The peculiar British obsession with gardens has a long history, and the book Plants: From Roots to Riches takes us back to the beginning of it all. In 25 vivid episodes, Kathy Willis, the charming Science Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, shows us how the last 250 years have transformed our relationship with plants. Behind the scenes at the Botanic Gardens, various surprises have occurred. As the British Empire painted the map red, explorers, adventurers, and scientists returned to London with the most interesting specimens and information. From the discovery of Botany Bay to the horrors of potato cultivation, from orchid hunters to quinine smugglers, understanding how plants work has changed our history and could secure our future. In the style of A History of the World in 100 Objects, each chapter tells a distinct story, but together they reveal a great picture of our amazing science, botany. Plants: From Roots to Riches is a beautifully designed book, filled with 200 images in color and black and white from the remarkable archives at Kew, some of which have never been reproduced before. Kathy Willis and Carolyn Fry, the acclaimed popular science writer, have also added various fascinating additional stories, heroes and villains, unforgettable tales, and interviews. Their book takes us on an exciting journey through our past and future, illustrating how vital plants are.