Selections from classic works about green algae (Chlorophyceae), brown algae (Phaeophyceae), and red algae (Rhodophyceae) published from the 1760s to 1900.
Marine algae are the supreme eco-engineers of life: they oxygenate the waters, create habitat for countless other organisms, and form the base of a food chain that keeps our planet unique in the universe as we know it. In this beautiful volume Josie Iselin explores both the artistic and the biological presence of sixteen seaweeds and kelps that live in the thin region where the Pacific Ocean converges with the North American continent--a place of incomparable richness. Each species receives a detailed description of its structure, ecological importance, and humans' scientific inquiry into it, told in scientifically illuminating yet deeply reverent and inspired prose. Throughout the writings are historical botanical illustrations and Iselin's signature, Marimekko-like portraits of each specimen that reveal their vibrant colors--whether rosy, "olivaceous," or grass-green--and whimsical shapes. Iselin posits that we can learn not only about the seaweeds but also from them: their resilience, their resourcefulness, their poetry and magic.
This is a complete, systematic treatment of the marine algae (seaweeds) flora of California. The 726 species treated are each illustrated by a detailed line drawing made from an actual specimen. The two authors have drawn upon their phycological research to offer a definitive representation of benthic marine algae from the Californian coast. The floristic treatment in this first paperback edition should aid accurate and speedy identification of flora due to the improved keys, descriptions, illustrations and more detailed coverage of taxa, and should enhance the reader's knowledge of Californian macro-algae.
In this captivating book, artist and avid beachcomber Josie Iselin reveals the unexpected beauty of seaweed. Produced on a flatbed scanner, Iselin's vibrant portraits of ocean flora reveal the exquisite color and extraordinary forms of more than two hundred specimens gathered from tidal pools along the California and Maine coasts. Her engaging text, which accompanies the images, blends personal observation and philosophical musings with scientific fact. Now available in paperback for the first time, this edition includes a new foreword and updated nomenclature. An Ocean Garden is a poetic and compelling tribute to the natural world and the wonder it evokes.
Iselin, author of "Beach Stones," has put together a magical collection of 100 heart stones, each one expressing a universal feeling such as love, passion, admiration, obsession, reassurance, joy, intrigue, comfort, wonder, and many other emotions.
"Created for those who work and play on the shores and in the shallow subtidal of the Pacific, this easy-to-use field guide is suitable for amateurs and professionals alike. Featuring a "quick key" and filled with interesting details, this comprehensive book will enable you to readily identify 128 species of nmarine algae commonly found along the coast from Alaska to Baja California. Each species is accompanied by at least one color photograph, and text that covers identifying characteristics, range, and habit. Contains 138 color photographs, 14 line drawings that illustrate algal structures and life cycles, 3 easy-to-use keys to help sort and identify specimens and 9 recipes for cooking with seaweed." -- Amazon.com viewed March 30, 2021.
Until recently, seaweed for most Americans was nothing but a nuisance, clinging to us as we swim in the ocean and stinking up the beach as it rots in the sun. With the ever-growing popularity of sushi restaurants across the country, however, seaweed is becoming a substantial part of our total food intake. And even as we dine with delight on maki, miso soup, and seaweed salads, very few of us have any idea of the nutritional value of seaweed. Here celebrated scientist Ole G. Mouritsen, drawing on his fascination with and enthusiasm for Japanese cuisine, champions seaweed as a staple food while simultaneously explaining its biology, ecology, cultural history, and gastronomy. Mouritsen takes readers on a comprehensive tour of seaweed, describing what seaweeds actually are (algae, not plants) and how people of different cultures have utilized them since prehistoric times for a whole array of purposes—as food and fodder, for the production of salt, in medicine and cosmetics, as fertilizer, in construction, and for a number of industrial end uses, to name just a few. He reveals the vast abundance of minerals, trace elements, proteins, vitamins, dietary fiber, and precious polyunsaturated fatty acids found in seaweeds, and provides instructions and recipes on how to prepare a variety of dishes that incorporate raw and processed seaweeds. Approaching the subject from not only a gastronomic but also a scientific point of view, Mouritsen sets out to examine the past and present uses of this sustainable resource, keeping in mind how it could be exploited for the future. Because seaweeds can be cultivated in large quantities in the ocean in highly sustainable ways, they are ideal for battling hunger and obesity alike. With hundreds of delectable illustrations depicting the wealth of species, colors, and shapes of seaweed, Seaweeds: Edible, Available, and Sustainable makes a strong case for granting these “vegetables from the sea” a prominent place in our kitchens.
This series sets out to make available the rich research resources of the Natural History Museum. This third volume describes 90 portraits of eminent figures in natural history, together with 39 oil paintings of natural history subjects, held in the Museum's collections. It includes all cast, sculpted, painted and drawn portraits and all other paintings. About two-thirds of the items are ilustrated, providing images of most of the naturalists who have shaped our understanding of the natural world over the past 200 years. Scientifically, the highlights are Carl Linnaeus, Sir Joseph Banks, Charles Darwin and William Smith. Notable artists represented include Homan Hunt, Nathaniel Dance and Wilhelm Kuhnert.
Beloved author Josie Iselin's collaged images of the treasures we live with as reminders of the beach—from sea glass to driftwood, shells to stones—evoke the timeless elements of sand, ocean, and refreshing sea air. In her writings, Iselin shares thoughts on the varied ways we experience the beach while also providing fascinating insights into the scientific ecosystem of the ocean, such as how the oyster constructs its shell and the ways in which algae is classified. At once an exploration and a meditation, Beach: A Book of Treasure will delight and inspire anyone who values the unique environment of the seashore and the myriad wonders found therein.