Product Description
From the rain forests of Costa Rica to the frozen deserts of Antarctica, lichens are a familiar part of the landscape. Widespread and long-lived, yet vulnerable to environmental disturbance, lichens are useful to scientists in assessing the effects of air pollution, ozone depletion, and metal contamination. Illustrated with over 158 color photographs, Lichens reveals the varied and intriguing world of organisms that have been used in natural remedies and are becoming key indicators of the earth's environmental health. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Just What I Needed
Another satisfied customer, amateur lichenologist/naturalist and macro photographer. Splendid introduction to a little-known aspect of our environment. I'm indebted to the three previous reviewers.

Another Beautiful Book from the Smithsonian Press!
Several books recently published by the Smithsonian Institution Press have been especially well produced. In an earlier review I noted the excellent "Dragonflies of the World," which is much more than a coffee table book. Similarly "Lichens" by William Purvis has illuminated a little known part of the biological world - the obviously composite "organisms." Lichens are a cooperative unit formed by fungus and an "alga" or a cyanobacterium. Some are easily separable into their component species, while others are almost single entities.

With exquisite photographs, interesting text and an attractive format, "Lichens" appears to be just about everything you ever wanted in a short introductory text. It is full of interesting facts about lichens.

I was disappointed in that Simon Schwendener, who was the first to discover that lichens were symbiotic entities, is discussed, but there is no mention of Beatrix Potter (well known for her children's books) for her role in supporting the symbiotic theory of lichens. Both were dismissed in their day, but later their ideas were accepted as it became obvious that they were right.

This is a great introduction to these weird entities, once thought to be likely candidates for native Martians. The price is very attractive as well!

Excellent overview
This book provides a great introduction to the study of lichens.In concise text that assumes very little specialist knowledge, Purvis explains what lichens are and how they grow.He goes on to explain their role in ecosystems and many of the various uses that have been developed for lichens over the years.He delves into the use of lichens for biomonitoring at great length, and provides many examples of how lichens have been used to monitor or detect air pollution or metals contamination.The book includes color pictures, illustrations, and graphs on each page.At the end of the book, Purvis includes some suggested serious lichen research projects that even beginners could undertake. There is a glossary, an index, and list of books and Websites for further study.This book is a great place to get started in lichenology.It would also make a great science or ecology text for older homeschoolers.

Very attractive and informative
This is a marvelous introduction to lichens. The author is a lichenologist at The Natural History Museum in London and is enthusiastic about his subject. The book is a very manageable length-a little over 100 pages-and explains what a lichen is (a combination of two organisms: a fungus and a photosynthesizing partner, usually an algae), and other topics such as lichen evolution, the ecological role of lichens, lichens in forests, lichens in extreme environments, and biomonitoring. The author also includes a chapter on practical projects-collecting, monitoring, and photographing lichens-which motivated me to order a magnifying glass. One of the projects the author suggests is to visit churchyards to learn about lichens and their ecology. As he says, "The thing that makes churchyards so useful is the multitude of conveniently dated surfaces."

The book is profusely and attractively illustrated with one or more color photographs, drawings, or diagrams on every page. Many of the pictures show different lichens, either in a natural setting such as on a tree or as a close up. Some features are illustrated with both a regular and a microscopic photo. For example, there is a picture of a lichen with a lovely gray color on the fruiting body (the structure that forms fungal spores for reproduction) and a scanning electron microscope picture of the calcium oxalate crystals which cause the color. I enjoyed the sidebars on various topics like "Tests for lichen substances" and "Why do different lichens grow on trees."

The book includes a glossary, a bibliography, web links for more information, and an index. ... Read more

Product Description
This handsome guide, written by an ever-practical expert onshade gardening, "tells almost as much about the mechanics ofmoss gardening as the Kama Sutra does about dancing." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Too much bla bla bla
This book is not at all usefull, only de half of the book can be usefull to readers

Assumes reader has expert knowledge
I found this book well organize, but really not for the beginner looking for basic data on moss gardening. Detailed illustrations would have added to the text.Handsome photography, but greater magnification necessary to type mosses.

