The Cultural History of Plants is the most important book published on the spread and exploitation of plants in over a century. Written by acknowledged experts in their fields, this valuable reference will be useful for both scholars and general readers. It is both botanical and cultural, describing the role of plants in social life, regional customs, the arts and natural landscapes. There are over 1000 plant entries in the form of concise histories, 200 maps and 600 black and white illustrations. The A to Z entries cover food and flowering plants as well as those used for textiles, perfume and drugs, and include bibliographic information. Appendices include lists of protected species, plant collection sites, a glossary and a chronology of plant migration.