Reviews
The Plants Darwin Loved belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in plants and botany or who loves botanical art. It’s easy to think of Charles Darwin, who developed the theory of evolution, as a zoologist, but he was also a botanist who made an enormous contribution, publishing 75 botanical papers and six books. This 508-page brick of a book is so beautiful that you can feast your eyes on it without feeling daunted by its length. It contains Darwin’s original wood engravings and more than 100
James Costa et al.: The plants Darwin loved
Why was Charles Darwin, author of On the Origin of Species, fascinated by plants right up until his death? Discover the marvelous plant world through the eyes of Darwin, the original “plant parent”! “No discovery of mine has given me greater pleasure than discovering the secret of flowers.” — Charles Darwin. Known for opening new horizons in our understanding of life through evolution, Darwin is considered one of history’s greatest biologists. Although known for animal research, he was also the original “plant parent.” Down House, where he lived for more than 40 years until his death, had extensive gardens and six greenhouses. He devoted most of his time there to plant research until he died in 1882, publishing 75 papers and six books in botany. Seeing the 30-centimeter nectar spur of Angraecum sesquipedale, Darwin hypothesized that an insect with a long proboscis must exist. Later, the long-tongued hawk moth Xanthopan was discovered, confirming his prediction, and the plant was nicknamed “Darwin’s orchid.” Despite his groundbreaking contributions to botany, Darwin’s identity as a botanist has received little attention. This book brings that side, obscured by his reputation as a zoologist, back into view.
Korean title: 다윈이 사랑한 식물
Korean author: 제임스 코스타 외
Korean publisher: 다산북스
ISBN-13: 9791130652511
Reviews
The Plants Darwin Loved belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in plants and botany or who loves botanical art. It’s easy to think of Charles Darwin, who developed the theory of evolution, as a zoologist, but he was also a botanist who made an enormous contribution, publishing 75 botanical papers and six books. This 508-page brick of a book is so beautiful that you can feast your eyes on it without feeling daunted by its length. It contains Darwin’s original wood engravings and more than 100
