In 'Anatomy Of A Rose', Sharman Apt Russell unveils the "secret lives" of flowers. From their diverse fragrances to their nasty deceptions, she reveals that the science behind these intelligent plants - how the evolved, how they survive, how they heal - is as awe-inspiring as their fleeting beauty.
Russell helps us imagine what a field of snapdragons looks like to a honeybee, and she introduces us to flowers that regulate their own temperature, attract pollinating bats, even smell like a rotting corpse. She also delves into cutting-edge research on everything from flower senses to their healing power. Long used to ease everything from depression to childbirth, flowers have also contributed to the fight against childhood leukaemia and the deadly Ebola virus.
In this wonderful piece of writing, which combines a poet's eye with a scientist's clarity, Russell brings together the work of botanists around the globe, and illuminates a world at once familiar and exotic. As quirky and amusing as Susan Orlean's 'The Orchid Thief' and as intriguing as Anna Pavord's 'The Tulip', 'Anatomy Of A Rose' is a must for anyone who loves flowers.
