From the earliest manuscripts penned by visionary naturalists, to the modern tomes that continue to shape our understanding of the plant kingdom, this book is a testament to the tireless dedication of the world's greatest botanists. Its compelling narrative and visual journey make it a must-have addition to the library of anyone fascinated by the beauty and complexity of the plant kingdom.

This complete guide traces the development of botanical science through era-defining publications, covering:

• Historia Plantarum, the first history of botany, written between c. 350 BC and c. 287 BC, in which Theophrastus described plants by their uses, and attempted a biological classification, based on how plants reproduced, to the authors of the herbals of the 16th century
• Brunfels, Fuchs, Bock and Mattioli, who regarded plants as the vehicles of medicinal virtues
• The golden age of the 18th- and 19th-century flower hunters, who travelled to every corner of the world in search of new and exotic plants
• Today's most significant works of botanical reference