Plants form a fundamental element of the biosphere & the evolution of plants has directly affected the evolution of animal life & the evolution of the Earth's climate Plants have also become essential to humans not only in the form of cereal crops fruit & vegetables but in their many other uses in wood & paper & in providing medicines Their aesthetic importance too in our parks & gardens as well as in wildflower meadows & great forests should not be underestimated In this Very Short Introduction Timothy Walker Director of the Botanical Gardens in Oxford provides a concise account of the nature of plants their variety their evolution & their importance & uses stressing the need & efforts for their conservation for future generations ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable