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  • Published: 5 April 2018
  • ISBN: 9780241982808
  • Imprint: Penguin Audio
  • Format: Audio Download

The Plant Messiah

Adventures in Search of the World’s Rarest Species





Inspirational stories from the legendary Kew Gardens plant hunter

Carlos Magdalena of Kew Gardens is not your average botanical horticulturist. He's a man on a mission to save the world's most endangered plants from ecological destruction and thieves hunting for wealthy collectors. He is a plant messiah.

From the planet's tiniest waterlily - the Nymphaea thermarum - to Huarango trees with roots over 50 metres long, Carlos has a miraculous ability to bring breathtakingly beautiful plants back from the brink of extinction. He has travelled to the most remote and dangerous parts of the world - from the mountains of Peru to isolated Indian Ocean islands to the deepest Australian outback - in search of the rarest exotic species. Then, back in the Tropical Nursery at Kew, he uses pioneering, left-field techniques to help them propagate and prosper.

Now he's here to spread the gospel. The Plant Messiah is the inspirational story of a man who has devoted - and risked - his life to save incredible species, all in the name of making this Earth a greener and happier place.

Amen to that.

  • Published: 5 April 2018
  • ISBN: 9780241982808
  • Imprint: Penguin Audio
  • Format: Audio Download

Praise for The Plant Messiah

Carlos is an inspiration to me. He's the perfect spokesperson for the plants of the world

Jane Goodall, primatologist and UN Messenger of Peace

Carlos Magdalena is Kew's codebreaker

Telegraph

Carlos has been able to achieve things with plants that no one else can do

Richard Barley, director of horticulture, Kew

He has the uncanny ability to bring plants back from the brink of extinction

People of London