The Little Book of Trees (Little Books of Nature)

A charming, richly illustrated, pocket-size exploration of the world’s treesPacked with surprising facts, this delightful and gorgeously designed book will beguile any nature lover. Expertly written and beautifully illustrated throughout with color photographs and original color artwork, The Little Book of Trees is an accessible and enjoyable mini reference about the world’s trees, with examples drawn from across the globe. It fits an astonishing amount of information in a small package, covering a wide range of topics—from tree anatomy, diversity, and architecture to habitat and conservation. It also includes curious facts and a section on trees in myths, folklore, and modern culture from around the world. The result is an irresistible guide to the amazing lives of trees. * A beautifully designed pocket-size book with a foil-stamped cloth cover * Features some 140 color illustrations and photos * Makes a perfect gift Cover Contents Introduction 1. Multiple Tree Origins What Is a Tree? The Tree Life-form Non-Seed Trees of the First Forest Devonian Trees Hardwoods and Softwoods Developing Woodiness on Islands 2. Patterns of Tree Diversity Global Diversity Tropical Rainforests Why are There So Many Species in the Tropics? Tree Distributions in Biomes Diversity Anomalies Evolution and Diversity Patterns 3. Tree Leaves Morphology Leaf Characteristics Types of Trees Photosynthesis Photosynthesis, Co2, and H2o Photosynthesis and Climate Change 4. Tree Trunks Global Patterns of Height Mechanics of Growing Tall Trees Trunk Strength Trade-Offs Apical Dominance How to Be a Hyper-Tall Tree Non-Monopodial Large “Trees" 5. The Architecture of Trees Crown Shyness Hallé/Oldeman Models Crown Geometry Adaptive Crown Geometry Shinozaki Pipe Model Theory Forest Plantations 6. Tree Bark Bark Variation Jigsaw-Puzzle Bark Bark Anatomy Bark Variation in Eucalypts Bark as an Adaptation to Fire Uses of Bark 7. Tree Roots Unique Root Macro-Structures The Metabolic Costs of Tree Roots Mycorrhizae The Rhizosphere Nitrogen Fixation Root-Feeding Insects 8. Seeds and Life History Life History Seeds and Seed Crops Seed Dispersal Seed Dormancy Devil's Walking Stick Growth Rate and Life Stages 9. Ecology and Forest Dynamics Primary and Secondary Succession Gap Replacement The Forest as a Dynamic Mosaic Ponderosa Fire Recovery Fir Waves Forest Area and Dynamic Mosaics 10. Conservation Conservation Challenges Habitat Loss and Fragmentation Species Invasions Changes in Ecological Processes Pollution and Climate Change Future Forests 11. Myths and Folklore The Sacred Bodhi Tree Heartwood, Sapwood, and the British Longbow The Kula Ring Indigenous Knowledge and Biological Heritage The Talking Tree The Didgeridoo 12. Curious Facts Largest and Oldest Living Beings Seeds in Search of Safe Sites Living with Fire Drought and the Baobab Living with Salt and Storms Playing Defense Glossary Further Reading Index Acknowledgments About The Authors A charming, richly illustrated, pocket-sized exploration of the world’s trees Packed with surprising facts, this delightful and gorgeously designed book will beguile any nature lover. Expertly written and beautifully illustrated throughout with color photographs and original color artwork, The Little Book of Trees is an accessible and enjoyable mini reference book about the world’s trees, with examples drawn from across the globe. It fits an astonishing amount of information in a small package, covering a wide range of topics—from tree anatomy, diversity, and architecture to habitat and conservation. It also includes curious facts and a section on trees in myths, folklore, and modern culture around the world. The result is an irresistible guide to the amazing lives of trees. A beautifully designed pocket-sized book with a foil-stamped cloth cover Features some 140 color illustrations and photos Makes a perfect gift