Anatomy of a Rose: Exploring the Secret Life of Flowers

In Anatomy of a Rose, Sharman Apt Russell eloquently unveils the “inner life” of flowers, showing them to be more individual, more enterprising, and more responsive than we ever imagined. From their diverse fragrances to their nasty deceptions, Russell proves that, where nature is concerned, “wonder is not only our starting point; it can also be our destination. ” Throughout this botanical journey, she reveals that the science behind these intelligent plants–how they evolved, how they survive, how they heal–is even more awe-inspiring than their fleeting beauty. Russell helps us imagine what a field of snapdragons looks like to a honeybee; she introduces us to flowers that regulate their own temperature, attract pollinating bats, even smell like a rotting corpse. In this poetic rumination, which combines graceful writing with a scientist’s clarity, Russell brings together the work of botanists around the globe, and illuminates a world at once familiar and exotic.