{"product_id":"fifty-plants-that-changed-the-course-of-history","title":"Fifty Plants that Changed the Course of History","description":"\u003cp class=\"product_title entry-title\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFifty Plants that Changed the Course of History - \u003c\/strong\u003eby Bill Laws\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eFifty Plants that Changed the Course of History\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a beautifully presented guide to the plants that have had the greatest impact on human civilization. Entries feature a description of the plant, its botanical name, its native range and its primary functions--edible, medicinal, commercial or practical. Concise text is highlighted by elegant botanical drawings, paintings and photographs as well as insightful quotes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMany of the plants are well known, such as rice, tea, cotton, rubber, wheat, sugarcane, tobacco, wine grapes and corn. However, there are also many whose stories are less known. These history-changing plants include:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"a-unordered-list a-vertical\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAgave, used to make sisal, poison arrows, bullets, tequila and surgical thread\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePineapple, which influenced the construction of greenhouses\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHemp, used for hangman's rope, sustainable plastics, the Declaration of Independence and Levi's jeans\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCoconut, used for coir fiber, soap, margarine, cream, sterile IV drips and coagulants\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEucalyptus, used in mouthwash, diuretics, vitamins, honey, underwear and fire-resistant uniforms\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSweet pea, which Gregor Mendel used in his research on genetics\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhite mulberry, used to feed the caterpillars that make silk\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnglish oak, used for fire-resistant structures, dyes, leather tanning, charcoal, casks and ships\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhite willow, used in the manufacture of aspirin, cricket bats, hot-air balloon baskets and coffins.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis attractive reference provides an innovative perspective on both botanical and human history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"desc-name col-sm-12 col-xs-12\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"desc-author\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eBill Laws is a social historian and the author of 10 books. He has contributed to such publications as the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eGuardian\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eDaily Telegraph\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eBBC History\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e magazine. He lives in England.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"desc-author\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"desc-author\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAuthor: \u003c\/strong\u003eBill Laws\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"desc-author\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePublisher:  \u003c\/strong\u003eFirefly Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCopyright \u003c\/strong\u003e© 2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eISBN: \u003c\/strong\u003e  9781770855885\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePaperback: \u003c\/strong\u003e 224 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/strong\u003e 6.75\" x 9\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Historic Gardens Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42347498799206,"sku":"Book - Fifty Plants","price":19.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0196\/3052\/files\/FiftyPlants.jpg?v=1733848266","url":"https:\/\/historicgardens.com\/products\/fifty-plants-that-changed-the-course-of-history","provider":"Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens","version":"1.0","type":"link"}