Product Description
A handy guide that uses flower structures, floral diagrams, and the floral formula technique to illustrate the elements common to the genera in more than 100 plant families native to North America or found here as introduced ornamental species. It is widely used both in the classroom and in the field. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Now I Know !
Having a passion for plants I felt I needed to take it to the next level by being able to understand what I was really purchasing at garden nurseries.Most identifying tags on plants for sale list their family nameswhich I did not understand so I had no idea what I was really buying!Thisbook was easy to comprehend,making it easy for me to retain and use theinformation.This book has made me a more knowledgeable consumer not tomention that I can impress my friends! ... Read more

Product Description
Magnificent compendium of the finely detailed plant images from the Victorian era—all identified with Latin and common names and arranged alphabetically by family. Hundreds of plant species—from lilies, lichens, poppies and palms to mushrooms, mosses, marigolds and maples—supplemented by specialized appendices on edible foods, medicinal herbs, plants used in decoration and in graphic design. Indispensable source of inspiration and copyright-free graphics for designers and artists; a captivating compendium for botanists, gardeners, and collectors of old engravings.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

well drawn, but darkly inked in
Artistry is good, but I wish that the pictures weren't so dark.For what I need I will have to find a way to get the insides of the pictures white so that I can color them the proper colors

A Great Artists Tool
This is a great book of black and white illustrations for reference when you want to paint or draw foliage.This is a real nice detailed book to use as reference.You can't go wrong adding this to your library.

Plants Jim Harter Illustrations
This book is definitely a MUST have if you are an artist or love art. The drawings are in fine detail and you can learn a lot from these illustrations. I am a fine arts student in college and I have never seen drawings this fine in details. The book is a masterpiece. I would expect a book like this to cost eight times the price. I say buy it, worth it.

Wonderful collection!
I love the Dover Pictorial Archives Series and this book is a fine example of the copyright-free images that Dover offers in these books.Jammed full of beautiful black and white drawings in fine detail this could be the one book in your library to cover all your botanical needs.But it won't be.Once you see this book you'll want to add more Pictorial Archives Series books to your library.

Great Book!
This is a terrific book.I purchased it with the companion book on Animals.It is a "must have" for anyone interested in art, biology, or just a good coffee table book.It will keep youngsters quiet for hours with the facinating illustrations.Very high quality.You just can't beat the price either.I highly recommend it. You, too, can be botanically correct! ... Read more

Product Description
Now anyone can survive, and thrive, in the outdoors.Anyone who has spent serious time outdoors knows that in survivalsituations, wild plants are often the only sustenance available. Theproper identification of these plants can mean the difference betweensurvival and death. This book describes habitat and distribution,physical characteristics, and edible parts of wild plants—the keyelements of identification. Hugely important to the book are its colorphotos. There are over one hundred of them, further simplifying theidentification of poisonous and edible plants. No serious outdoorsperson should ever hit the trail without this book and the knowledgecontained within it. 135 color, 15 b&w illustrations ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Dangerously bad book
I recently picked up a book from the library called The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants by the Department of the Army.Yes, that Army, the US Army and Pentagon are listed on the back page.This is a 'no-nonsense survival aid, {...} an essential guide for serious adventurers and the armchair botanist alike."I thought I would get some interesting information about locally edible and poisonous plants, but the book provided something else, a serious scare.First, the book covers the tropics, subtropics, and temperate zones, but covers very few edible plants from each region.That is OK, even if not great.In the beginning of the book it is stated that you should never eat any plants you can't securely identify to the correct species.Well, well - I would like to see the person that can identify any plant to the correct species based on the photos and descriptions in this book.I can't even see some of the plants in some of the photos. Many of photos are grainy, too dark, and over-tinted in green. And when they couldn't find good photos they resorted to stick figures of the plants, also badly pixelated.

The photos of sorghum grains, the only photo used to illustrate this plant, looks like a large bunch of small cockroaches on a tabletop. The description of sorghum, which supposedly is there to help you identify the plant, follows: "There are many different kinds of sorghum, all of which bear grains in heads at the top of the plants.The grains are brown, white, red, or black.Sorghum is the main food crop in many parts of the world."Would you be comfortable with identify a wild plant as sorghum after reading this?I mean, the only real description here is that the seed color can vary and that the seeds are in heads on the top of the plant.It doesn't even say it is a grass! Plant families are only listed for poisonous plants, I wonder why?If you get sick, only then you need to know the family?

