You’ll learn how different plant parts function (do you know what stomata are and why every leaf has hundreds of them?), the traits that separate plants from animals, and how through eons of evolution the plants we grow in our gardens and homes have developed a million different fascinating adaptations that allow them to survive and thrive. From their leaf shape and growth habit to how they have sex and metabolize the nutrients they absorb, A Gardener’s Guide to Botany covers it all in an accessible and thought-provoking way.

Divided into chapters based on what plants need to survive, some of the topics include:

• How plants convert water, air, and sunshine into roots, stems, leaves, and flowers through photosynthesis
• How plants react to their environment and  “know” when it’s right for supporting growth and reproduction
• How light can inhibit or facilitate chemical reactions in a plant 
• How plants access and use water and different nutrients, including through lifelong partnerships with other living organisms 
• How plants reproduce in some pretty ingenious ways, both with and without sex
• How plant genes are dispersed via seeds spread by wind, water, animals, or by the mechanics of the plant or the seed itself

Learn about all things botanical, including the enlightening science of plant communication, hormones, insect relationships, and even plant sleep. Plus, learn the many varied ways plants protect themselves, from growing spines and producing toxic leaf compounds to emitting volatile chemicals that serve as messages to insect predators or warning signals to neighboring plants. Through beautiful illustrations, full-color photographs of plants from around the world, and fascinating and relatable text, get to know your plant family like you never have before!