Synopses & Reviews
A Natural History of Ferns is an entertaining and informative look at why ferns and their relatives are unique among plants. Ferns live in habitats from the tropics to polar latitudes, and unlike seed plants, which endow each seed with the resources to help their offspring, ferns reproduce by minute spores. There are floating ferns, ferns that climb or live on trees, and ferns that are trees. There are poisonous ferns, iridescent ferns, and resurrection ferns that survive desert heat and drought. The relations of ferns and people are equally varied. Moran sheds light on Robinson Crusoe's ferns, the role of ferns in movies, and how ferns get their names.
A Natural History of Ferns provides just what is needed for those who wish to grow ferns or observe them in their habitats with greater understanding and appreciation.
Review
"These masterfully written tales and the solid science behind them make this a terrific book for fern enthusiasts or anyone interested in our natural world."
—Darrel Trout, American Gardener, July/August 2005 American Gardener
Review
"Most gardeners suspect that there is something very complex about ferns, but few of us have the chance to delve into their mysteries. Robbin Moran's book makes their magic accessible in all its strange detail."
—Marty Ross, Horticulture, May 2005 Horticulture
Review
"The author has presented his topics with a fresh approach, so that even seasoned fern-lovers will see events from new vantage points."
—Barbara Joe Hoshizaki, Pacific Horticulture, Spring 2005 Pacific Horticulture
Synopsis
For anyone who wishes to grow ferns or observe them in their habitats with greater understanding, this is an entertaining and informative look at why ferns are unique among plants.
About the Author
Robbin C. Moran is curator of ferns at the New York Botanical Garden. He is the author or coauthor of many papers and four books about ferns, including Fern Grower's Manual, published by Timber Press.