Very informative. Wonderful info for the novice as well as the veteran moss lover.
This is a wonderfully informative book.It is the kind of book that has material both for the person who knows nothing about moss gardening and the person who is a veteran moss enthusiast.If we were more into moss and less into lawns the environment would be more healthy.We wouldn't have to pump polluting weed killers and fertilizers into our precious ground water. There is nothing more beautiful than an area of velvety moss and this book tells you how to achieve it.I'll take moss over a lawn any day. If one is not ambitious to convert and entire lawn to moss, a little shady spot will do!

Total Bore
After all of the hype I read about this book I was very excited when purchasing it, however when it arrived I found the supposed 'beautiful photographs' to look badly out of date and the writers egotistical attitude to be very annoying.

The author is so egotistical he A. Leaves what his publisher told him to write about in his opening, in the books opening. B. Acts like he is a Messiah to moss because he moves from home to home studying and growing it for several years. Because of reasons A & B I have not been able to pickup this book again since dragging myself past 8 pages.

Gimme more.....
Another nice book with some good photos but expected a little more terms of variety of mosses reviewed.Certainly could have included more photos.... ... Read more

Product Description
Lichens are a unique form of plant life, the product of a symbiotic association between an alga and a fungus. The beauty and importance of lichens have long been overlooked, despite their abundance and diversity in most parts of North America and elsewhere in the world. This stunning book--the first accessible and authoritative guidebook to lichens of the North American continent--fills the gap, presenting superb color photographs, descriptions, distribution maps, and keys for identifying the most common, conspicuous, or ecologically significant species.The book focuses on 805 foliose, fruticose, and crustose lichens (the latter rarely included in popular guidebooks) and presents information on another 700 species in the keys or notes; special attention is given to species endemic to North America. A comprehensive introduction discusses the biology, structure, uses, and ecological significance of lichens and is illustrated with 90 additional color photos and many line drawings. English names are provided for most species, and the book also includes a glossary that explains technical terms.This visually rich and informative book will open the eyes of nature lovers everywhere to the fascinating world of lichens.Amazon.com Review
This remarkable compendium, the first (and perhaps last) of its kind, gathers current knowledge on the North American continent's store of lichens--those hard-to-classify, symbiotic composites of fungi and other organisms such as algae and cyanobacteria.

Lichens are, admittedly, easy enough to overlook. They stand out in most people's minds only as the orange, green, or grayish patches that festoon rocks and trees in mountain regions. But they are far more widespread than that, writes research scientist Irwin Brodo. Nearly every bioregion has a complement, and the continent as a whole boasts nearly 3,600 species (of about 14,000 worldwide). The first part of this book offers a near-encyclopedic survey of these lichens' form, structure, reproductive patterns, physiology, and ecological role. The second is a keyed guide to the continent's genera and major groups, including descriptions, range maps, and photographs, the last by the noted nature photographers Sylvia and Stephen Sharnoff.

Though far too hefty to serve easily in the field, this fine book deserves a place in the collections of natural historians and plant biologists doing work just about anywhere in North America. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

An Excellent Resource
As a retired Forester, I am always looking for new things to study and understand.During my professional and personal time in the forests, I noticed lichens but never appreciated them and I knew far too little about their characteristics.During my University years in training, lichens were not recognized as an important component of an ecosystem.They seemed to stand alone as a curious set of plant life, mysterious but more or less useless. These plant forms simply hung around the limbs and stems of trees, or they lived on rocks and sometimes soils and provided a little color accent to the forest I was helping to manage.Irwin Brodo, et al, in the beautifully illustrated tome, The Lichens of North America, help to counter this misconception of unimportance. Over 795 pages of relatively easy to read material, they discuss what lichens are, how they grow and spread, what they have been used for, and review their value in the assessment of air quality.The authors guide the reader through keys that can help interested people identify the lichens that grow around them.The book is beautifully illustrated with hundreds of color photographs and pen and ink drawings.Some small knowledge and background in botany will help the reader to more quickly understand the material but I hazard to guess that any reader can use this reference as a stand alone guide to some of the strangest and most interesting plants on Earth.Anyone who wants to collect and study these beautiful, unknown plants can use this book to advance their own study.As in any publication of this size, there are a few typos and errors but corrections are posted openly on the Web and it is easy to make changes in your own copy.This is one volume that I would recommend to any one who wants to learn more about lichens. The book contains an excellent bibliography.It is well bound and heavy, high quality paper is used.The signatures are sewn together so there is little chance that pages will ever fall out with normal use.It is both a beautiful and helpful book.If lichens are of any interest to you, get this volume for your library.

