Oceania, particularly in Vanuatu, gardens are the evidence of an ancestral rural tradition in which food plants are at one and the same time an indispensable resource, the symbols of a community and the objects of baiter or trade. The ni-Vanuatu devote themselves with true passion to their gardens, within which they collect, select and diversify a rich botanical heritage.Perusing this abundantly illustrated work, the reader will discover the full diversity of Oceanian food plants as well a...

Root and tuber crops are important to agriculture, food security and income for 2.2 billion people in developing countries. These species produce large quantities of dietary energy and have stable yields under difficult environmental conditions. This second edition of Tropical Root and Tuber Crops is an authoritative treatment of four important root and tuber crops: cassava. sweet potato, yams, and aroids. The same format is followed for each crop: Origin and History, Taxonomy and Botany, ...

• The most comprehensive book ever written on nature's most effective stress-relieving plant.• First paperback edition of the classic comprehensive text originally published by Yale University Press.This complete guide to kava summarizes the literature and research on a plant that is now considered comparable or superior to anti-stress prescription drugs, and describes its use in the religious, political, and economic life of the Pacific islands for centuries. Beyond its so...

This lavishly illustrated guide covers the cultivated and wild edible plant species of Vanuatu. Over 200 species grown for their tubers or roots, woody species and creepers that provide fruits or seeds, and herbaceous species, from sugarcane to mint, are quoted or described in short sheets of essential facts. The guide was designed to familiarize those in the West with the food plants used in Oceania and tell the Oceanians about the origin and use of introduced plants, and is accessible to...

A photographic masterpiece, this beautiful book is a fitting tribute to the baobab – an extraordinary and majestic tree found principally in Madagascar, and peripherally in Africa and Australia.The first section offers a short introduction to the classification and general description of baobabs, details of their life history, biogeography, dispersal and their role in people’s lives. The second section comprises a guide to each of the eight baobab species, including botanical descr...

A blend of history, science, philosophy, and environmentalism, The Tree is an engaging and elegant look at the life of the tree and what modern research tells us about their future.There are redwoods in California that were ancient by the time Columbus first landed, and pines still alive that germinated around the time humans invented writing. There are Douglas firs as tall as skyscrapers, and a banyan tree in Calcutta as big as a football field.Fr...

Now outdoorsman and survivalists can own this comprehensive and handy guide to edible plants authored by the US Army. Whether you are a stranded soldier, a wilderness hiker, or you just want to know which plants growing in your backyard are edible, this is an invaluable resource.Nothing is more important for the outdoorsman than being prepared to survive in the wild, and the ability to recognize edible plants is an indispensable way to do so. When survival is the c...

The Quick & Easy series features educational value-priced books. All pet owners will benefit from reading the wide variety of titles in this series each offering an abundance of advice in a delightfully concise format. This book is a complete guide to setting up and maintaining a saltwater aquarium. It is perfect for the beginner hobbyist it includes detailed descriptions of many secies of saltwater fish.

The Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs describes and illustrates over 2,000 varieties. With Over 30,000 color photographs, this encyclopedia is for every naturalist from the novice to the experienced observer.FEATURES:- Information about over 2,000 trees and shrubs. - Over 30,000 color photographs. - Intuitive navigation: navigate from Table of Contents or search for words or phrases. - List of all plants by their common name - List of all plant families by their common name - List of taxono...

The New York Times–bestselling "exploration of the world from a piscine perspective . . . makes a persuasive case that what fish know is quite a lot" (Elizabeth Kolbert, The New York Review of Books).Do fishes think? Do they really have three-second memories? And can they recognize the humans who peer back at them from above the surface of the water? In What a Fish Knows, ethologist Jonathan Balcombe addresses these questions and more, revealing th...

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of North American Reptiles and Amphibians describes and illustrates over 1,000 species of turtles, tortoise, lizards, snakes, alligators, salamanders, frogs, and toads. With Over 30,000 color photographs, this encyclopedia is for every naturalist from the novice to the experienced observer.FEATURES:- Information about each North American Reptile and Amphibian. - Over 30,000 color photographs. - Intuitive navigation: navigate from Table of Contents or search for...

Tropical fish are beautiful to look at, fascinating to collect, and totally relaxing to watch. And there are no simpler pets to own. For the hobbyist or novice pet owner, The Everything Tropical Fish book offers a complete resource for caring for freshwater and saltwater fish, whether you’re starting with your first goldfish bowl or assembling aquarium tanks full of different kinds of fish.Inside, you’ll learn how to find and purchase the fish you want, and how to keep you...