The mixture of tropical with temperate plants provides some interesting contrasts.Sago palm (with a horrible photo), and sassafras (with a great photo, from the season when the plants have leaves) share one page. Same with prickly pear cactus (Opuntia) and pokeweed (Phytolacca, a plant which actually is very poisonous if raw or taller than 25 cm.)

Some information is dangerously wrong.The fish tail palm, which I recently saw in the botanical garden in Stockholm, is edible, but the fruits are toxic and the leaves can give you dermatitis (link)."In this manual, this is a perfectly fine plant without any warning signs at all. Only 17 poisonous plants are listed, and this book is supposedly covering the whole world.

Looking through this book I am starting to think it is a joke.Either that, or the American soldiers are much dumber than I thought.The text reads often like an essay by a 4th grader, for example:
"Look for sugarcane in fields. It grows only in the tropics (throughout the world). Because it is a crop, it is often found in large numbers."

This book is an embarrassment to the US government, US publishers, and botany. The book was published in 2009, and even if it was printed in China (true), I bet the material was provided from the US.

Remember that this book is called the "Complete guide..."?It is as complete and useful as the human anatomy chapter of a high school biology book is to a neurosurgeon. As a survival aid, this book is not very helpful, and could even be risky to use for the serious outdoorsman. I also really doubt there are any armchair botanists out there that would enjoy a book with so many botanical faults.I really hope the US Army provides their soldiers with better field manuals than this. There are many more and better books on this subject for those that really are interested in wild edible plants and wilderness survival.

Broad spectrum, of marginal use unless you travel a lot.
This book calls itself the "Complete Guide", but it only covers prominent and easy to identify plants throughout various regions of the world.While that may be good for someone that finds themselves in a new country each week, it's very limited in practical use if you're looking for edible plants in your region alone.I highly recommend the Peterson Field Guides for edible and medicinal plants.They're very thorough and cover everything you need to know.For better identification it may be a good idea to have a book with more extensive identification information, but I do think Peterson comes as close as you can get to a complete guide for your region.Let me digress a bit... The pictures in this book are some of the best you'll find in any plant book.Descriptions, while short, give you information you need.

Well rounded
This seems to be a well rounded book for many areas, but I would rather have something more useful to my area.I am thinking Nature's Garden:A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants may be better.

Local Foraging Guide
This is a pretty good beginner's guide.I use it to identify all the weeds in my yard and neighborhood and to get better at identifying useful plants.It classifies the plants by leaf type, flower color, and the like.Helpful.

Great survival resource guide for wide area of edible pants.
This is a great book to have if you find yourself out of food, and starving!
The book shows you what the plants look like, what parts you can eat, when is the best time to eat them, and how too cook some of it.
The book covers a wide area of plants in many climates and area's so you might only see a small selection on plants in your area that you will reconize and can eat.
It also covers poisonous plants that you want to advoid. ... Read more

Product Description
Compiled by two distinguished professors of horticulture, The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation is a must for professionals and students of horticulture. Over 1,100 species and their propagation requirements by seeds, cuttings, grafting and budding, and tissue culture are discussed in exhaustive detail. Essentially a recipe book for making more trees and shrubs, this reference is a high-level how-to.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Prefer the old format.
Of course, the information in this book is without peer, but the change to a new, less attractive and less concise format takes away from its usefulness.

missing what I needed
I bought this book mostly based on all the five star reviews that were given it. However, upon receiving my copy, I was actually disappointed that
it was lacking the information I was most hoping for. For some strange reason, this book doesn't discuss propagation of grapevines. Hmmm. I find this just a bit odd. Grapevines are a relatively common woody plant. I would expect at least some mention of them. But for some reason, I did find info on propagating more obscure woody plants. And the other info that it did have on grafting, I already had in other books. So needless, to say, this book was just a bit unnecessary for me. And the book also came across a bit more academic than I'd have hoped for.

Same as first edition?
The description states this is 800 pages, leading you to believe is has been updated significantly. It is actually 425 pages with larger type than the first edition. I couldn't find any changes beside the addition of several appendices. Still a must-have reference book, but you don't need the second edition if you own the first edition.

Super book
Great reference book!Gives you all the information you need to propagate--nurserymen to laymen.