Great book
It's one of the top 3 books I've seen about lichen, treating largely about taxonomy, wich is rare to see. The pictures are great. I just hoped for more etnolichenology from the Sharnofs, but there's plenty in their site to fulfill curiosity.

Just what I needed.
Clearly, articulately written, very informative material.Beautiful photographs of good examples.Well worth the price for interested novices.

Bravo Brodo and Sharnoff!
Stunning photographs, clear, well written text, engaging and a "must" for all those interested in learning more about the wonderful world of lichens!A great "coffee table" book to entice non-lichenologists. Warning: Highly likely to induce lichenophilia!

Brodo's Lichens
Unfortunatley there are not many texts on Lichens. Brodo et al have done an excellent job with keys, pictures and discuss to allow one to key out and identify most US lichens. ... Read more

Product Description
Lichens are symbiotic organisms in which fungi and algae and/or cyanobacteria form an intimate biological union. This diverse group is found in almost all terrestrial habitats from the tropics to polar regions. In this second edition, four completely new chapters cover recent developments in the study of these fascinating organisms, including lichen genetics and sexual reproduction, stress physiology and symbiosis, and the carbon economy and environmental role of lichens. The whole text has been fully updated, with chapters covering anatomical, morphological and developmental aspects; the contribution of the unique secondary metabolites produced by lichens to medicine and the pharmaceutical industry; patterns of lichen photosynthesis and respiration in relation to different environmental conditions; the role of lichens in nitrogen fixation and mineral cycling; and the use of lichens as indicators of air pollution. This is a valuable reference for both students and researchers interested in lichenology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Detailed overview of what makes lichens tick
The first decade of the 21st century has been very good to those of us interested in lichens. There were Brodo and the Sharnoffs' majestic Lichens of North America, the Hinds' The Macrolichens of New England (Memoirs of The New York Botanical Garden, Volume 96), the second edition of McCune and Geiser's Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest: Second Edition, the completion of Nash, Gries, and Bungartz's three-volume Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region, plus the new edition of the British Lichen Society's The Lichens of Great Britain and Ireland. (These last two are not available through Amazon.)

But these are all chiefly guidebooks to individual species, comprising mostly descriptions, keys, and photographs. To complement them, we now have the second edition of Lichen Biology, edited by Nash. This is a broad and detailed overview of what makes lichens tick, with chapters on anatomy and morphology, reproduction, biochemistry, ecology, physiology, biogeography, taxonomy, and more.

Lichen Biology won't help you tell an Usnea from a Bryoria but it will help you understand the many complex dimensions of these interesting symbiotic organisms. Others commenting on the first edition noted that it is a technical book. This is true, and some chapters are denser than others. (For someone like me who forgot everything he knew about organic chemistry many years ago, the chapter on secondary metabolites was especially challenging.)

My only reservation about Lichen Biology is that the pace of current research using DNA sequence data to establish phylogenies will make the chapters on systematics and taxonomy out of date very quickly.

I will give Lichen Biology four stars - terrific for serious students but destined to be a disappointment to a beginner. If you want a first book on lichens, this is not the place to start. Spring for the big one, Lichens of North America.

Lichen Biology
I agree with the other two reviewers: if you have no experience with the life sciences it would be best to begin with a book like W. Pervis's Lichens. However, Nash's Lichen Biology is an outstanding text for more detailed and advanced questions on the interworkings of these unique organisms/ecosystems. Each chapter is authored by experts in smaller aspects of lichenology (chemistry, anatomy, taxonomy, ecology etc.), making the complete work very well-rounded.

