Botany

Explore the study of plants and some of the world’s wonderful species with our books on plant life.

Find out more about our botany books below.

An Atlas of British Diatoms

This comprehensive set of illustrations of freshwater and marine diatoms provides diatomists with detailed scale drawings of some 2,000 species. It encompasses all the common species, most of which are world-wide in distribution.
Annotated Checklist of the Flowering Plants of Nepal

The Annotated Checklist of the Flowering Plants of Nepal is a first attempt to redress the gap in current botanical knowledge of the country, providing basic information on flowering plants of Nepal in a single volume.
Close-up

See animals, plants and crystals in a whole new light in this stunning book, full of amazing images created by scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Component Version 2.0

A computer program for analysing evolutionary trees for use in studies of phylogeny, tree shape distribution, gene trees/species trees, host-parasite cospeciation, and biogeography.
Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists and Horticulturists

This work provides a comprehensive reference source of British and Irish botanists and horticulturalists over the past four centuries. The book also includes plant collectors, flower painters and for the first time garden designers.
Encyclopedia of Nature

What is life like underground? Where can you find the world's ugliest fish? Why are fungi so fantastic? Take an amazing look at the natural world with this comprehensive guide to the world of plants and animals.
Eyewitness: Plant

Be an eyewitness to the fascinating world of plants - from flowers and fruit to plants that sting or even eat creatures.
Eyewitness: Tree

Did you know that a single seed can cross an ocean? What happens when a leaf dies? How did the first flowers appear on Earth? Learn about the different varieties of the world's trees with this fascinating book.
Flora

Fifty beautiful photographs of plant specimens held at the Museum, taken by award-winning photographer Nick Knight.
Flora Mesoamericana volume 1

Part of the first major regional flora ever written in Spanish, this volume covers the Psilotaceae, Salviniaceaeare, Pteridaceae, Thelypteridaceae, Lomariopsidaceae, Polypodiaceae, and Grammitidaceae plants growing in the south easternmost states of Mexico.
Flora Mesoamericana volume 6

Part of the first major regional flora ever written in Spanish, this volume includes 326 genera and 1891 flowering plant species found in the south easternmost states of Mexico and the Central American republics.
Flora of Madeira

This book describes all of the vascular plants of the Madeiran and Salvage Islands.
Flora of the Outer Hebrides

A comprehensive guide to over 700 species of flowering plants and ferns of the Outer Hebrides.
Flora Zambesiaca

Available in twelve volumes, Flora Zambesiaca is the definitive guide to the plant life of the Zambezi River basin, covering the territories of Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Caprivi Strip.
Fungi

This book is a wonderful resource for botanists and all those interested in fungi, and is suitable for both the general reader or student looking for background reading.
Helechos de Mbaracayu

This field guide to the ferns of the Mbaracayú Reserve is the result of an inventory of plants and some selected insect groups carried out by scientists from the Natural History Museum and the Fundación Moisés Bertoni from 1995 to 1998.
Herbarium Linnaeanum

This CD-Rom, which provides images and contemporary annotations of specimens from the plant collection of Carl Linnaeus, will be fascinating to anyone with an interest in eighteenth-century natural history and botanical exploration in Russia.
Lichen Flora of Great Britain and Ireland

Drawing on the expertise of 49 contributing lichenologists from Britain and abroad, this book contains the first comprehensive, modern account for over 60 years of all lichens occurring in the British Isles.
Lichens

Packed with stunning photographs, Lichens reveals the varied and intriguing world of these fascinating organisms.
Mayangna panan basin: Plantas medicinales del pueblo Tawahka

Medicinal plants used by the Tawahka people of Honduras are described in this unique book.
Plantas Comunes de Mbaracayu

A guide in Spanish to the common plants of the Mbaracayu Forest nature reserve, Paraguay - a remnant of threatened habitat in South America.
Plant Names in Homeopathy

This booklet provides a standard reference system for plant names used in homeopathy, which is of great benefit to all users of plant remedies.
Plant Taxonomic Literature Microfiche Collection

This unique collection includes 4,679 important, and often rare, reference works in plant taxonomy, available by phytogeographic regions.
Potted Histories

Through botanical paintings and insightful essays, Potted Histories examines the fascinating history of plants and flowers. Over 20 plant families are profiled, including cacti, daffodils, iris, magnolias, poppies, roses, tulips and water lilies.
Seaweeds

From the microscopic to 60-metre long Pacific kelp, seaweeds are diverse. David Thomas brings the life of seaweeds to the amateur, exploring what they are, where they are found, and how they survive.
Seaweeds of the British Isles, Volume 1: Rhodophyta

In this the first of three parts comprising Volume One, a general introduction to the Rhodophyta – dealing with such topics as morphology, reproduction and economic utilization – is followed by treatment of the orders Nemaliales and Gigartinales.
Seaweeds of the British Isles, Volume 1: Rhodophyta

Part of a series of three volumes, this book identifies marine algae collected from the field. The sub-class and all orders, families, genera and species are described, notes on ecology and distribution given, and each named species is illustrated by one or more halftones showing distinctive features. It also includes a revision of the species of Porphyra.
Seaweeds of the British Isles, Volume 1: Rhodophyta

Written by leading authorities in red algae, this book covers all the families, genera and species in the red algae Ceramiales. Each entry gives notes on ecology and distribution, and there are user-friendly keys to identification of species and genera.
Seaweeds of the British Isles, Volume 2: Chlorophyta

This book is the definitive guide to green seaweed from the British Isles.
Seaweeds of the British Isles, Volume 4: Tribophyceae - Xanthophyceae

Volume four of this series explores the species attributed to the class Tribophyceae.
The Gilded Canopy

How can a major art collection be on full display to the public, yet never be noticed? The answer is that it is on the ceiling.
Trees

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to trees and their structure, answering questions from the apparently obvious to the obscure but fascinating.
Trees of Britain and Ireland

A treasure-trove of tree facts and photographs, with portraits of all the major native species, their history and ecology, and our relationship with them.
Wildlife Garden at the Natural History Museum

Wildlife Garden at the Natural History Museum is an inspiration to anyone who wants to create a space for wild plants and animals.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Portfolio 20

This is the latest memorable collection of images from the prestigious annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition featuring all winning and highly commended photographs from the 2010 competition.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Portfolio 21

Presenting the very best wildlife images of 2011, Wildlife Photographer of the Year Portfolio 21 is the latest memorable collection of photographs from this hugely popular series.