Theophrastus' companion to the Enquiry into Plants, investigating the causes of plant growth, reproduction, and change across six books. Where the Enquiry describes, this work explains — asking why plants grow as they do, why grafting works, and why fruits differ in taste and texture.
Start ReadingGeneration and propagation of plants. Theophrastus examines how plants reproduce — through seeds, spontaneous generation, and vegetative growth — and what causes successful germination.
The effects of environment on plant growth. Theophrastus analyses how soil, water, climate, and position affect how plants develop, and the principles of successful cultivation.
Cultivation of crops and fruit trees. Theophrastus examines agricultural techniques — ploughing, watering, pruning, grafting — and explains why they work in terms of plant physiology.
Diseases and death of plants. Theophrastus investigates what causes plants to sicken and die — rot, parasites, weather damage, and exhaustion of the soil.
Tastes, odours, and flavours in plants. Theophrastus examines what causes the different tastes of fruits, herbs, and roots, and how cultivation and climate modify them.
Plant juices, medicines, and the preparation of plant products. Theophrastus examines how plant extracts are obtained and used, covering perfumes, drugs, dyes, and other manufactured products.