Excellent introduction for serious students of botany
This book is not light reading.It is, however, the best book currently available for a complete introduction to the biology of lichens.Topicsrange from morphology and physiology to ecology.It would benefit fromdiagrams to accompany the many photographs.

Very Technical--Not a book for the amateur!
Good B&W photos, more info on lichens than you'll find anywhere but nearly impossible to read and understand if you are not a bontanist. ... Read more

Product Description
It came from a lichen. When biochemist Francis Saxover discovered its remarkable properties, the implications terrified him. But Diana Brackley foresaw the coming of a new evolutionary order and with it, a revolution. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good concept, so-so delivery
I bet most of us have thought about having a longer lifespan. If only there was a fountain of youth. Throughout our short lives we worry about that day when we will reach the end of our own personal timeline. As we age we struggle to look and feel young but eventually we have to face the truth - life is short and we're aging every day and there is nothing we can do about it. But what if there was?

In Trouble with Lichen Diana and Francis, a couple of biochemists in England discover a species of lichen that has the magical ability to extend ones life by double or perhaps even triple. The problem is that the supply of this lichen is very limited and it's very hard to grow. Diana and Francis part ways and Diana opens up a beauty spa and uses the lichen in her products on a small but powerful group of women. Of course the secret of the 'antigerone' can't remain a secret forever.

The problem with this book is that the idea is better than its execution. Most of this book is spent setting up for a climax that never really seems to come into fruition. Also, none of the characters really appealed to me. On the plus side, it did conjure up thoughts about humanity and what might happen if we could all extend our lives three-fold. Would we become overpopulated? Could we stay in our current relationships for such a long time?

Trouble with Lichen is a decent read, though it does seem to lose its impact before the end. Still, check it out!

Not Free SF Reader
The lichen in this piece is a rare plant. It has the amazingly quality
of being useful in retarding the aging process in humans.

The discoverers of this decide to keep it quiet, to prevent an
uproar, but inevitably, the secret gets out. Particularly when one use
it was put to was basically in a beauty salon!

Definitely Wyndham's weakest effort.

Sleeper
John Wyndham has never been noted for writting fast paced action novels.His novels are more in line of leaving the reader with an expectation of what will happen next.This book starts out slow and never gaines momentum.It is filled with long drawn out and rather boering conversations.After so much of this your expectation is that there will be more of the same.The best thing I can say about this book is,having throuble with sleeping.Read Trouble With Lichen.

Finally, a genuine anti-aging treatment
A lichen plant is discovered to have anti aging properties when it is spilled into a bowl of milk, and the milk does not turn sour.
The product is manufactured into a beauty cream, but the discovery is kept secret for some good reasons.
An excellent read from John Wyndham. ... Read more

Product Description
The ubiquitous fungi are little known and vastly underappreciated. Yet, without them we wouldn’t have bread, alcohol, cheese, tofu, or the unique flavors of mushrooms, morels, and truffles. We can’t survive without fungi.

The Kingdom Fungi provides a comprehensive look at the biology, structure, and morphological diversity of these necessary organisms. It sheds light on their ecologically important roles in nature, their fascinating relationships with people, plants, and animals, and their practical applications in the manufacture of food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. The book includes information about “true” fungi, fungus-like creatures (slime molds and water molds), and a group of “composite” organisms (lichens) that are more than just fungi. Particular attention is given to examples of fungi that might be found in the home and encountered in nature.

The Kingdom Fungi is a useful introductory text for naturalists, mycologists, and anyone who wants to become more familiar with, and more appreciative of, the fascinating world of fungi.
... Read more

Product Description
The classic guide to the bryophytes of the West is back in print. This book brings the small yet beautiful world of mosses, liverworts, lichens, and ferns to those interested in understanding more about their surroundings. These plants are relatively inconspicuous plants which nonetheless play significant roles in the ecology of forests and tundra. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

20-Year Old Book
A little troubled by the age of this guidebook; still, I cannot disagree with the other 4 & 5-star reviews. I purchased this book solely on the recommendation of a naturalist friend; unfortunately, without realizing it does not REALLY cover my area (San Jose, CA). So, I have little/no opportunity to use/evaluate it. I should have been more careful.

