Uncover Darwin’s most important writings about plants with this important collection featuring
expert interpretations and rare illustrations. Charles Darwin is best known for his work on the
evolution of animals but in fact a large part of his contribution to the natural sciences is
focused on plants. His observations are crucial to our modern understanding of everything from
the amazing pollination process of orchids to the way that vines climb. Darwin and the Art of
Botany collects writings from six often overlooked texts devoted entirely to plants and pairs
each excerpt with beautiful botanical art from the library at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation
creating a gorgeously illustrated volume that never existed in Darwin' s own lifetime and
hasn' t since. Evolutionary botanist and science historian James Costa brings his expertise
to each entry situating Darwin' s words in the context of the knowledge and research of the
time. The result is a new way of visualizing Darwin' s work and a greater understanding of
the ways he' s shaped our world.
