"A delight. Our rare wildflowers have their supreme champion in Peter Marren, our finest natural history writer and connoisseur of the threatened and the sought-after. In this beguiling and beautifully illustrated book, which should be on the shelves of all naturalists, he explores and explains the whys and wherefores of botanical rarity in all its guises." --Brett Westwood, naturalist and broadcaster "One of our most underrated nature writers." --Stephen Moss "A fresh and uplifting celebration of our rarest plants . his final chapter, distilling considered thoughts about the current state of nature conservation, should be made compulsory reading." --Pete Stroh, British Wildlife "High-quality images and high-quality words from an author who knows how to write and who knows his subject very well . This is a great read for botanists and non-botanists alike.

" --Mark Avery "This book is utterly engrossing. It's beautifully produced and illustrated and gives countless insights into the oddities of human life and our relation to the natural world . A real marvel. I can't believe any reader would regret their purchase." -- The Hardy Plant (journal of the Hardy Plant Society) "The tale is nicely told with all sorts of Marrenesque details, literary, political and anecdotal, all showing a deep knowledge and love of the flora of these islands. My favourite chapter is that on 'Plants and People', where his informed background and sympathy with his subject comes into full play . I can think of no better entrée to what we know about our rare plants, why we love them and how we should be protecting them." -- BSBI News "A wonderful and important culmination of [Peter Marren's] wide experience of the British and Irish flora .

it's a book to return to again and again." -- Wild Flower Magazine.