An epic celebration of the beauty, variety, significance, and wondrous nature of plants, featuring exquisite illustrations from the collections of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Plants feed us, clothe us, provide shelter, transport us, and can both intoxicate and heal us. From staple foods to exotic and enchanting flowers, plants are essential for our well-being and that of the planet. Helen and William Bynum are expert guides to the fascinating stories and uses of over 80 essential plants. Rich in cultural, historical, botanical, and symbolic connections, plants from every corner of the world—both familiar and strange—have intriguing stories to tell. Starting with foods that were fundamental to the development of civilizations, such as wheat, rice, and corn, and those that bring our diet to life, such as saffron and spices, the sections explore plants that have contributed to creating our material world, such as bamboo and oak, as well as crops that have enriched people, such as tea, coffee, and sugarcane. Many plants have been used medicinally, and others, like eucalyptus or giant sequoias, have become symbols of entire landscapes. Some are objects of obsession, such as the tulip, the rose, and the lotus, and some are particularly peculiar, like the world's largest flower, the rafflesia, which smells of rotting flesh! For anyone interested in the extraordinary beauty and variety of the flora around us, this magnificent book, enriched with botanical drawings, paintings, and art, will be a source of inspiration and enjoyment.