This study examines plants associated with ritual purity, fertility, prosperity and life, and plants associated with ritual impurity, sickness, ill fate and death. It provides detail from history, ethnography, religious studies, classics, folklore, ethnobotany and medicine.

A “beautifully illustrated memoir, a deeply personal remembrance about the navigation into adulthood and the plants along the way. Touching and relatable.” (Lori Roberts, author of A Life of Gratitude) From Katie Vaz, author of Don’t Worry, Eat Cake, the beloved Make Yourself Cozy, and The Escape Manual for Introverts, comes My Life in Plants. Her newest book tells the story of her life through the thirty-nine plants that have played both leading and supporting roles, from her childhood to her wedding day. Plants include a homegrown wildflower bouquet wrapped in duct tape that she carried on stage at age three, to a fragrant basil plant that brought her and her kitchen back to life after grief. The stories are personal, poignant, heartwarming, and relatable, and will prompt readers to recall plants of their own that have been witness to both the amazing moments of life and the ordinary ones. This illustrated memoir covers the simplicity of home, the sharpness of loss, the lesson of learning to be present, and the journey of finding your way

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a genetically encoded, active process which results in the death of individual cells, tissues, or whole organs. PCD plays an essential role in plant development and defense, and occurs throughout a plant’s lifecycle from the death of the embryonic suspensor to leaf and floral organ senescence. In plant biology, PCD is a relatively new research area, however, as its fundamental importance is further recognized, publications in the area are beginning to increase significantly. The field currently has few foundational reference books and there is a critical need for books that summarizes recent findings in this important area. This book contains chapters written by several of the world’s leading researchers in PCD. This book will be invaluable for PhD or graduate students, or for scientists and researchers entering the field. Established researchers will also find this timely work useful as an up-to-date overview of this fascinating research area.

"This richly illustrated book provides an in-depth natural history of the most poisonous plants on earth, covering everything from the lethal effects of hemlock and deadly nightshade to the uses of such plants in medicine, ritual, and chemical warfare"--Dust jacket.

Harnessing Plant Wisdom for End-of-Life Care: Embracing Nature's Guidance for Conscious Living and Dying With Plants: Plant-based Palliative Care is an all-encompassing handbook that includes herbs, floral essences, aromatherapy, and homeopathy that are regularly utilized. It also includes secrets for supporting the heart, soul, spirit, and body during the journey of dying. Through his profound understanding of how plant medicine can facilitate the release of unprocessed feelings, experiences, and belief structures, John J. Horton skillfully honors the plant kingdom. He does this by sharing his profound knowledge of how plant medicine can help ease and support those who are nearing the end of their lives, as well as all the transitions that one goes through throughout their life's journey. I am required to be a student of life since I am a writer. This, of course, encompasses the concept of death, as the two are components of the same entity. You can only imagine how unsettling it was to learn that the topic is almost completely off-limits in the communities of the Western world. What a delightful discovery it was to then find John J. Horton's field guide to nature's treasure trove of plants that were hiding in plain sight, willing and able to assist us in the ultimate transition with dignity, grace, and ease! What a wonderful gift!" David Seidler, winner of an Academy Award for his work on "The King's Speech" This once-forbidden information has been smuggled across the decades by John, and as a result, many women have given their lives practicing and protecting it. Now, John is revealing and sharing this ageless wisdom in his voice, which is kind and generous. His work is an old salve, allowing us to step away from the corporatization of death and dying, and gently takes us back into the loving arms of Mother Nature." - Clara Moore Hendon, Producer, Studio Seven 13 "The profound sorrow I felt as a result of being a witness to a great number of deaths that were accompanied by anxiety and fear throughout my twelve years of service as a hospice nurse served as the impetus for me to look for ways to assist individuals in having a more peaceful transition. John's book is a bridge to getting to the fundamental source of that fear. I am excited about this resource, not only as a tool to help end-of-life care but also to offer guidance in using plant medicine to bring forward unresolved concerns before one gets to their dying bed. This is your reference guide on how to prepare for a beautiful spiritual passage." - Carol Meckley RN, BSN, LMT "For those of us who honor nature and want holistic health care, this easy-to-use guide gives end-of-life support in keeping with our values. In these pages, medicine woman John returns nature's wisdom to the dying process, even as he returns death to its rightful place in the wheel of life. As someone who supports the dying and their caregivers, as well as clients of all ages and stages who are dying to an old version of themselves, I am grateful for John's practical suggestions on how to partner with the wisdom of plants to support the multi-layered processes of conscious living, conscious dying and conscious grieving." - Melody LeBaron, Author of Transforming Death: Creating Sacred Space f or the Dying

The founder of Wild Food Adventures presents the definitive, fully illustrated guide to foraging and preparing wild edible greens. Beyond the confines of our well-tended vegetable gardens, there is a wide variety of fresh foods growing in our yards, neighborhoods, or local woods. All that’s needed to take advantage of this wild bounty is a little knowledge and a sense of adventure. In Edible Wild Plants, wild foods expert John Kallas covers easy-to-identify plants commonly found across North America. The extensive information on each plant includes a full pictorial guide, recipes, and more. This volume covers four types of wild greens: Foundation Greens: wild spinach, chickweed, mallow, and purslane Tart Greens: curlydock, sheep sorrel, and wood sorrel Pungent Greens: wild mustard, wintercress, garlic mustard, and shepherd’s purse Bitter Greens: dandelion, cat’s ear, sow thistle, and nipplewort