Starred review from November 1, 2021
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RGBE) is a venerable scientific institution in Scotland with over three million plant specimens, and 10,000 new ones added each year. Information gathered from the specimens is used to better understand climate change and track conservation efforts, among other purposes. Biss--a British artist specializing in macrophotography and focusing on natural history and museum collections--was invited by the RGBE to photograph examples from the seeds and fruits collection, and his exceptional work is presented here. Full-page close-up views of the plants detail their extraordinary shapes, patterns, and colors, which are truly architectural and sculptural, even otherworldly. Captions include both the local name and Latin designation of each, together with a description of the plant's habitat, characteristics, and uses. VERDICT Children and adults, science-minded and general readers will all be captivated by these remarkable photos.
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