{"product_id":"plant-life-a-brief-history-9780199362646","title":"Plant Life: A Brief History","description":"Charles Darwin, the father of the theory of evolution, described the evolutionary origin of flowering plants, which appear to have risen abruptly during the late Cretaceous Period, as an abominable mystery. The first seed plants appeared in the fossil record some 230 million years earlier, \u003cbr\u003ebut the transitions leading to the flowering plants left few fossils and remain obscure. The evolutionary history of photosynthetic organisms is full of mysteries great and small, including the origin of photosynthesis itself, the origins of multiple independent lines of algae, the loss of flagella\u003cbr\u003ein the red algae, the origin of sporophytes in vascular and non-vascular plants, the early diversification of seed plants, and the origin of the unique monocots. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003cem\u003ePlant Life: A Brief History\u003c\/em\u003e, botanist Frederick Essig traces how familiar features of plants evolved sequentially over hundreds of millions of years as various environmental challenges and opportunities were met. This chronological narrative begins with the origin of photosynthesis and the rise\u003cbr\u003eof cyanobacteria, continues with the evolution and diversification of photosynthetic eukaryotes and their invasion of dry land, explores the varied adaptations for sexual reproduction and dispersal in the terrestrial environment, and concludes with the diverse growth forms of the flowering plants.\u003cbr\u003eAs different groups of photosynthetic organisms are introduced, the book emphasizes the adaptations that enabled them to gain dominance in existing habitats or move into new habitats. Readers will acquire a deeper understanding of the diverse photosynthetic organisms humans depend upon for food, \u003cbr\u003eoxygen, medicine, building materials, and aesthetic pleasure. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith accessible writing and a myriad of figures and illustrations, Essig provides a broad overview of plant evolution that will appeal to students and general audiences alike. \u003cem\u003ePlant Life: A Brief History\u003c\/em\u003e is a valiant step in the quest to unravel the abominable mysteries of plant evolution, and\u003cbr\u003eoffers a compelling introduction to the exciting and complex world of evolutionary biology.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Frederick B. Essig\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press, USA\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/03\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 280\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.20lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.30h x 6.50w x 1.20d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780199362646\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 08\/01\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrederick B. Essig\u003c\/strong\u003e is an Associate Professor Emeritus of Biology at the University of South Florida. His career has included basic research on the systematics of palms and Clematis, service as Director of the USF Botanical Garden, and the teaching of biological diversity and botany. His work has taken him to Papua New Guinea, Australia, South Africa and tropical America. His most recent research publications include A systematic histological analysis of palm fruits. VIII. The Dypsidinae (Arecaceae) (Brittonia, 2008). He currently blogs about diverse aspects of plant life at botanyprofessor.blogspot.com.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThis title is not returnable\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oxford University Press, USA","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":40455048790131,"sku":"9.7802E+12","price":188.21,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/9255\/0515\/products\/img_12916729-a051-4afb-a72a-3c9c16a29258.jpg?v=1663679553","url":"https:\/\/bookstorenmore.com\/products\/plant-life-a-brief-history-9780199362646","provider":"Bookstore N More","version":"1.0","type":"link"}