Why people need plants

Abstract

Includes indexes. We live surrounded by the beauty and the bounty of the plant world, but we rarely pause to think about the crucial roles that plants play in nearly every aspect of human life and society. This book is a wide-ranging introduction to the science behind the essential functions performed by plants that affect our everyday lives. pt. I. Uses of plants : Food crops ; Wood, fibre and starch crops ; Biofuels ; Plants in crime -- pt. II. Plants and health : Plants for nutrition and well-being ; Medicinal plants ; Drink and drugs -- pt. III. Modern techniques : Micropropagation ; Genetically modified plants ; Natural plant protection -- pt. IV. Plants and the planet : The impact of humankind on the planet -- Conservation ; Plant collecting and trading ; Plants and the future.