cover image A World of Plants: Treasures from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

A World of Plants: Treasures from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Heather Angel. Little Brown and Company, $35 (160pp) ISBN 978-0-8212-2040-5

The edifice at Kew collects an estimated 37,000 rare plant species from the world over; Angel, a photographer and writer, focuses on the rare flora for their beauty. There's purple toothwort, for example, which must grow on the roots of poplars and willows, a lovely parasite. The king protea looks both glamorous and carnivorous, with spikes of pink outstretched on the rim of a large, devouringly royal center. The amazing giant granadilla, a passion flower, streams purple-brown-and-white ribbon-like profusion, while the Bolivian cactus bears scarlet tufts by way of flowers. Angel takes us on a vivid tour of Kew Gardens and its progeny, including a few fauna along with the flora--geese, pheasants, herons, squirrels. Though this is not a travel book, it might as well be used as one--from the comfort and frustration of a sofa, settee, or armchair. (Aug.)