
Few settings in literature are as widely known or celebrated as J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth. The natural landscape plays a major role in nearly all of Tolkien's major works, and readers have come to view the geography of this fictional universe as integral to understanding and enjoying Tolkien's works. And in laying out this continent, Tolkien paid special attention to its plant life; in total, over 160 plants are explicitly mentioned and described as a part of Middle-Earth. Nearly all of these plants are real species, and many of the fictional plants are based on scientifically grounded botanic principles.In Flora of Middle Earth: Plants of Tolkien's Legendarium, botanist Walter Judd gives a detailed species account of every plant found in Tolkien's universe, complete with the etymology of the plant's name, a discussion of its significance within Tolkien's work, a description of the plant's distribution and ecology, and an original hand-drawn illustration by artist Graham Judd in the style of a woodcut print. Among the over three-thousand vascular plants Tolkien would have seen in the British Isles, the authors show why Tolkien may have selected certain plants for inclusion in his universe over others, in terms of their botanic properties and traditional uses. The clear, comprehensive alphabetical listing of each species, along with the visual identification key of the plant drawings, adds to the reader's understanding and appreciation of the Tolkien canon.
This work investigates the intersection of botanical science and literary world-building by cataloging the flora present within J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. Botanist Walter S. Judd, alongside artist Graham A. Judd, utilizes his professional expertise to analyze the over 160 plant species explicitly mentioned in Middle-Earth. The authors argue that Tolkien's selection of flora was not arbitrary, but rather rooted in specific botanical properties, ecological distribution, and traditional cultural uses that mirror the natural world of the British Isles.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and fans of Tolkien's work frequently cite this text as a rigorous, specialized resource that bridges the gap between literary analysis and natural science. Experts highlight the book's utility as a reference guide that deepens the reader's appreciation for the environmental detail embedded in the legendarium.
Page Count:
424
Publication Date:
2017-08-15
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190276312
ISBN-13:
9780190276317
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