Nice collection of regional information
- As a graduate student I read many books focused on mosses and lichens.This guide is quite a refreshing addition to my library.It is easy to read and in English - not scientific jargon!I find it to be a good collection of information about the 'Mosses, Lichens & Ferns in NW North America'.I purchased it as a regional reference of moss and lichen data.I was not disappointed.The inclusion of ferns and liverworts is very appropriate for this region of the continent! (Some of the pictures aren't as great as those in Lichens of North America - but still good.)It is just the right size for a day pack complete with good quality paper.Another quality Lone Pine Product.

Excellent
The beautiful photos of lichens and mosses are the best feature of this book. Even many of the harder to identify crustose lichens are included and equally well photographed in this handsome guide. It is difficult to get a handle on lichen identification without some formal training, but this book will enable you to at least make identifications for some of the easier foliose and fruticose ones, such as parmelia or usnea, for example, and perhaps the more difficult ones too as you become more knowlegeable and experienced. The crustose lichen, rhizocarpon geographicum, for example, isn't that hard to identify from the tile-like pattern it makes on rocks and the lime-green color and black apothecia on the plant thallus.

Along with the photos, there are good descriptions and range maps showing plant distributions.

I had the opportunity to take supposedly the only full-semester lichenology class being taught that year in the entire U.S. by the late, great Harry Thiers, back in the mid-80's at San Francisco State University, a graduate botany course in which I'm proud to say I got an A. So I have some formal training in the area, and feel I can judge a good book on the subject when I see it, and this beautifully illustrated field guide is definitely worth the relatively modest price.

Detailed pictorial guide to primitive plants
Focused on the moist parts of western North America, this guide uses photos, range maps, and keys to identify and describe the primitive plants that are everywhere around us, but poorly understood.Great for plant exploration in the cool parts of the year.If you've ever wondered about those beautiful green carpeted forest floors, the delicate life growing on trees and rocks, or the lacey ferns in the fields and woods, this book is for you. ... Read more

Product Description
The perfect hiker's companion for any naturalist interested in the lichens of the northeastern mountaintops. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

I'm Lichen this book!
It's about time someone put together a hiker-friendly field guide to lichens!And this is a high-quality publication at that.The author included some stunning photos in this guide, and they actually match what you see when hiking around.I love the layout and the easy-to-read nature of the lichen descriptions. I have been fascinated by these little life forms since a friend at grad school took a keen interest in them.With grad school long behind me, I am glad to now finally have this book as my companion.

Good lichen guide
Very nice lichen guide. Good color pictures and lots of information that will enable amateurs to identify common alpine lichens. Covers about 60 species - wish it covered more! Money well spent. ... Read more

Product Description
Forests of Lilliput; The Realm of Mosses and Lichens ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Lichens and mosses in literary form
We found this a really great read.While providing lots of hard information about the subjects it is presented (as the title suggests) in an almost whimsical manner and makes for quite a good straight read to learn about lichens, mosses, algae and their relationships.Possibly not a great reference book, but who cares. ... Read more

Product Description
A Rocky Mountain Lichen Primer is an introduction and field guide to lichens in the Rocky Mountain region. It features seventy-two color plates picturing the most common and conspicuous species to be found in the mountains and foothills of the Rockies. Many of these lichens are also common in other geographic areas, giving the book a broader utility for those interested in lichens elsewhere. In addition to the plates, A Rocky Mountain Lichen Primer contains a brief description of each species to assist in identification, along with a general introduction to lichens and their structure. The book is tailored to the novice, and includes a section on beginning a lichen collection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Looks like a Junior High School science project
This book appears to have been slapped together with less than two weeks of work.I was constantly confused by discrepancies between the descriptions and the photographs.Lichens described as bright green, chartreuse, orange, red, etc., were all about the same dull shade of gray-brown in the pictures.This may be due to poor photography, poor reproduction, or the fact that the lichens pictured are old dessicated herbarium specimens rather than living lichens in their natural setting.

