Excerpt from Vegetation of the Bahama Islands In the hope of adding somewhat to our rather meager knowledge of these Islands, and of bringing into more accessible form the scattered observations of others, the Geographical Society of Baltimore, in the summer of 1903, organized an Expedition for the purpose of their exploration. I, with my two assistants, Mr. C. A. Shore and Mr. F. M. Hanes, was given charge of the botanical side, and this report is the result of observations and collections made during the voyage. As an apology for many deficiencies, I would call atten tion to the limited time at our disposal, and to the extreme difficulty of drying and preserving plants on the decks of a schooner generally exposed to a stifi breeze. Except in the town of Nassau, where we secured a working room for several days, the plants had to be brought to the boat and there pressed, labelled, and stowed away. On account of the salt air and frequent rains constant attention was necessary to prevent the decay of our specimens. Wherever possible notes were made on the spot, and it is from these that most of my descriptions are taken. A large part of our time was consumed in sailing from port to port, or rather from point to point, as there are few protected harbors in the Islands. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The Natural History of the Bahamas fills a void in the literature on the avian and terrestrial species found there and is an overall excellent guide.— Sandra D. Buckner, Past President of the Bahamas National Trust Take this book with you on your next trip to the Bahamas or the Turks and Caicos Islands or keep it close to hand in your travel library. The Natural History of the Bahamas offers the most comprehensive coverage of the terrestrial and coastal flora and fauna on the islands of the Bahamas archipelago, as well as of the region's natural history and ecology. Readers will gain an appreciation for the importance of conserving the diverse lifeforms on these special Caribbean islands. A detailed introduction to the history, geology, and climate of the islands. Beautifully illustrated, with more than seven hundred color photographs showcasing the diverse plants, fungi, and animals found on the Bahamian Archipelago.

The three islands comprising the Cayman Islands support 415 native taxa in a land area over 100 square miles, 29 of which are uniquely Caymanian. This field guide satisfies the needs of the professional botanist, while providing the non-expert and eco-tourist with an introduction to the unique endemic flora of the Cayman Islands.

In 1712, English naturalist Mark Catesby (1683–1749) crossed the Atlantic to Virginia. After a seven-year stay, he returned to England with paintings of plants and animals he had studied. They sufficiently impressed other naturalists that in 1722 several Fellows of the Royal Society sponsored his return to North America. There Catesby cataloged the flora and fauna of the Carolinas and the Bahamas by gathering seeds and specimens, compiling notes, and making watercolor sketches. Going home to England after five years, he began the twenty-year task of writing, etching, and publishing his monumental The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands. Mark Catesby was a man of exceptional courage and determination combined with insatiable curiosity and multiple talents. Nevertheless no portrait of him is known. The international contributors to this volume review Catesby’s biography alongside the historical and scientific significance of his work. Ultimately, this lavishly illustrated volume advances knowledge of Catesby’s explorations, collections, artwork, and publications in order to reassess his importance within the pantheon of early naturalists.

Nikolaus Joseph Jacquin’s American Plants offers a detailed account of the Austrian botanical expedition to the Caribbean that took place between 1754 and 1759, culminating in the publication of the Selectarum stirpium americanarum historia (1763) by the famous Dutch-born scientist, the first Linnaean botanist in the New World. Novel findings about Jacquin’s family and early life are given. Through a careful reading of Jacquin’s own publications, letters and manuscripts, Santiago Madriñán provides, from a botanist’s perspective, a meticulous description of the places visited by Jacquin and the plants he collected. The splendid color illustrations of the plants published in the luxury second edition of the Selectarum in 1780 are here reprinted, together with an annotated list of the species described. This title was awarded the Stafleu Medal for 2015 for publications of 2013 and 2014 for outstanding publications in historical, bibliographical, and/or nomenclatural aspects of plant taxonomy.

An exploration of how plant behavior and adaptation offer valuable insights for human thriving. We know that plants are important. They maintain the atmosphere by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. They nourish other living organisms and supply psychological benefits to humans as well, improving our moods and beautifying the landscape around us. But plants don’t just passively provide. They also take action. Beronda L. Montgomery explores the vigorous, creative lives of organisms often treated as static and predictable. In fact, plants are masters of adaptation. They “know” what and who they are, and they use this knowledge to make a way in the world. Plants experience a kind of sensation that does not require eyes or ears. They distinguish kin, friend, and foe, and they are able to respond to ecological competition despite lacking the capacity of fight-or-flight. Plants are even capable of transformative behaviors that allow them to maximize their chances of survival in a dynamic and sometimes unfriendly environment. Lessons from Plants enters into the depth of botanic experience and shows how we might improve human society by better appreciating not just what plants give us but also how they achieve their own purposes. What would it mean to learn from these organisms, to become more aware of our environments and to adapt to our own worlds by calling on perception and awareness? Montgomery’s meditative study puts before us a question with the power to reframe the way we live: What would a plant do?