A passion for systems - Linnaeus and the dream of order in nature

Linnaeus introduced his pioneering sexual systems for plants for the first time in 1735. His contemporaries were shocked by Linnaeus frank comparisons with the sexual reproduction system of human beings but his useful scheme rather quickly took the world by storm.

Helene Schmitz beautiful and unique photographs depict the sexual system organised in the 24 original categories. Nils Uddenberg s inspiring words enable us to follow Linnaeus from his youth growing up in Stenbrohult, a town in the region of Småland, to esteemed professor in Uppsala of worldwide repute. Pia Östensson, a biologist working at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, is scientific consultant and captions author.

A Passion for Systems was the Linnaeus Tercentenary s official anniversary book and was published in Swedish, English and Japanese.