Plants from the Edge of the World

New Explorations in the Far East

with a foreword by Roy Lancaster

In October 1987, a great storm drove in from the English Channel, devastating the southeastern counties of the British Isles. Huge gaps opened in the landscape of England, and the historic tree collections at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London, and Wakehurst Place in West Sussex lay fallen. The storm exposed the mortality of heritage trees for all to see and provided the impetus for a new wave of plant collecting by the Royal Botanic Gardens, led by the enterprising Mark Flanagan and Tony Kirkham. The losses sparked a realization: the collections at Kew and Wakehurst Place lacked key representatives of the world's temperate woodlands, and to fill the gaps, Flanagan and Kirkham looked east, to the species-rich temperate forests of Korea, Taiwan, eastern Russia and Japan. These hidden corners of the Far East became their hunting ground. Plants are at the heart of this story, and the descriptions convey the excitement of the find. The narrative unfolds with an immediacy that makes us feel right there beside them as they uncover rarities like Cotoneaster wilsonii (found only on the remote island of Ullung-Do), hang off the side of a gorge to collect the seed of Magnolia sieboldii and endure a punishing day in search of the Taiwan beech. Vividly illustrated with color maps and photographs, this entertaining travelogue will appeal to travellers, plant-lovers and anyone with an interest in the rich diversity of flora of the Far East.

Media reviews of this book:

"Well written, never dry, often exciting, sometimes hilarious, the book allows the reader to experience events in an immediate way through the use of first-person narrative."

—Penny McCook, Sida, Contributions to Botany, September 2005

"The story they tell in Plants from the Edge of the World is fascinating."

—William Grant, Pacific Horticulture, Summer 2005

"A rare and wonderful trove of plants encountered along the way is described enthusiastically amid the breathtaking scenery of panoramic gorges, pristine mountainsides, and monolithic trees. Armchair botanists will enjoy each fascinating journey to the outer reaches of distant continents and the authors' accounts of successful plant cultivation back in England. "

—Alice Joyce, Booklist, July 22, 2005

"The authors set the scene in the exotic and remote places they explore, making the reader feel the tension, the cold, the fatigue, but most of all the adventure of the places they are exploring."

—Margaret Norem, Desert Plants, 2007

"Anyone who loves to travel, loves plants, and has a yen for all things Asian will love Plants From the Edge of the World, a travelogue with a lot of heart."

—Biology Digest, October 2005

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Customer reviews of this book:

"I enjoyed every word and photograph — beautifully written!"

—Dawn P. from Stanley, Idaho, May 2, 2007

"Really enjoyed the exploration of the Far East! Wonderful!"

—Richard D. from Shelton, Washington, May 1, 2007

"I have purchased several of your books, and I really enjoy them, this book is no exception! Wonderful!"

—Mary K. from Lancaster, New York, March 24, 2007

"A great little resource — concise, with useful information and great illustrations."

—Nima S. from Dublin, Ohio, June 22, 2005

An excerpt from this book:

I was summoned to Ian Beyer's office on a chilly autumn morning in 1988. As deputy curator of Kew's Living Collections Department, Ian enjoyed a formidable reputation and the respect of the botanic garden world. Many at Kew feared his no-nonsense approach but grudgingly acknowledged that he ran a tight ship — firm but fair was the consensus. With Ian's reputation in mind I was more than a little apprehensive as I climbed the staircase of Aiton House in the Lower Nursery; named in honour of William Aiton, the first curator of the original 9-acre botanic garden started by Princess Augusta in 1759, this building acted as the curatorial nerve centre of Kew ...

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