Product Description

Newly updated, Botany: An Introduction to Plant Biology, Fourth Edition provides an current, thorough overview of the fundamentals of botany. The topics and chapters are organized in a sequence that is easy to follow, beginning with the most familiar (structure) and proceeding to the less familiar (metabolism) then finishing with those topics that are probably the least familiar to most beginning students (genetics, evolution, the diversity of organisms, and ecology). The diversity and systematics are organized on a cladistics basis. An emphasis on natural selection throughout the book allows the instructor to incorporate analysis of diversity of structures and metabolisms into every subject. Believing that a knowledge of evolution by natural selection is essential for understanding biological structure and processes, the author works throughout the text to convey how powerful a concept natural selection is. Beginning with Chapter 1, selective advantage and fitness are referred to or discussed in every chapter and on almost every page. Natural selection is covered in detail in Chapter 17 after students have become rather sophisticated in their knowledge of plants and botanical phenomena.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83048 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 672 pages

Customer Reviews

Clear and beautifully illustrated text
I bought this book for my undergraduate degree in Biology, and it was one of the best biology books I every used. It is beautifully illustrated, and the writing style is clear, carefully explained, concise and accessible. Coverage is broad enough to fit most university courses, and the text goes into sufficient depth to cover botany throughout your university studies. The transparencies which allow you to see the 3D structure of a plant cell are really handy, and a most unusual feature in this sort of book. Like many biology students, the idea of studying botany was not one that kept me on the edge of my seat with excitement! However, plant biology is an essential part of most biology degrees, and Mauseth actually manages to make it interesting. I strongly recommend this text to anyone studying biology at undergraduate level.

This book is all you need!
I've been studying horticulture for a couple of months now and I have finally found the ultimate text book! This book has all the information I've been looking for. And the Tutor-CD is definitely a bonus! Not to mention the BotanyLinks...

unbelievable splendid service !
This most interesting book on plant-biology and - anatomy is not rare, but probably out of stock in the Belgian bookshops. Amazon seemed to be the only bookshop that could help us. It is unbelievable how fast we got a confirmation that the item was available. After payment it took no more than four days to bring it to Belgium and drop it in our postbox. Isn't that service ? ! Congratulations, Amazon and many thanks !
Etienne Mahieu Belgium