A book by a pro for the professional propagator
I propagated woody plants as a sideline business for a number of years and considered this book THE source.For many species, specific concentrations for rooting hormones are specified.This is invaluable information since for many plants there is an optimal concentration and using a higher or lower concentration of reduces rooting success rates as well as root development. ... Read more

Product Description
Gardeners use native plants for many reasons. In addition to providing year-round beauty with relatively little maintenance, landscaping with native plants contributes to the repair of the natural ecosystem and brings us closer to our environment. With such a diverse and spectacular array of native plant material available to gardeners in the coastal and desert climates of Southern California, the opportunities for creative and attractive landscapes are seemingly endless.In Landscaping with Native Plants of Southern California, George Oxford Miller offers the definitive guide to choosing the best of the best among the native plants of the region. Covering wildflowers, shrubs, trees, vines, cacti, and groundcovers, this comprehensive, richly illustrated book selects the species that combine ornamental qualities, growth habit, adaptability, low maintenance, and beauty for the highest landscape value. The illustrations, maps, and charts provide guidelines for species selection and planting, ongoing maintenance, landscape design, and water and energy conservation. In-depth plant profiles describe the habitat requirements for nearly 300 native plant species, subspecies, and varieties, with stunning photographs illustrating how each plant looks and responds to landscape conditions.As the interest in native-plant landscaping and xeriscaping continues to expand, this is a book that belongs on the shelf of every gardener and landscaper in Southern California.Environmental photojournalist George Oxford Miller is writer, photographer, and third-generation nurseryman. He is well known for his many magazine articles, books, and photography on the plants and animals of Texas and the Southwest. His work has appeared in periodicals such as Living Bird, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and Wildlife Conservation and in publications of the National Wildlife Federation and the Sierra Club. He is author or co-author of several books, including Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas, Landscaping with Native Plants of the Southwest, A Field Guide to Wildlife of Texas and the Southwest, and The Ozarks: The People, the Mountains, the Magic. Miller resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Native plants
Very helpful book for the Native Plant enthusiast and very complete.Plants can b e located at Native plant nurseries.

Go native!
Although I live in the S. F. Bay Area, I bought this book because I knew there would be plants native to So Cal that are also native elsewhere.I is a wonderful resource and its feels great to plant what grew here--and is beautiful--before the asphalt.

Only the pictures are great...
The pictures are very good.Some of the lists are also helpful (wildlife, bloom time, ecosystem zones) but the information presented in the plant profiles will bring some raised eyebrows from knowledgeable native plant aficionados.I bought the book for the photos so I am content but I would recommend that anyone new to these plants should consult another source in addition to this one for specific plant information.

Very useful!
This book is both practical and visually appealing.It provides basic gardening instructions and includes a full color visual encyclopedia of native Southern California plants.I recommend it to anyone in Southern California who is searching for a more environmentally friendly way to landscape.

native plants oof S cal.
excellent book. very informative. I am planning on giving a lecture on native plants and butterfly host plants so thisbook is an excellent source. ... Read more

Product Description
To learn all you need to know about gardening in Texas, you could collect a whole shelf full of specialized books on topics ranging from soil preparation to tree care. But all you really need is Howard Garrett's Plants for Texas. In this one book, you'll find a virtual encyclopedia of over 500 Texas plants--trees, shrubs, flowers, vines, grasses, vegetables, fruits, weeds, and cover crops--along with complete, easily understood instructions for planting and maintaining them. Gardening expert Howard Garrett draws on years of landscaping experience to provide "all-you-need-to-know" about each plant:∑ Latin and common names∑ sun or shade requirements∑ mature height, spread, and recommended spacing∑ type of bloom and fruit∑ how propagated∑ habit and culture∑ recommended uses∑ problems∑ tips and notesTo help gardeners avoid costly mistakes, Garrett also specifically notes which plants grow very well or very poorly in Texas. In addition to the species descriptions (which are beautifully illustrated with color photos), the book includes reliable, easy-to-follow instructions for planting design, soil preparation, planting techniques, and plant maintenance. Garrett advocates a sensible organic gardening program that works with nature to create healthy yards and gardens. Whether you're a first-time homeowner planting a new yard or a seasoned gardener looking for new ideas and information, Howard Garrett's Plants for Texas is the book you need. Recycle all the others on your gardening shelf, and let this be your one-volume encyclopedia on Texas gardening. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

very informative book
very informative book...well organized and very detailed explanations and lots of nice little tips everywhere.

howard garrett's plants for texas
the book was as advertised and was just what i expected.it was in excellent condition.the price and shipping were at a good price and it was shipped in a timely manner.i would not hesitate to place another order with this company.

Another great Howard Garrett book
I have checked out many Howard Garrett books from the library and had to buy several for myself and for gifts. The photos are beautiful, and he tells you what he thinks of the different species. Howard Garrett writes great books for people wanting to establish beautiful landscapes and gardens. He explains why healthy, organic soil with native plants and bugs works really well if it is done right.

