Pollen - The Hidden Sexuality of Flowers

Kesseler R, Harley M, 3rd edn.,Revised 2009, Hardback, 264 pp Pollen grains have fascinated the scientifically curious since the seventeenth century. They are minute -almost impossible to visualise without a high-powered microscope. In life they remain enclosed beyond the accessible beauty of the the flower until the moment of release, when, carried by wind, water, or aminal vectors, they achieve their purpose of procreation.This beautifully produced and highly original book by an artist and botanical scientist at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, results from their shared fascination for the perfect design of these microscopic organisms. Using light and scanning electron microscopy the have created a dazzling array of pollen grain images, combined with exquisite photographs of their parent plants. The accessible text provides a clear explanation of the structure and form of pollen and a detailed description of the remarkable events that occur from pollination to fertilisation.A sumptuous and intriguing book that is informative and a visual delight. This new edition is updated with additional illustrations and a new section on the honey bee.