An Introduction to Plant Structure and Development

Providing an introduction to plant anatomy, combining basic information on plant structure with up-to-date coverage of the development of structure.

Charles B. Beck, Professor Emeritus, received the PhD degree from Cornell University where he developed an intense interest in the structure of fossil and living plants under the influence of Professor Harlan Banks and Professor Arthur Eames. Following post-doctoral study with Professor John Walton at Glasgow University in Scotland, he joined the faculty of the University of Michigan. At Michigan he served one term each as Chairman of the Department of Botany and Director of the Museum of Paleontology. He also served one year as President of the International Organization of Paleobotany. His graduate students pursued research in either plant structure and development or paleobotany. He taught courses in plant anatomy, plant morphology and paleobotany over a period of 35 years.

'What this work attempts and substantially accomplishes, is the connection of key topics in plant anatomy with contemporary knowledge in contiguous disciplines, particularly cell biology, plant physiology and to some extent genetics ... a significant and informative synthesis. Those interested in plant structure are likely to find it a valuable reference worth owning. for me, it is already proving its usefulness in both teaching and research.' Plant Science Bulletin