My only complaint with most of his books is that he lists the specimens in alphabetical order. That is what indexes are for. If he would group them with similar specimens, then between the photos and his descriptions, the books would be great for identifying species I find on my property. As it is, I have to get a separate field guide to tell me the names to look up in his books; but, I am willing to do that.

In Plants for Texas, I especially appreciate the lists of Texas' Bests and Worsts, and of course all the close-up photos.

a favorite
Howard Garrett knows how to include more diversified info into a readable book than most gardening books.Always a favorite for Texas gardeners.

Howard Garrett's Plants for Texas
This book has good pictures of plants and their flowers as well asgood information on the many plants in all of Texas.It is alphabetized so that finding a plant is easy.
Also, included in the notes are some interesting comments about the plant and its use. ... Read more

Product Description
The world of plants and its relation to mankind as revealed by the latest scientific discoveries. "Plenty of hard facts and astounding scientific and practical lore."--Newsweek ... Read more

Customer Reviews (69)

What a waste of money!
They had to be joking when they wrote this book. The first chapter pretends to prove plants have ESP because the needle jumps when plants are attached to lie detector machines. Then guesses are made as to what the moving needle means, such as "plants are sentient beings, plants have emotions, and plants can read minds." Give me a break! A lie detector measures electricity; electricity is produced as cells goes about the business of living. The authors top this off by informing us that the "scientist" performing these experiments offered his studies to the world for testing and replication -- in The International Journal of Parapsychology. Enough said!

Appauled that this is "required" reading for my Herb course
This book is bad. It has small nuggets of truth here and there, mixed with a whole bunch of crap. It's a throwback to the 60's new age crowd who thrives on nature worship. I love plants, don't get me wrong, but I'm not going to pretend my plant can "talk" to me or feel scared that I'm about to eat it. Don't waste the money. Get a herb book from a reputable herbalist or botanist.

Secret life of plants: an interesting read.
I thought the book was interesting enough to buy, which doesn't happen to me very often.

Whether you agree with the theories or not doesn't really matter... it's the possibilities that are very interesting. I enjoyed reading the book, but that doesn't mean I agree with every statement in it. I think it's very thought provoking, and definitely worth a buy.

Fastastic Book
This eye-opening book tells the amazing stories of numerous scientists who revealed aspects of plants that the average person would never think possible.You will never look at a plant the same way again!

Amazing Read!
The Secret Life of Plants takes Plant Spirit shamanic understanding to an entirely new level.I am beyond impressed with this read.Don't say that lightly.If you've ever felt drawn to Plants or the woods, this book will explain why and what that pull is on a subconscious level.I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to expand their perception of nature's wisdom and energy as a whole. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

We should all grow some native plants, read about some good ones
This is a handy reference for the gardener who wants to replace invasive and harmful exotic plants with natives that sustain wildlife and survive without expensive chemicals and watering.Mr. Burell is a knowledgeable gardener. He explains why the exotics are harmful and suggests good replacements for them, describing the conditions in which they grow and thrive.Although this is a slim book and covers a limited number of plants, there are numerous references to other source, so all of ones favorite natives should be covered. After reading it I wanted to throw out all the foreigners from my yard and replace them with lovely natives. Practicality and budget will control that urge and I will replace some of the most offending species.

Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants
Great book if you serious about planting native species in your garden. Love everything about this book. Buy it!

Very informative!
I purchased this book because I was interested in replacing some very aggressive, invasive plantings we inherited when we purchased our current home 4 years ago. I was so very pleased with the depth of information contained regarding native alternatives to common invasives found in a great many regions of the country. Not only did the book describe the native plant's attributes but where best to place them within your landscape as far as soil and light requirements. I enthusiastically recommend this book for serious gardeners anxious to return their properties to a more natural balance. My only disappointment was that there were not more entries!Hope the author writes a second book on the subject!

Great resource for gardeners about native plants
This book has great photos.After mentioning invasive species, the author recommends native species to use instead.Before reading this book, I did not know that there were so many common plants that are considered invasive.The native alternatives given would look great in any garden.

Why would anyone need a pocket sized book on this topic?
This book is a mystery to me. It has a list of invasive, what states they're invasive in, and goes as far to recommend replacements. What I don't understand is why it's a pocket sized book (about that of a novel).

