The Incredible Journey of Plants

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In this richly illustrated volume, a leading neurobiologist presents captivating stories of plant migration that reveal unexpected connections between nature and culture. Understanding plant migration helps us grasp the unstoppable nature of these phenomena. Plants exhibit a relentless drive to spread life, colonizing every possible environment on Earth. This history of expansion is largely unknown, but through engaging tales, we begin to explore it. Generation after generation, plants move using spores, seeds, and various means to conquer new spaces. They release vast quantities of spores that can travel thousands of miles. The diversity of seed dispersal methods is astonishing: seeds can be carried by wind, animals, water, or simply fall from the plant through various mechanisms. This accessible overview examines how plants entice animals to aid in their spread, how some depend on specific animals, and how they thrive in isolated and inhospitable locations. It also highlights their resilience, surviving events like the atomic bomb and the Chernobyl disaster, their ability to bring life to barren islands, and their capacity to traverse ages as they journey around the globe.