Plants That Kill - by Elizabeth A Dauncey & Sonny Larsson (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This richly illustrated book provides an in-depth natural history of the most poisonous plants on earth, covering everything from the lethal effects of hemlock and deadly nightshade to the uses of such plants in medicine, ritual, and chemical warfare"--Dust jacket.

Book Synopsis

A full-color illustrated guide to the natural history of the most poisonous plants on earth

This richly illustrated book provides an in-depth natural history of the most poisonous plants on earth, covering everything from the lethal effects of hemlock and deadly nightshade to the uses of such plants in medicine, ritual, and chemical warfare.

Featuring hundreds of color photos and diagrams throughout, Plants That Kill explains how certain plants evolved toxicity to deter herbivores and other threats and sheds light on their physiology and the biochemistry involved in the production of their toxins. It discusses the interactions of poisonous plants with other organisms--particularly humans--and explores the various ways plant toxins can target the normal functioning of bodily systems in mammals, from the effects of wolfsbane on the heart to toxins that cause a skin reaction when combined with the sun's rays. This intriguing book also looks at plants that can harm you only if your exposure to them is prolonged, the ethnobotany of poisons throughout human history, and much more.

A must for experts and armchair botanists alike, Plants That Kill is the essential illustrated compendium to these deadly and intriguing plants.

• Provides an authoritative natural history of the most poisonous plants on earth
• Features hundreds of color illustrations throughout
• Looks at how and why plants produce toxins
• Describes the effects of numerous poisonous plants, from hemlock and deadly nightshade to poppies and tobacco
• Explains poisonous plants' evolution, survival strategies, physiology, and biochemistry
• Discusses the uses of poisonous plants in medicine, rituals, warfare, and more

Review Quotes

"[Plants That Kill] will appeal to everyone interested in plants, from the amateur gardener to the professional botanist."---Barbara Paul Robinson, Wall Street Journal

"Elizabeth Dauncey and Sonny Larsson have provided the world with a book that is detailed and comprehensive in the information it supplies while, at the same time, is a model of simplicity in its outlay and in allowing the reader to find quickly the particular piece of information being sought. It has been a long time since I was as impressed as I am by Plants that Kill."---Ian Lipke, Queensland Reviewers Collective

About the Author

Elizabeth A. Dauncey is a freelance plant toxicologist and the author of Poisonous Plants: A Guide for Parents and Childcare Providers. Sonny Larsson is a licensed pharmacist at the Swedish Poisons Information Centre.