Am I expected to carry it around the woods or a garden store with me?
No, the pictures of invasive plants are far to small to ID anything with. The garden store is usually good enough to have things labeled but rarely do you find one good enough to carry some of the native plants this book recommends. I have never seen a ButtonBush sold anywhere but online, and actually it's hard enough just to find Milkweed. Though there seems to be a trend growing where more native plants are showing up in garden stores. I busted out laughing when I saw one selling Goldenrod. Native trees and wildflowers you'll have better luck finding at the nursery.

These books never seem to have the balls to out right say These plants should be banned from sale! Purple loosestrife is an invasive plant in most of the US but it's not banned from sale at garden nurseries in a lot of the states. This undermines the millions of dollars put towards conservationist work.

I suppose it's good to have a book on this topic but this is more like a reference and nothing more. It doesn't tell you why they're invasive or what damage they can do. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is the definitive botanical guide to the wetlands, woodlands, coastlines, hills, and valleys of the San Francisco Bay Region. For this extensively revised and redesigned edition of Plants of the San Francisco Bay Region, the identification keys have been improved and line drawings scattered throughout the text, ensuring that this popular book will continue to be the most comprehensive and authoritative identification guide to the region's native and introduced plants.

o Easy-to-use keys describe more than two thousand species of wildflowers, trees, shrubs, weeds, and ferns

o Exceptionally clear illustrations include 457 color photographs and 227 line drawings

o Plants are identified by both common and scientific names, making this guide an essential resource for amateur naturalists, students, and professionals ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

needs to be more organized for non scientific person
So far i am trying to figure out how to find the cross references to the pictures and plant discriptions. the flowers should be organized according to color.

A nice buy for both beginners and advanced student of botany
The book is mostly composed of dichotomous keys with a good section of very nice photographs of most commonly encountered plants, covering many genera. It is a sizable book for the field and covers the SF Bay Area really well. The only thing I have to complain is that is doesn't have species descriptions and more pictures, but these are probably out of the scope of this book. It is a great buy and I do highly recommend it.

An excellent reference book for the Bay Area.
If you're into plant identification and you live in the Bay Area, this book is essential.Many of the keys are far easier than Jepson or Munz, and there is the enormous benefit that plants that don't grow in the Bay Area aren't there in the key to confuse you.

People who use this book should know that it is in some ways a work in progress.I took a class with Ms. Beidleman in 2006 and she frequently told us to cross out or re-word certain passages in the keys that were misleading.I don't think she has an estimate for when a new edition may come out--it could be a ways off.

Plants of the San Francisco Bay Region: Mendocino to Montere
This books is essential to botanists in the San Francisco Bay Area!For both the experienced and the amateur, this book is a useful guide to identifying common plant species of the region.Much more concise andspecialized than the Jepson Manual, plant identification has gone from atime consuming chore to sheer pleasure.Brilliant color plates addinterest and aide in identification.Authors Kozloff and Beidleman haveextracted the best aspects of botany texts to create a San Francisco BayArea biologist's dream! ... Read more

Product Description

The definitive reference on flowering plants, thoroughly revised.

The widely acclaimed Flowering Plants of the World, the original edition of this book, has never been surpassed in its depth and scope. Written by a team of internationally recognized authorities, this thoroughly updated edition provides the latest information and solidifies the book's position as the definitive guide on the subject.

At the core of the book are the comprehensive entries on 504 flowering plant families. Each entry describes distribution, anatomy, habitat, classification and commercial uses. The enormous wealth of newly available taxonomic information, found throughout the pages of Flowering Plant Families of the World, will interest every botanist.

Along with hundreds of beautiful, meticulously detailed artworks, the book features:

• A complete introductory section about flowering plants
• Distribution maps and quick-reference panels
• An extensive illustrated glossary of specialist terms
• A comprehensive index with plant names in Latin and English.

The book's specially commissioned botanical illustrations by professional artists are remarkable for both their beauty and their scientific accuracy.

This definitive book, now completely updated, will remain a key reference for gardeners, botanists and plant professionals worldwide.

Customer Reviews (5)

flowering plant families of the world
This textbook is very interesting for me. Many informations such as plant classification in the world, plant illustration, plant description on the families level, the definition about plant etc. that i can get from this book.

A beautiful and comprehensive book with minor drawbacks
This is a massive book with large and beautiful illustrations. The information about the families includes distribution, major genera, number of species, morphological description, placement in the plant kingdom, intrafamilial classification and economic uses. Most of the family descriptions have also illustrations and references are given. The authors have adopted an approach to accept paraphyly in some cases.

