"A seed slips beyond a garden wall. A tree is planted on a precarious border. A shrub is stolen from its culture and its land. What happens when these plants leave their original homes and put down roots elsewhere? In fourteen essays, Dispersals explores the entanglements of the plant and human worlds: from species considered invasive, like giant hogweed; to those vilified but intimate, like soy; and those like kelp, on which our futures depend. Each...

[This] is a beautifully presented guide to the plants that have had the greatest impact on human civilization. Weaving together strands of economic, political, and industrial history, each entry is a fascinating look at the most influential plants known to mankind. -- P. [4] of cover.