This accessible, comprehensive glossary covers all the descriptive terms for plants that one is likely to encounter in botanical writing, including everything from magazine articles to plant field guides, scientific papers, and monographs. An essential companion, it presents 3,600 botanical terms, accompanied by full definitions and detailed illustrations to aid in identification, all laid out in a clear, easy-to-use fashion. It will be indispensable for plant scientists, conservationists, horticulturists, gardeners, writers, and anyone working with plant descriptions, plant identification keys, floras, or field guides.

Henk J. Beentje is a botanist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew with considerable field experience in Africa and Madagascar.

“Catnip for the garden geek. But this fascinating, authoritative volume may seduce even the most casual browser into rolling around in Malpighian hairs, mamillated forms, petioloid tendencies, and xeric habitats.”

“The Kew Plant Glossary contains more than 4,100 botanical terms used to describe plants. If you've ever found yourself struggling to decipher the terms in a plant description, or would just like a simple explanation of the difference between spines and thorns, this little book will surely come in handy. Students and professionals in the plant sciences will find it equally useful.”