Excerpt from Plants and Their Ways in South Africa For several reasons it has seemed desirable to extend the first edition of this book into a second, and in doing so additions have been made, in some cases with considerable reluctance. Not that the first edition was by any means regarded as complete. The book was first written with a view of attracting young eyes to objects of interest in the plant world that could be enjoyed without the use of a compound microscope. In a measure the object was attained, at least sufficiently to show that a microscope was by no means indispensable for students beginning to observe plant life. When contemplating revision, suggestions were asked of young teachers, and some of them seemed to find the lack of a lesson on internal anatomy-one of the disadvantages of the former edition. In order to meet their needs a short lesson on this subject has been added, together with a more extended synopsis of the Natural Orders of South African plants. While these additions appear somewhat as excrescences to the more elementary chapters of the book, the hope is entertained that their usefulness to those for whom they have been written will justify their insertion. It is a pleasure to acknowledge gratefully my indebtedness to those who have aided me in the work of revision. Miss Alette Hugo and Miss Avrylle Bottomley have given valued assistance in pen-and-ink drawings. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

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4e de couv.: People's Plants is a scientific review of all of the most important useful plants of southern Africa. It remains the first and only fully illustrated ethnobotanical reference source for southern Africa. In this expanded and updated second edition, traditional and contemporary uses of more than 700 plants are described and illustrated in 20 chapters, each dealing with a specific category of plant use. This fascinating book is a must for anyone interested in useful plants, new crop plants, medicinal plants, new product development, ecotourism, rural development, traditional crafts, African culture, ethnobotany and botany in general--Publisher's website.

An exploration of how plant behavior and adaptation offer valuable insights for human thriving. We know that plants are important. They maintain the atmosphere by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. They nourish other living organisms and supply psychological benefits to humans as well, improving our moods and beautifying the landscape around us. But plants don’t just passively provide. They also take action. Beronda L. Montgomery explores the vigorous, creative lives of organisms often treated as static and predictable. In fact, plants are masters of adaptation. They “know” what and who they are, and they use this knowledge to make a way in the world. Plants experience a kind of sensation that does not require eyes or ears. They distinguish kin, friend, and foe, and they are able to respond to ecological competition despite lacking the capacity of fight-or-flight. Plants are even capable of transformative behaviors that allow them to maximize their chances of survival in a dynamic and sometimes unfriendly environment. Lessons from Plants enters into the depth of botanic experience and shows how we might improve human society by better appreciating not just what plants give us but also how they achieve their own purposes. What would it mean to learn from these organisms, to become more aware of our environments and to adapt to our own worlds by calling on perception and awareness? Montgomery’s meditative study puts before us a question with the power to reframe the way we live: What would a plant do?