Plants form a fundamental element of the biosphere, and the evolution of plants has directly affected the evolution of animal life and the evolution of the Earth's climate. Plants have also become essential to humans not only in the form of cereal crops, fruit, and vegetables, but in their many other uses in wood and paper, and in providing medicines. In this Very Short Introduction Timothy Walker, Director of the Botanical Gardens in Oxford, provides a concise account of the nature of plants, their variety and classification, their evolution, and their aesthetic and practical value, stressing the need for their conservation for future generations.

植物是生物圈的基本要素，植物的进化直接影响着动物生命的进化和地球气候的演变。植物不仅以谷类作物、水果和蔬菜的形式，而且在木材和纸张的许多其他用途以及提供药品方面，对人类也变得必不可少。在这个非常简短的介绍蒂莫西沃克，牛津植物园主任，提供了植物的性质，其种类和分类，其演变，及其美学和实用价值的简明帐户，强调需要为子孙后代的保护。