a handy backpack reference
Thislittle book of pretty pictures of lichens is slightly larger than a Reader's Digest but not quite as thick, so it will fit into your backback but not into your pocket.It tells you what you want to know withoutgetting too botanical and will add greatly to what you will see on yournext hike, and the one after that, and the one after that, and the oneafter ---- ... Read more

Product Description
Birds that walk underwater.Slugs that mate while suspended in midair.Frogs who star on Hollywood soundtracks.The Pacific Northwest abounds in natural wonders, and here are field guides as interesting as the world they describe.Filled with both amazing and amusing true-life tales about Northwest plants and animals, this new series of uncommon field guides will appeal to the casual observer and the avid naturalist alike.Each of these illustrated books describes more than sixty plants, animals, and natural phenomena of a particular Northwest habitat.Author Patricia Lichen combines standard field guide information about habitat, appearance, and range with delightful and engaging descriptions of the little-known facts, surprising details, and amusing-- even bizarre-- tidbits rarely found in ordinary field guides.Discover how amazing the Northwest natural world really is with these uncommon field guides. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Uncommonly delightful
Like all 3 of Lichen's "Uncommon Field Guide" series, "Passionate Slugs..." is uncommonly delightful to poke into.One can read it chapter-by-chapter or just open the book anywhere and delve in. Even if it is an animal or plant you are familiar with, there is a good likelihood that you will discover something new about it in her description.Reading her books is like the joy of discovering an animal or plant and discussing it with a knowledgeable friend.My only complaint is that there is not one of Feltner's detailed illustrations with every single chapter.

delightful book!
What a charming guide to backyard creatures of the northwest.The enjoyment I got from reading this book was like a conversation with a witty friend who just happens to know all about the critters and plants in my yard!I found it to be informative, humorous, and very down to earth.I would have appreciated a few more illustrations, but on the whole, I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about the creatures and habitat in his/her northwest backyard.

Beyond recognition:the secret life of your back yard
Mosquitos, grey squirrels, juncos -- most of us take these ordinary neighbors for granted and find our interest is piqued by more esoteric wildlife.The charm of this book is that it takes the creatures that we recognize already and can expect to see in our own yards, in parks, or hovering above a busy interstate and reveals the unique habits and foibles of each.Other essays shed light on the natural (and unnatural) history of common northwest plants including scotch broom, lawns, and the dreaded blackberry, and even go on to bring our attention to the skies.Each essay can be read independently, or the whole can be devoured at one sitting. By focussing on the mundane, Patricia Lichen and her talented illustrator Linda Feitner increase our appreciation of the richness of our environment.

Everything I Didn't Know About the Critters In Our Yard
I enjoyed "Passionate Slugs & Hollywood Frogs" because the writing style made it fun to learn about the skunks, juncos, mice, etc., who live in and around our yard.The information was easy to understand and entertaining.It is the kind of book that I can read myself and share with my grandchildren.I really enjoyed it.

Passionate Slugs and Hollywood Frogs
Pat Lichen weaves fascinating scientific information with humor, personal experience, and heartfelt tenderness for the natural world. Linda Feltner's drawings gently accentuate the essays. I'd recommend these books as enjoyable reading and good reference for any household in the Pacific Northwest. ... Read more

Product Description
Plant dyes are popular with quilters and other craftspeople because they produce soft, attractive colors. This is a complete guide to making and using dyes from a wide variety of plants—acorn to zinnia. For each plant: suitability for dyeing, parts to use, processing, availability, fastness of dye, more. List of suppliers, metric conversion table, bibliography, etc.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Technical Tome
Loads and loads of information -all in print. The only pictures were on the cover. Information is technical and makes use of the nasties - tin, chrome and copper. It should have been named "Science of the Dyer." If you want to identify anything then you will need more books as this one refers one only to other sources for identification. Good reference book for the technical aspect of dyeing. Dyeing is all about color and this book misses out on that aspect.

