Reaching for the Sun
How Plants Work

A lively introduction to how plants function covering everything from energetics and development to their interaction with the environment.

John King (Author)

9780521736688, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 6 January 2011

310 pages, 16 b/w illus.
22.8 x 15.3 x 1.5 cm, 0.5 kg

'… highly recommended for any citizen looking for a straightforward and thorough overview of plants and their lives.' Plant Science Bulletin

From their ability to use energy from sunlight to make their own food, to combating attacks from diseases and predators, plants have evolved an amazing range of life-sustaining strategies. Written with the non-specialist in mind, John King's lively natural history explains how plants function, from how they gain energy and nutrition to how they grow, develop and ultimately die. New to this edition is a section devoted to plants and the environment, exploring how problems created by human activities, such as global warming, pollution of land, water and air, and increasing ocean acidity, are impacting on the lives of plants. King's narrative provides a simple, highly readable introduction, with boxes in each chapter offering additional or more advanced material for readers seeking more detail. He concludes that despite the challenges posed by growing environmental perils, plants will continue to dominate our planet.

Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Part I. Plants and Energy: 1. Photosynthesis: the leitmotiv of life
2. Plant respiration: breathing without lungs
References
Part II. Plant Nutrition: 3. Plants are cool, but why?
4. Nutrition for the healthy lifestyle
5. Nitrogen, nitrogen, everywhere ...
6. Transport of delights
References
Part III. Growth and Development: 7. Growth: the long and the short of it
8. The time of their lives
9. A dash of seasoning
10. Dormancy: a matter of survival
11. Color, fragrance, and flavor
References
Part IV. Stress, Defense, and Decline: 12. Stressful tranquility
13. Chemical warfare
14. Senescence and death
References
Part V. Plants and the Environment: 15. Elemental cycles
16. The human touch
Appendix. Genetic engineering in a rapidly changing world
References
Epilogue
Index.

Subject Areas: Pollution & threats to the environment [RNP], Plant ecology [PSTS], Plant reproduction & propagation [PSTL], Plant physiology [PSTD], Botany & plant sciences [PST]