However, there are some small drawbacks. The glossary does not contain the whole terminology used in the book. In the family descriptions, there are not few small errors, for example in the distributional information. In some cases the distribution of a given family in the map even differs from that in the text. There are this kind of small errors particularly in the descriptions written by V. H. Heywood. Also, I would have liked to find some basics of ecology of the families, but even pollination mechanism is mostly not given.

Must have for botanists
This is a must have for botany teachers and students. It is a complete and beautiful book, full of illustrations and the VERY useful distribution maps. It has current scientific information on families systematic and diagnostic characters. It is a helpful tool to teach Angiosperm diversity in University courses. It presents the APG II classification but the families are alphabetically arranged. Dicots and monocots are separated to facilitate the search. It also has a complete glossary with botanical terminology to facilitate the comprehension of the book. It is a great book for both specialists and botany aficionados alike.

A must have for anyone interested in plants!
This is an impressive, dense, fact-filled book with wonderful illustrations and distribution maps.It is as useful for plant biologists as it is for anyone else, whether you are interested in evolutionary relationships of plants, or just simply wondering where certain foods come from.Citations are acknowledged along with each family description for quick reference to the primary literature.

More than updated
The predecessor of this book, Flowering Plants of the World, was a well-known reference for decades to many who love plants. There is a strong sense of continuity between these two books, if for no other reason that both use the same illustrations. In fact the continuity goes further and also involves much of the contents, as evidenced by the error of zebrawood being supplied by a species of Connarus, a myth that was debunked in the 1940's.

Where the earlier book was based on the Cronquist system, with the plant families arranged by order, this book is (loosely) based on APG II (2003), with the plant families arranged by alphabet. As to recognition of families, this book adopts a splitter's philosophy, recognizing 506 families (versus 457 in APG II). The book recognizes families such as Bombacaceae, Cneoraceae, Sterculiaceae and Tiliaceae. The classification in this book will not be found in any other reference, but this splitter's policy may help the book retain its value in these times of constant change in plant classification. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

A good introductory book
This is a good introductory book for the casual hiker or Southern Californian who has some desire to learn about native plants.Its strong point is that many of the plants that one might notice in the local San Gabriel Mountains are pictured in this book, and many of the plants in the book are easy to find in the local mountains and canyons.It has good pictures, and an interesting paragraph on each plant or tree.Usefully grouped into sections (conifers, sages, succulents, etc), and also has some brief technical sections and lists.I have enjoyed carrying it around on short hikes, and found it sort of breaks the ice for a novice/beginner. It is not, nor intended to be, a super-definitive book.

Local Knowledge Enriches Our Worlds
I found this book in our local library and knew that I must own a copy.The book provides excellant color photographs for identification, and common names of the vegetation, which is far preferable for the amatureenthusiast.I have come to feel more a part of our little canyon melieu,now that I can identify by name some of its common and familiar flora.

This is the book that taught me about Native Plants.
I always assumed that many of the plants I saw along the road were native plants. This is a very valuable resource for anyone who would like to know what they are seeing every day on their commute or on a trip through thestate. I always carry a copy in my car. The landscape is so much morebeautiful when you know something about it! It also helped when my sonbrushed against stinging nettles and developed a temporary welt. Start withthis book, then become a lover and defender of our most important heritage. ... Read more

Product Description
Illustrated with more than eight hundred drawings and photographs, this informative, hands-on guide will help amateur fossil collectors identify and assess the significance of their finds. Introductory chapters describe the types of plant preservation and outline the development of such groups as ferns, fern allies, and seed plants including cycads, ginkgos, conifers, and flowering plants. Generic accounts include brief characterizations; one or more line drawings; lists of formations in which the fossil plant occurs; and, in some, discussions of the ecological conditions under which the plant may have grown. Half of the listings describe fossil woods. A table of more than one hundred localities from British Columbia to northern New Mexico and from California as far east as South Dakota lists the period and epoch in which each site's fossils probably originated. Because fossil plants are found worldwide, the book can be used in many areas other than the western United States.

First published in 1975, this second edition has been completely revised and expanded to include more than 350 new or modified illustrations, an outline key, an amplified glossary, and discussion of seventy-nine additional genera of compressional and petrified material. For geologists, botanists, land managers, naturalists, and anyone interested in hunting and identifying fossil plants, this comprehensive guide is an indispensable reference. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

good reference book
Good reference for some fairly common western NA plant fossils.The photo plates are good quality, as are the drawings.All aspects of the ID are covered: leaves, bark, fruit, wood.There are magnified photos and drawings, as well as the normal views. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Eatable Plants
I have not been able to try the plants, because it is winter, but the book will help me find the plants that I can eat.Excellent Book. I recommend.