Informative and realistic
I had been wanting to dye yarn for a long time and I finally ran into this book.It explains everything clearly and warns you multiple times of this not being a science, but rather to expect variations. The book is intended for dyers in the east coast of Canada / NE U.S., where the plants she mentions can be easily found. Nevertheless, anyone can benefit from the technique and general principles explained by the author.

I tried her instructions for the onion dye and it worked like a charm. I got colors very similar to those on the book's cover. Luckily I just pruned my apple trees and plan to use the bark and twigs as dyestuff next.

The book was written before the age of Martha-Stewart detailed instructional photography, so the only thing I wish is that it had included more pictures.But this book should be on every dyer's bookshelf.

Wonderful book for the price
The only problem with this book is that it lacks colour photos that wouldenhance the reading of this book.However, this book is full ofinformation on how to dye wool and other fibers from plants and lichens. The book goes over all the techniques of dying different fibers.It alsohas a huge section on different plants and what colours you would expect toget when combined with a moderant. The book also contains a section onwhere to get and how to identify plants and moderants as well as otherbooks that are useful. There are many helpful tables on dyebaths,measurements for moderants and the effects of weak, medium and strongdyebaths. This is a wonderful book for the beginning dyer and an excellentresource, it is easy to read and understand eventhough I think it couldhave more pictures of the plants, moderants and different colours you mayget. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I lichen this book (bad pun)
The book is full of great pictures of the lichens found in Michigan.The author's descriptions are concise and informative, even tossing in the occassional bit of history.My only problem with the book is the lack of akey, so one has to search through the pictures to find the correct lichen. ... Read more

Product Description
Antarctica's severe climate and restricted area of ice-free habitats limit the biodiversity and biota of its terrestrial ecosystems. Throughout much of this wilderness, lichens are the predominant visible life form, yet relatively few descriptive accounts of Antarctic lichens have been published. This volume provides the first modern detailed compilation of their taxonomy, ecology, distribution, and relevant published literature. As such, it represents a major contribution to global lichen taxonomy and biogeography. The systematic accounts provide sufficient descriptive information to allow specialists to identify taxa to species level, and are structured so that even nonspecialists can use them to identify specimens to at least the generic level. ... Read more

Product Description
Part of the popular North Woods Naturalist Series, this field guide contains detailed information with an innovative format that makes field identification a snap! The guide will help you know what to look for and when, and it was developed exclusively for the regions surrounding the North Woods of the United States and Canada. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

excellent field guide
As a collector of more field guides than any one person should ever need I am very pleased with the format of this field guide. The photographs are clear and colorful and the organization of the guide makes identification easy. The book includes a great deal of information on each species and on the biology of lichens in general. After this purchase I am looking into purchasing other books in this series as well.

A naturalist's gem
A wonderful book for the northwoods naturalist, clearly written, well organized with great photos. Perfect for exploring and identifying the lichen world.

Enriching,even broader than the title implies.
The photos are great and the author gives us a straightforward, factual presentation that could serve as a routine reference, but somehow he manages to reveal unabashed enthusiasm for these fascinating life forms. And that's what makes this little Readers' Digest-sized book come alive.The "Nature notes" on each page are worth the purchase price (which is minimal).
Yes, these are lichens of the North Woods, but close relatives are found all over North America and, unless you are a lichenoligist purist, this book will be useful wherever you live.

A must-have for all lichen enthusiasts
I have yet to find another lichen field guide worthy of the name, and it will be difficult for future editions to surpass this one.Walewski's excellent photographs greatly enhance the vivid descriptions provided for each lichen species, and the organization of lichen types makes identification quick and easy.Many of these lichens are also found outside the North Woods, so I take it everywhere with me.A great guide from a fantastic series!

Lichens of the North Woods
Its the photographs that help identify the Lichens so quickly. There are not many books on Lichens like there are on Birds. ... Read more