Laura Bliss reviews Oak by Peter Young and Geranium by Kaisa Boddy, part of a forthcoming series of “biographical” plant books:

In Geranium,literary scholar Kasia Boddy does not make any explicit argument for plant intelligence, or for an overhaul of our moral universe to make room for plants. But she would agree with Hoffmeyer that “cultural history runs parallel to natural history.” In the book, Boddy skillfully traces the humble houseplant’s rise from its native southern Africa to every windowsill in South London, and beyond. “Pelargoniums,” she writes, “have found ecological niches everywhere from the sandy foreshore and mountain rock faces to desert and savannah.” (AlthoughGeranium exists as a genus,Pelargoniumis the true classification for the flower we’re talking about. Boddy uses both common and Latin names; so will I.)

Read the entire review here.