Around the World in 80 Trees

Former BBC documentary filmmaker Drori and French artist Clerc take readers around the world in this fascinating volume on trees of all sorts. Drori begins in London, his hometown, before venturing through all the other continents save Antarctica. A lifelong nature lover who grew up near the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, Drori says he chose the 80 trees he profiles “for their interest and their diversity” and encourages readers “to contemplate the trees they encounter” every day. He describes the London plane, for instance, as “a tree of pomp and circumstance,” planted throughout the capital during the 19th century to complement its “imposing squares and thoroughfares” and now as much a part of London’s architecture as its buildings. Brief and accessible chapters highlight such trees as the Leyland cypress, slim, upright, used primarily to create privacy; the European box, popular for topiary; the cork oak, whose bark is stripped for cork; the sweet chestnut, whose “starchy, tasty fruit” is “nutritionally similar to wheat”; and the ornamental cherry tree, dazzling in full bloom. Each discussion is accompanied by Clerc’s meticulous drawings, which offer a level of detail even photographs might not easily reveal. This exploration is both educational and visually exceptional. Illus. [em](May) [/em]