Biology of Plants

by Peter H. Raven

Botany Text that presents info about plants in an accurate, accessible, well-illustrated, and interesting way. Full of color plates.

Genres: Science, Biology, Nonfiction, Textbooks, Plants, Reference, Nature

791 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Cheri]

I'M SO FREAKING EXCITED ABOUT READING THIS BOOK IT'S NOT EVEN FUNNY

[Alex Miao]

I read select chapters from this book in preparation for the USA Biology Olympiad. For my purpose, this book was a bit too detailed but definitely provided important insight into plant physiology. One of the best aspects of the text was the diagrams and drawings which greatly improve understanding. However, images are not positioned well relative to the page; I found myself flipping forwards or backwards three pages to find the image being referenced. The book suffers from a lack of organization, often jumping from discussion about plant anatomy to molecular biology without much of a transition. I would like to see more charts comparing and contrasting features and ideas in later editions.

[Zardoshti Amirreza]

It is good book for concept and it's picture is not excitant

[Ravenous Raven of Mordor]

Not to be confused with animal cells.

Incredible amount of work has gone into producing such an immaculate text. With an array of detailed life cycles, images, annotated diagrams and scientific names to clog any piece of machinery, my brain included, made this the number one text to study plants.
The most helpful attributes of the text was the appendix, (the use of a glossary is vastly underrated), and the geological era, directly as you open the cover. Why? Well, with the Earth’s continental drift continuously changing shape and atmosphere over the past 4.5 billion years, and the land plants first colonising the land 500 million years ago, during the time of the supercontinent Gondwana, it is quite easy to loose track of where plants have distributed. So when a fossil appears in say, Africa, when the only known whereabouts of that particular plant has been in America for instance, the geological eras help immensely.

As always...
5 Stars.

Bonuses -

The largest plant ever recorded is called Poseidon's ribbon weed or Posidonia australis. It is a seagrass off the coast of Australia and measures 180km or 111.8 miles, (for my American friends), in length.
That’s one and a half times as long as the 405 interstate, or one and two thirds the size of the English Channel or 947,368 HB pencils.

[Kevin]

An excellent reference for plant-related information. From the basics to a fairly decent amount on physiology.

[Daniele Monterotti]

Il libro l'ho letto ma comunque m'hanno bocciato :(

[sbs transit]

"I'm sorry, I can't take you seriously seeing you holding that" ~ Lau I. K. E., 2022, upon observing me holding a copy of Raven Biology of Plants (Paperback)

[Sofia]

An absolute treasure, whether the focus is on anatomy, evolution of physiology. Back when I was an undergrad, this book had been the sole responsible for saving generations of students from failing the course under a terrible teacher.

[Hament]

whole

[Rain]

I didn't read the textbook for my general botany class as much as I probably should have. Though it was a crutial tool for a lab report I had to write on a nutrient experiment and when I needed to review stuff from lecture I was always able to find the informtion I wanted. Overall, I think it's a good reference tool and I'm certain it would help people who are struggling to better understand the material.

[Eurus]

As a Botany Graduate, going for Postgrad, I would love to state on all the credibility that I have, that this single book is one of the finest Textbooks on Botany ever to be authored, tailored meticulously by the Author. I have read it quite a few times at this point and I would suggest it to anyone who is actually interested in starting his/her/their journey in Botanical Studies. Loved every single leaf of it. xoxoxo

[Calvin]

The book is a text at the university level but can be used as a reference for specific topics in high school biology classes.

Topics: Plant cell biology, Plants morphology and classification, algae, fungi, and Taxonomy

Relevance:
Grade 10 Science, SNC2D, Strand B – Tissues, Organs, and Systems of Living Things
Grade 11 Biology, SBI3U, Strand B – Diversity of Living Things

[jrendocrine at least reading is good]

I read this slowly over the last year. It's gorgeously illustrated, thorough, well structured - everything anyone could want in a textbook. Though I may be the one of the few that wanted to read a textbook.

[Eline]

The 11 pages of further reading recommendations were maybe a bit much. Nice illustrations though. (this is an American textbook, which means that there is A LOT of story telling. Not inherently bad per se, but they could make it 150 pages shorter without any actual information getting lost)

[Jeremy Darmanin]

A highly informative textbook that dives not only into the diversity, structure and physiology of plants, but also into algae, fungi and prokaryotes. Unfortunately very little information on biochemistry and molecular biology other than the general introduction.

[Tami]

This book makes studying plants almost enjoyable. They are not just boring creatures, they are much more 💖

[Alexa]

Thanks for helping me pass my botany final, I really appreciate it.

[Joel]

Excellent. I bought it when I was briefly back in school, studying basic ecology. I use it as a reference.

[Stephanie Fysh]

Top-notch textbook. Deserves a new edition.

[árion]

substantial lack of detailed imagery, but nothing that can't be supplemented with other good textbooks.

[Hanna Lindh]

Read this for my course in basic plant physiology, a very in depth study on plants, but interesting.
Read chapters 2-9, 14, and 23-30.

[Otto Geerinckx]

Boeken die vanbuiten te kennen zijn,
zet ik hier voor de schone schijn

[Sathvik Kakanuru]

This book dives in to the intricacies and exquisite details of biology, especially in relation to plants. At first, starting from a broad perspective of fundamental biology to narrowing down to the specialties and differences of plants, the book explains the processes and concepts of biology clearly and concisely. The pictures in the book are phenomenal and provide a whole new meaning to the text in the book. The formatting of the book helps show the importance of various words and their definitions/roles in biology by using boldened words, italics and fluidity between sentences and even concepts. One negative aspect of the book, in my opinion, is the amount of text used on describing taxonomical groups and biosystematics. Relative to most other concepts, these are not as worthwhile, but they are covered to a huge percent in this book.

[Marcus Athaydes Liesenfeld]

Bom, de tanto estudar nesse livro, pra mestrado, me preparando pro concurso de professor, pra preparação de aulas, posso dizer que já o li umas duas ou três vezes. "Bíblia" importante na formação de todo botânico.

[Mandy]

This is one of my favorite books. It's a wonderful reference book. I also enjoyed reading it cover-to-cover.

[D]

A book that is heavy on detail. This is an awesome text on everything and anything you may want to know about plants.

[Elena]

Easy to understand, great diagrams, and a world of information.

[Saura]

I love this book.

[B]

This edition is out dated and had to go to the internet for better information.

[Ari]

I prefer the summaries to actually reading the text. Biology requires a lot of attention to memories and detail.