Without trees there would be no life on Earth, and this wonderful encyclopedia provides all you need to know about this amazing plant in its different forms all over the world. The book clearly explains what a tree is, how it lives, grows and dies, and how its constituent parts - the buds, branches, flowers, leaves, roots, cones, fruit and bark - all play their role in its life-cycle. The identifier section is divided into two main parts, trees of the tropics and trees of the temperate world, and includes over 600 examples. Detailed descriptions of each tree is accompanied by stunning watercolour artworks of the whole tree profile in Winter and Summer, along with images of their defining characteristics to help identification, as well a many supplementary colour photographs. Maps illustrate the natural distribution of each tree. This book is a celebration of trees, from the lofty conifers of the north and the stately deciduous broadleaf trees of eth temperate band, to the striking cacti like palms with their profusion of flowers from the world's tropical regions.