Excellent Resource
Easiest book I have ever found for identifying edible plants.Good descriptions and I love that it has pictures from different times of year.It makes hiking trips much more fun.

I guess I would have to say I trust my life to this book.(If I eat the wrong plant I could die.)

Fun knowledge to have!
I had the opportunity to attend a talk given by Cattail Bob recently.I was impressed enough to by his book.This book doesn't cover all the edible plants avilable, but the title does state "Best Tasting Plants" and I imagine there are plenty more that just don't taste good out there.At the presentation he had samples for us to all taste and taught what characteristics to look out for with the toxic plants.The book is an excellent alternative to attending one of his classes, and a great supplement to them if you can attend one.I especially like that he has multiple photographs of each plant showing them in different seasons (since we all know that plants don't bloom year round).I am looking forward to exploring more on my own with this handy field guide.I never knew that I had edible plants in my own backyard!

EXCELLENT
I have read many books on the wild edibles of our Rocky Mountains, and have had very few compare to this one. This book not only gives DETAILED color photos of every plant listed, he also gives approximate dates(months) they are to be immature, mature, flowering, adn bearing fruit. Healso gives potential lookalikes, cautions, uses, and special notes of otheruses. This book is divided into three main sections. Low altitude plants,High altitude plants and the common toxic plants of the area. All theplants listed in all sections are fairly common and I am sure many peoplefrom enthusiasts to hikers/backpackers would find this information useful.In the back of the book, Seebeck also includes ideas of what type ofrecipies to use these plants in. The only reason I awarded four stars isbecause I wished there were more listed, like those ever present mountainweeds and grains. ... Read more

Product Description
The Río Mayo region of northwestern Mexico is a major geographic area whose natural history remains poorly known to outsiders. Lying in a region where desert and tropical, northern and southern, and continental and coastal species converge, it boasts an abundance of flora first documented by Howard Scott Gentry in 1942 in a book now widely regarded as a classic of botanical literature. This new book updates and amends Gentry's Río Mayo Plants. Undertaken with Gentry's support and participation before his death in 1993, it reproduces the original text, which appears here with annotations, and contains information on over 2,800 taxa—more than twice the 1,200 species first described by Gentry. The annotated list of plants includes information on distribution, habitat, appearance, common names, and indigenous uses. A new introduction provides historical background and a review of geography and vegetation. It also describes changes to the land and river wrought by agricultural development, expanded grazing, and lumbering. Throughout the text, the authors have endeavored to provide information on Río Mayo vegetation while emphasizing local knowledge and use of plants, to preserve Gentry's field-oriented focus, and to present botanical information with Gentry's exuberance and style. Río Mayo Plants has long stood as a book that displays a scientist's love of the English language, his fondness for native peoples, and his eye for beauty in nature. This updating of that work fills a gap in the botanical literature of this portion of North America and will be useful not only for botanists but also for biogeographers, taxonomists, land managers, and conservationists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Review of "Gentry's Rio Mayo Plants"
For anyone interested in the vegetation of Sonora, Mexico this book is a must!Back in the early 1980s I was very fortunate to be able to buy a copy of the original Smithsonian book published in 1942 and this current version is a wonderful update of that earlier work.The new book includes additional plant accounts from years of plant collecting in southeast Sonora by botanists at the University of Arizona in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The authors are careful to keep Gentry's original accounts in parentheses.

Gentry spent a considerable amount of time traveling in the Alamos region of southeast Sonora during the late 1930s and during these travels he collected interesting information concerning the local names and medicinal uses of the plants of southern Sonora. In reading the plant descriptions and associated plant habitats you can almost envision the plant growing and flowering in its native habitat.This book is nicely complimented by "Sonoran Desert Plants" and "The Trees of Sonora, Mexico" which look with greater depth into the larger plants and trees of Sonora.

