Customer Reviews

Biology of Plants

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

An extremely informative series (Biology of plants versions) well written and in depth. They ruined it with the 7th edition however, by putting two chapters( the ones on ecology) on the internet. So the book, even though it says it's 800 and some pages, actually is thinner than the old 6th version. Our teacher couldn't believe they had done this, as this was part of the curriculum. So, not only would we have to pay about $120 for this book, but also have to print about 100 pages.... That's a sick way to make more money out of books, i'm tired of book companies screwing students just to make some more money. I returned the 7th edition and got the 6th edition, which has basically the same information and ALL the chapters included in the book!

I don't like being this harsh, because i absolutely love the information this book has. Reading it has added another dimension to my understanding of plants. The Ecology chapters missing in the 7th edition are awesome reads, however and probably contain the best real world information that students should have. As such, i have to praise the 6th edition for it has changed my life for the better!!! :)

I am a self-taught biology student with a special interest in botany. I've read sections of and otherwise skimmed all the plant biology texts printed in the past 40 years. This book is the one I bought for myself and read cover to cover and still refer to often. I recommend it highly, the more so for the solo reader.

Biology of Plants. This to me is one of the finest undergraduate texts on botany that I have been able to find. The explanations are extremely lucid and the diagrams and photographs are excellently researched and displayed. This book because of its clarity, maybe used by the general public and as a source of fascinating information into the world of plants. Not only is the anatomy and physiology well covered by the authors, but they delve into diversity, genetics and also cover the fundamentals of primary and secondary metabolism and area that is of real importance to those studying vegetarianism, food phytochemistry, nutrition and herbal medicine. It is a must for those who can afford to spend that little bit extra on a contemporary botanical text.

Even though many teachers recommend this book, its information is way too general for a serious botany course. For example, if you want information on about Division Anthocerotophyta, you'll only find about 5 paragraphs. It is a good book for general doubts, but once you want deeper knowledge, I would really recommend Bold's Morphology of Plants and Fungi. Don't be tacken aback by its publication date (1987): it is still the most used and reverenced book on the subject. It's the Bible of botanists (just like the Alberts for Molecular Biologists), and it will come in handy whenever you study algae or fungi also.

This is one of the few text books I kept after the class. It's an invaluable general botany reference. The text is very readable, yet covers the material in great depth, which is no small feat considering the scope of the book.

You know, Raven's Biology of Plants is the Bible of plant biologists, but I'm just not a great fan of it. Campbell's Biology (anything over the 5th edition) does a better job of explaining photosynthesis and if a book ON plant biology is trumped on perhaps THE most important aspect of plant biology by a book of general biology, I find that quite sad. Descriptions and examples were not always the best choices. There is nothing in here that excited me about plant biology and I'm a plant biologist. The text is flat.

Good coverage on all the major plant lineages. A bit weak in the evolution department. Not that it is absent, just thin. Putting the ecology chapters online and still trying to sell this as part of the text is ...ahem...borderline dishonest. If I wanted an eBook, I'd buy an eBook. When I want a text in my hand, I expect it to be all there. What am I to do should I need to reference those chapters in the field? Not that I would ever take this text into the field. It's just not all that.

Been out of college for a looong time and found this to be an excellent way to refresh my memory. I am using the book as an independent study kinda thing.... The text starts with the basics in a logical and progressive way before taking on more advanced topics. Although the first couple intro chapters cover a LOT of material (organic chem bonding) very fast, it is proving to be an easy to understand and enjoyable look at plant biology. I'm glad to have it!

Great book on the biology of plants, with information for beginning biologists and those who want to go more in depth into the subject. I know it will definitely be in my life-long collection :)

This is the best plant biology text (and one of the best texts, period) I have ever come across. Not that I am a connoisseur of biology textbooks, or anything, but over the years, I've had to read enough of textbooks to know a good one when I see it. It is written in clear and engaging style, easily read and understood.

Teachers, professors: be kind to your plant biology students, and use this text.

The newest edition skips out on the chapters on ecology. This edition has it all. However new research on photosynthesis is obviously not included in this edition. Remember that you can look at much of the newest edition of this book as a preview in Google books.