Plants have played a vital role in human history and yet they are often overlooked in terms of their importance in the very development of mankind.
There are the obvious choices such as crops like rice and wheat that feed whole populations, to herbs and spices that are highly prized for their medicinal qualities. Then there are the plants that are used in construction and cosmetics, dyes and special occasions.
Humans are also entirely dependent on plants for sustenance – even when we eat meat, the animals that provide it have been raised on plants.
This is a beautifully presented guide to the plants that have had the greatest economic, political and industrial impact on human civilisation.