But plants have more than power over our senses; they also influence our very lives. Think about it. The madness to discover new varieties has driven explorers to search the world for new plants, while doctors have devoted themselves to experimenting with leaves and bark to create life-saving medicines. Beautiful flowers have inspired artists, poets, and authors. Vegetables and fruits have been intricately linked to science, deadly poisons, wars, romance, and even state fairs and fairy tales.
Because plants have so much power, the publishing division at National Geographic has just produced an absolutely gorgeous new book to celebrate them. Take a look at this cover:
My copy is in the mail, and I can't wait for it to arrive. Flora Mirabilis, which means, "many flowers," will be available wherever books are sold.
I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at the book, and with permission, I'm sharing an excerpt from it here. Enjoy this list of the most influential plants in the world (click on the image to enlarge it):
"TOP TEN PLANTS THAT SHAPED THE WORLD," by Catherine Herbert Howell, author of “FLORA MIRABILIS: How Plants Have Shaped World Knowledge, Health, Wealth, and Beauty,” National Geographic, October 2009
