September 1, 2010

Library Spotlight - “Plant Discoveries: A Botanist’s Voyage Through Plant Exploration”

One of the many subjects covered by the Arboretum Library is botanical history.  Plant Discoveries: A Botanist's Voyage Through Plant Exploration by Sandra Knapp (Buffalo, N.Y.: Firefly Books, 2003), is a beautiful book that describes the history of several major categories of plants.  She explains the historical and geographic background of peonies, roses, conifers, heathers and morning-glories, among others.  Stories about the explorers who first documented specific plants are combined with explanations of historical usage of others.  This hefty book is lavishly illustrated with historical botanical illustrations that mostly date from the late 18th to early 19th centuries.
To find this book in the Arboretum Library look here.