Achievements of inspirational botanists lauded

Ernest Wilson (1876-1930), of Gloucestershire, England, introduced more "garden-worthy" plants into cultivation than any other person and is regarded by many as the most successful plant hunter of all time.

In The Secrets of Great Botanists, the author celebrates the lives of 36 inspirational leaders in their fields.

Two- to three-page descriptions are accompanied by full-page water-colour pictures or photographs of the botanist and their discovered plants.

The author is Matthew Biggs, a United Kingdom TV and radio presenter who originally trained at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. His selection of botanists is purely personal and he aims to cover a wide range of disciplines and contributions to the industry.

The plant experts are arranged in chronological order from AD 40-90 to the current day. These include a herbalist in the Roman Army, an Austrian monk and a Japanese floriculture specialist.

Descriptions have been well written to capture the inherent passion of each botanist. The tales of how they embarked on their botany pathways are inspirational. It was intriguing to discover where this early enthusiasm and determination of each of these industry leaders led.

A native of central China, a Clematis montana var wilsonii plant (named after Wilson) first flowered in Britain in July 1909. It produces large white flowers and likes rich, moist, alkaline soil. IMAGES: SUPPLIED

For example, Carl Linneaus — the man who grouped plants into class, order, genus and species — used to play truant from school as he would rather search the nearby fields for plants; Leonhart Fuchs was a childhood genius who studied medicine and found cures to illnesses using plants; and Ernest Wilson left school at 13 to become an apprentice at a nursery, which led to an interest in botany, resulting in him becoming one of the most successful "plant hunters" of all times.

At the end of each botanist’s chapter there is a two-page section called "Inspiration for Gardeners" which I would call more of a list of handy tips and quirky facts accompanied by photos, rather than inspiration. For example, did you know Luther Burbank spent two decades trying to breed the spines out of a cactus? He was unsuccessful — but there are a few species that grow naturally without spines.

THE SECRETS OF GREAT BOTANISTS and What They Teach Us About Gardening By Matthew Biggs Exisle Publishing

This book is an ideal gift for anyone wanting to embark on a career in botany or who wishes to gain a greater understanding of the trail-blazing botanists who have gone before us and their influence on the plants in our gardens.

It is not the type of book to read from start to finish in one sitting, but it is more suited to delving into as you please.

— By Louise Frampton who is an Allied Press subeditor.