The focus of this encyclopedia is explaining the sciences of plants, rather than simply providing a text on botany. The set also would be valuable as a resource for career education because many topics include photos and descriptions of careers for that technology or basic science. Technological applications, including fibers, wine, and beer, as well as historical episodes involving plant sciences such as the Potato Blight go well beyond the typical study of plants. Luther Burbank, noted horticulturist whose Burbank potato was introduced in Ireland to help combat the Blight, rates a two-page citation. Entries titled Genetic Engineer, Genetic Engineering, and Transgenic Plants all give a comprehensive account of this emerging field. Current ecological topics are abundant. The readable text and beautiful illustrations provide simplification and clarification for some difficult concepts, and encourage enjoyable browsing. The extensive explanation of photosynthesis is particularly commendable. Each topic has a bibliography for further study. The cumulative index will be most helpful for finding specific information not located readily with the alphabetical topical listings. DNA is discussed under Molecular Plant Genetics. This reference includes fewer topics but offers more comprehensive information than in traditional encyclopedias. One might well find youth returning to this series for pleasure after the first encounter. This resource is an expensive but valuable update for your science reference collection. Glossary. Index. Illus. Charts. Biblio. Chronology.