Moss and Lichen - (Botanical) by Elizabeth Lawson (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book is a fascinating exploration of mosses and lichens, celebrating the extraordinary biology, beauty and resilience of these unassuming organisms. Endowed with unique superpowers, from enduring dessication to thriving in extreme habitats, they defy easy categorization. Mosses, integral to the plant kingdom, and lichens, a kingdom unto themselves, colonize a great variety of landscapes, from rainforests to deserts and urban pavements. Neglected in the past for their lack of flowers, these organisms now garner recognition for their significant role in maintaining the health of our world's ecosystem. Elizabeth Lawson's book shows how they shape landscapes, prevent erosion and sequester carbon, and surveys the biologists, artists and writers who celebrate their importance. Moss and Lichen inspires a newfound appreciation for these unsung heroes of the natural world.

Book Synopsis

A fascinating guide to the natural and cultural significance of mosses and lichens.

Moss and Lichen is a celebration of the extraordinary biology, beauty, and resilience of two unassuming organisms. Endowed with unique abilities to thrive in extreme habitats, mosses and lichens defy easy categorization. Mosses, which are integral to the plant kingdom, and lichens, which are a kingdom unto themselves, colonize a variety of landscapes from rainforests to deserts to urban streets. Long neglected for lacking flowers, these organisms are now beloved for their significant role in maintaining the health of our world's ecosystem.

Elizabeth Lawson describes how mosses and lichens shape landscapes, prevent erosion, and sequester carbon, but she also offers a wide-ranging introduction to the biologists, artists, and writers inspired by their beauty. Moss and Lichen will inspire a newfound appreciation for these unsung heroes of the natural world.

Review Quotes

"Lawson takes us on an intriguing journey across time, from early interests in observing organisms that occupy the cracks and crevices of our world to the people who investigate and interpret their lives and relationships - all with beautiful illustrations of the organisms and their world."--Pat Wolseley, Natural History Museum, London

"Among the smallest terrestrial photosynthetic organisms, mosses and lichens play pivotal ecological roles. And yet they are often, if not typically, overlooked. Elizabeth Lawson's book succeeds in elevating these diminutive creatures by drawing our attention to their charm and importance. Beautifully written and illustrated, Moss and Lichen should be read by anyone who loves nature and appreciates its manifold complexity and splendor."--Karl J. Niklas, author of 'Plant Evolution: An Introduction to the History of Life'

About the Author

Elizabeth Lawson is a naturalist, writer, and former president of the American Primrose Society. Her books include Primrose, also in Reaktion Books' Botanical series.