The Aliveness of Plants The Darwins at the Dawn of Plant Science By (author) P G Ayres

The Darwin family was instrumental in the history of botany. For Erasmus (1731-1802), it was a hobby, for Charles (1809-1882) an inspiration, and for Francis (1848-1925), a profession. Their experiences illustrate the growing specialization and professionalization of science throughout the nineteenth century. Ayres shows how botany escaped the burdens of medicine, feminization and the sterility of classification and nomenclature to become a rigorous laboratory science. Contents: Introduction: Green Threads across the Ages: A Brief Perspective on the Darwins’ Botany 1 The Fortunes of the Darwins 2 The Misfortunes of Botany 3 Erasmus Darwin’s Vision of the Future: Phytologia 4 Charles Darwin’s Evolutionary Period 5 Charles Darwin’s Physiological Period 6 Charles Darwin, Francis Darwin and Differences with von Sachs 7 Francis Darwin, Cambridge and Plant Physiology 8 Francis Darwin, Family and his Father’s Memory 9 Fortune’s Favourites? Conclusion: Where Did the Green Threads Lead? The Botanical Legacy ISBN-13: 9781851969708 Pages: 256 Height 234 mm Width 156 mm Publication Date: 01-Apr-08 Publisher: Format: Hardback