The world as we know it would not exist without plants.

Have you ever stopped to think about how your morning cappuccino came to be? From the coffee bush that yielded the beans to the grass for the cattle, or perhaps the soya, that produced the milk, plants are an indispensable part of our everyday life.

Beginning with some of the earliest uses of plants, Stephen A. Harris takes us on an exciting journey through history, identifying fifty plants that have been key to the development of the Western world, while also discussing trade, imperialism, politics, medicine, travel, and chemistry along the way. There are plants here that have changed landscapes, fomented wars, and fueled slavery. Others have been the trigger for technological advances, expanded medical knowledge, or simply made our lives more pleasant. Plants have provided paper and ink, chemicals that could kill or cure, and vital sustenance and stimulants. Some, such as barley, have been staples from the earliest times; others, such as oil palm, are newcomers to Western industry.

We remain dependent on plants for our food, fuel, and medicines. As the wide-ranging and engaging stories in this beautifully illustrated book demonstrate, their effects on our lives continue to be profound and often unpredictable.