The reproductive organs and mating biology of angiosperms exhibit greater variety than those of any other group of organisms. Flowers and inflorescences are also the most diverse structures produced by angiosperms, and floral traits provide some of the most compelling examples of evolution by natural selection. Given that flowering plants include roughly 250,000 species, their reproductive diversity will not be explained easily by continued accumulation of case studies of individual species. Instead a more strategic approach is now required, which seeks to identify general principles concerning the role of ecological function in the evolution of reproductive diversity.
Clear, step-by-step illustrations show youngsters and other would-be artists how to use simple shapes to draw realistic likenesses of 30 different garden flowers, among them a sunflower, daisy, rose, morning glory, tulip, daffodil, poinsettia, Easter lily, pansy, jack-in-the-pulpit, bird of paradise, iris, and 18 other lovely blossoms.
“Trish Burr has painstakingly recreated blooms from the paintings of 19th century botanical artist Pierre Joseph Redoute in exquisite embroidery. Using only the simplest stitches, she provides instructions, illustrations and photo- graphs to take you step-by-step through stitching 17 beautiful buds—roses, lilies, birds of paradise, dahlias, magnolias and more. A gorgeous gift for anyone with a passion for flowers or needlework.”—Vogue Patterns.
Capture the fleeting beauty of a flower in beads and wire. French Beaded Flowers The Complete Guide includes everything you need to start making your own lovely floral creations using only beads, wire and a few simple tools. Inside you’ll find: * helpful information on selecting the right beads, wire and tools for French beading. * step-by-step instructions and photos for a wide variety of techniques that can be used to create petals, leaves, stems and more.
Understanding Flowers and Flowering: An Intergrated Approach
Flowers are the beautiful and complex reproductive structures of the angiosperms, one of the most diverse and successful groups of living organisms. The underlying thesis of this book is that to fully understand plant development (and why flowers differ in shape, structure and color), it is necessary to understand why it is advantageous for them to look like they do. Conversely, in order to fully understand plant ecology, it is necessary to appreciate how floral structures have adapted and evolved. Uniquely, this book addresses flowers and flowering from both a molecular genetic perspective