Flora contains 20 essays on the history of key plant families and over 160 illustrations. Those profiled include cacti, daffodils, iris, magnolia, poppies, roses, tulips and waterlilies. The book explains how plants have adopted remarkable behaviours for survival in a variety of harsh habitats and also tells the remarkable stories of the adventurous botanist explorers who braved disease, slave traders, wars, jungles and other dangers to collect plants now commonly grown in our own gardens. Flora is graced with hundreds of stunning colour illustrations selected from the vast collection of original botanical paintings held at the Natural History Museum in London. Accompanying the book are 36 beautiful colour prints, reproduced directly from Flora and printed on the highest quality paper, perfect for framing.