Studies in floral biology are largely concerned with how flowers function to promote pollination and mating. The role of pollination in governing mating patterns in plant populations inextricably links the evolution of pollination and mating systems. Despite the close functional link between pollination and mating, research conducted for most of this century on these two fundamental aspects of plant reproduction has taken quite separate courses. This has resulted in suprisingly little cross-fertilization between the fields of pollination biology on the one hand and plant mating-system studies on the other. The separation of the two areas has largely resulted from the different backgrounds and approaches adopted by workers in these fields. Most pollination studies have been ecological in nature with a strong emphasis on field research and until recently few workers considered how the mechanics of pollen dispersal might influence mating patterns and individual plant fitness. In contrast, work on plant mating patterns has often been conducted in an ecological vacuum largely devoid of information on the environmental and demographic context in which mating occurs. Mating-system research has been dominated by population genetic and theoretical perspectives with surprisingly little consideration given to the proximate ecological factors responsible for causing a particular pattern of mating to occur.

An exploration of the roles flowers play in the production of our foods, spices, medicines, and perfumes reveals their origins, myriad shapes, colors, textures and scents, bizarre sex lives, and how humans-- and the natural world-- relate and depend upon them.

The study of plant development using molecular and genetic techniques is rapidly becoming one of the most active areas of research on flowering plants. Developmental Biology of Flowering Plants relates classical developmental work with the outstanding problems of the future in the study of plant development. An important feature of this book is the integration of results from molecular and genetic studies on various aspects of plant development in a cellular and physiological context.

A unique account of the structure, biology and evolution of tropical flowering plants.

Floral biology, floral function, sexual systems, diversification.

"This is an absolutely delightful book. Barth, an outstanding sensory physiologist, has written the story of the partnership between insects and flowers with a much needed emphasis on the insects' sensory world."--Bert Hlldobler, Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology, Harvard University "The author's style, excellently conveyed in translation, is sprightly and engaging. Numerous descriptions of experimental procedures and frequent references to the prominent investigators take the book beyond a facts-only' approach."--Alexander F. Motten, The Quarterly Review of Biology "The sometimes bizarre and fantastic ways in which flowers ensure pollination has been the material for numerous excellent books, most of them written from a botanical perspective. There is also, however, an equally interesting zoological side to the story.... Barth's book serves as an introduction to this world of insects and plants, highlighting many recent discoveries about their coevolution."--Bernd Heinrich, Orion Nature Quarterly "Wonderfully interesting.... This book should reach the hands of all kinds of biologists, nature enthusiasts, and those gardeners who wonder about the whys and hows of their growing plants."--Alma L. Moldenke, Phytologia "Once in a long while, a book comes along that is an unqualified delight. Insects and Flowers is such a book.... Examples of flower/insect partnerships are presented in lucid prose reminiscent of the best of Charles Darwin's expositions. This is scientific writing of an uncommonly high order."--R. F. Sutton, The Forestry Chronicle