The Secret Life of Flowers

Author: Rose
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Did you know? The vibrant colors of flowers are not just for beauty, and their enchanting fragrance is not just to fill a room with scent. This is their way of survival. Can you imagine? Flowers can "see" wavelengths invisible to us, "taste" the saliva of pollinators, and even regulate their own temperature. Flowers might be more perceptive, more foresighted, and more wise in survival than we are. This poetic meditation is about science, aesthetics, and the heart. It combines beautiful prose with the clear logic of scientists, integrating the research findings of botanists worldwide to illuminate a world that is both familiar and alien. This book blends botany and the history of science, vividly describing how flowers have evolved, survived, and healed, using their shapes, colors, and scents to bluff and entice pollinating visitors; how they choose the best locations to bask in sunlight; and how they know when to release pollen for maximum benefit. The author not only introduces us to a variety of mischievous flower species but also delves into topics such as the fragrance of flowers and their perception. For humans, what is even more important is the healing power of flowers. Early humans used flowers to alleviate depression and labor pains, and now they are applied to treating childhood leukemia and the deadly Ebola virus, as well as cleaning land contaminated with toxic substances or absorbing radioactive elements.