A celebration of the beauty, diversity, significance, and wondrous nature of the most exceptional trees, with stunning illustrations from the incredible collections of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. More than 60,000 species of trees exist in an astonishing variety of forms, sizes, and habitats. Each tree has its own story, and here more than 60 are included, selected for their particular significance and connection to humanity, representing most of the major zones and ecologies of the world.

In this compact edition, portraits combining lively cultural and historical narration with solid scientific grounding reveal the details of trees from around the world, both familiar and strange. We use timber for construction and creations, have discovered which tree fruits and seeds are delicious and which can harm or heal, as well as which species can add color and spirituality to our lives – from mahogany wood to the delights of chocolate and pomegranates, from the medicinal tea tree to the deadly mandrake, and from fragrant incense to the precious dragon’s blood tree.

Artists and botanists have been inspired by trees for centuries, and a diverse and beautiful series of images from Kew's unrivaled archive illustrate the stories, creating this enlightening and enchanting book.

Pages: 256, Year of Publication: 0829, Dimensions: 16.8x16.8cm