Sex in animals has been known for at least ten thousand years, and this knowledge was exploited during animal domestication in the Neolithic period. In contrast, sex in plants wasn't discovered until the late seventeenth century. Even after its discovery, the sexual 'theory' continued to be hotly debated for another 150 years, pitting the 'sexualists' against the 'asexualists.' Why was the idea of sex in plants so contentious for so long? In answer, 'Flora Unveiled' offers a deep history of perceptions concerning plant gender and sexuality, from the Paleolithic to the nineteenth century. |