on "hawk-watching," "twitching," and other rituals from the sometimes mystifying world of birding that entail a good deal more than their names imply. He explains what kind of bird's nests you can eat, why mocking birds mock, and many other curiosities that have induced otherwise sane people to peer into treetops using outrageously expensive optical equipment. Leahy shares illuminating insights about pioneering ornithologists such as John James Audubon and Florence Bailey, and describes unique bird behaviors such as anting, caching, duetting, and mobbing. He discusses avian fossils, the colloquial naming of birds, the science and history of ornithology, and more. The book's convenient size makes it the perfect traveling companion to take along on your own avian adventures. With charming illustrations by Abby McBride, Birdpedia is a marvelous mix of fact and fancy that is certain to delight seasoned birders and armchair naturalists alike. Features a cloth cover with an elaborate foil-stamped design

Spring Wildflowers of the Northeast
Spring Wildflowers of the Northeast

Author: Carol Gracie

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2012-03-12

Total Pages: 292

ISBN-13: 0691144664

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This volume presents a detailed description of more than thirty-five wildflower species of the Northeast, describing their colors, habitats, range, pollination, history, cultural lore, medicinal uses, and literary and artistic references. The spring-blooming wildflowers looked at range from old favorites to lesser-known species. Featuring more than 500 full-color photos in large-sized format, the book delves deep into the life histories, lore, and cultural uses of more than 35 plant species. The narrative covers topics such as the naming of wildflowers; the reasons for taxonomic changes; pollination of flowers and dispersal of seeds; uses by Native Americans; related species in other parts of the world; herbivores, plant pathogens, and pests; medicinal uses; and wildflower references in history, literature, and art. The photos capture the beauty of these plants and also illustrate the concepts discussed in the text.

Dinopedia
Dinopedia

Author: Darren Naish

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2021-11-30

Total Pages: 213

ISBN-13: 0691212023

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"A personal selection of circa 180 topics from dinosaur biology, including classification, fossil finds, biographies, and much more"--

Insectpedia
Insectpedia

Author: Eric R. Eaton

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2022-05-03

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 0691236631

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A fun and fact-filled A–Z treasury for the insect lover in all of us Insectpedia introduces you to the wonders of the insect world while inviting you to make discoveries of your own. Featuring dozens of entries on topics ranging from murder hornets and the “insect apocalypse” to pioneering entomologists such as Margaret James Strickland Collins and Douglas Tallamy, this beautifully illustrated, pocket-friendly encyclopedia dispels many common myths about insects while offering new perspectives on the vital relationships we share with these incredible creatures. This entertaining collection celebrates the long and storied history of entomology, highlights our dependence on insects for food and ecosystem services, and explains the meaning behind various entomological terms. With Eric Eaton as your guide, you will circle the globe in search of African Toktokkies and Australian beer bottle beetles, and witness the peculiar spectacle of cricket fighting in Asia. Profiles of influential figures in entomology provide insights into the curious minds that animate this extraordinarily broad field of scientific inquiry, while the book’s portable size makes it the perfect travel companion no matter where your own entomological adventures may lead you. With captivating illustrations by Amy Jean Porter, Insectpedia is an engaging blend of insect facts and folklore that will inspire anyone who delights in the marvels of nature. Features a cloth cover with an elaborate foil-stamped design

Treepedia
Treepedia

Author: Joan Maloof

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2021-09-14

Total Pages: 152

ISBN-13: 0691208751

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"From oaks and maples to the more exotic dragon's blood and baobab species, trees are known and appreciated across the globe. This book is a mini encyclopedia of sorts-for not only trees, but also tree-related topics like reforestation, forest fires, emerald ash-borers, and more. Similar to Millman's Fungipedia, this book will include entries on both the commonplace and the whimsical alike, with line drawings throughout. The book has roughly 80 entries, in which readers will explore topics ranging from the vast Tongass forest in Alaska to the comparatively very small meristem cells, which allow trees to generate new growth. In addition to entries on the biological and ecological aspects of trees, the book also features more culturally focused entries, including those on historical figures such as renowned nature writer John Muir, and activist Wangari Maathai. Similar to Fungipedia, the book is intended for a general audience, however, it will also appeal to seasoned tree enthusiasts. Entries are supplemented with line drawings from Maren Westfall"--

The Flower-Powered Garden
The Flower-Powered Garden

Author: Andy Vernon

Publisher: Timber Press

Published: 2018-03-07

Total Pages: 297

ISBN-13: 1604696664

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“Vernon’s gorgeously illustrated guide…is an indispensable resource for anyone looking to add a powerful punch of color to their garden.” —Library Journal The Flower-Powered Garden urges home gardeners to embrace one of the most joyful and important parts of the garden—color! Andy Vernon, a self-professed flower fanatic, highlights perennials and annuals that pack a punch, and shares 15 color combinations that can be used in containers and gardens. The boisterous combinations are inspired by some of Vernon’s favorite things—like sherbet, birds, and candy. A floripedia of 50 marvelous plants includes colorful favorites like dahlias, petunias, hollyhocks, fuchsias, and more. Vernon also shares basic gardening tips, with helpful advice on planting, watering, soil, and growing in containers. This colorful guide has everything you need to supercharge your garden with the power of flowers!