Hidden treasure
I was given the opportunity to catalog Dr. Gentry's herbarium collection at the Desert Botanical Garden in 1987-88.I haven't seen the new edition mentioned here, but read the original work at the time I was cataloging hisherbarium specimens.Through it, I was able to share his experience as anexplorer in the spirit of John Wesley Powell, someone who knew that theAmerican southwest is best delineated by watersheds, not along falselat/long lines.I met Dr. Gentry a couple of times, and remember theoccasions well.Last time I saw him, when I was cataloging his collection,I overheard a conversation between him and a consultant for the FortMcDowell Indian Community.The consultant was asking about desert-adaptedcrop plants.Dr. Gentry went into great detail describing many desertplants suited to agriculture - tepary beans, jojoba, Lippia (Mexicanoregano), agave, chiltepines, gum arabic, etc.I learned a lot just byeavesdropping.The consultant listened, but did not hear the words.Herecommended that the Fort McDowell people plant cotton.Not because it wasbest suited to desert agriculture - far from that.They planted cottonbecause it needs vast quantities of water.They did not want the bestdesert-adapted crops.What they wanted, instead, was the best crop forwasting water, so that they could establish valid rights to the water. Worse, I watched them clear off vast acreages of mesquite forests to makeroom for the water-wasting cotton crop.The Hopi call this koyaanisqatsi. This book should help folks in southwestern north America realize that wehave a bounteous resource, if we can only learn to use it.

Excellent reference book
Located in a transition zone between the Sonoran Desert and the tropics,this region is well known for its biodiversity, thanks to a 1942 study by botanist Howard Scott Gentry. Revision of his classic work began before his death in 1993. For researchers, this is a must-read book. It provides aclear overview of botanical studies of the Rio Mayo, a contemporary view ofthe vegatation, excerpts from the original text and an annotated list ofplants. ... Read more

Product Description
Learn how interesting and delicious the wild harvest of Alaska, western Canada, and the Northwest can be in this significant illustrated volume on 147 wild plants. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

WAY OVERPRICED
its a absolutely great book. A friend of mine has it , and the price is imprinted on the cover. $35.99
NOT $135.00, or $95.00 "on sale" YOUR BETTER OFF GETTING IT AT YOU LOCAL BOOKSTORE!!!!!!

Useful Feature: Laid Out by Habitat
While I did not read every word of this interesting and well written manual, I did end up reading a lot of it. I like the way it is laid out, by habitat. This was an especially attractive feature because most of the plants that I have been falling in love with on my paddling trips are all in one place in this book.The details (there is usually some good depth to the writing) are charming and useful and drawn from several first nation's contacts, Alaskan residents, and most interestingly the author's own experience and experiments with cooking and eating many of the plants.

While the focus of the book appears on first blush to be Alaska, in fact most of the plants listed are common to my area (Vancouver Island BC) and there were only one or two that I had not heard of.

Occasionally the information is tantalizing because of it's gaps. I found myself thinking, "OK, so you eat the flower -- so is that just the petals or the whole thing?" and similar questions which may not have occurred to the writer who is obviously very familiar with the material and who regularly gathers wild plants for food. A little more precision on the culinary aspects of the book would have pushed it from a good guide to an outstanding one.

If you like plant identification and the history, lore, and practical uses of local plants, this guide will not disappoint.

Sets the standard in books about wild edibles of the northwest
I read far enough in this book to know that I need to study it, learn it, memorize it.

Schofield's book is a great addition to any apocalypse-preparedness library. It covers edible species of plants that grow in the wild (and in urban areas).

Discovering Wild Plants describes how to find edibles, when to harvest them, how to prepare them, and what they'll do for you in terms of nutrition, wellness, and healing.

This book is the standard in wild edibles if you live in Washington state, and it's required reading for students of Alderleaf Wilderness College ([...]).

It's a shame that this book is out of print. Count yourself lucky if you manage to snag a reasonably-priced used copy. I'm still looking for mine, and borrowing constantly from the library in the meantime.

Need to Have for Remote Alaska Cabin
This book is very informative and has already come in very handy for a remote location in Alaska where fresh quality commercial vegetables are hard to come by. Now, we're able to substitute fresh quality wild plants for wilted commercial produce.

Terrific!
Living in Alaska, I must say this is one of the finest books out there to help not only identify but work with wild plants in so many ways.The photos are excellent, the descriptions thorough and elaborate, the only negative is that it is too short, and yet too large to take out in the field!GREAT book, highly recommend. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very good book that will be out of print soon!
Excellent reference book for anyone who grows or plans to grow native plants.Will likely go out of print.Highly recommended for the native plant lover or nursery grower. Unusual book. ... Read more

Product Description

Simon & Schuster's Guide to Plants and Flowers is the most useful book gardeners can own -- whether they have a few indoor houseplants on the windowsill or endless acres of flowering trees, flowers, and shrubs. Arranged in sixteen sections with convenient alphabetical headings, Simon & Schuster's Guide to Plants and Flowers characterizes each plant as to place of origin, propagation, flowering season, best soil type, and amount of water and sunlight needed for healthy growth. Included are all kinds of houseplants, shrubs, vines, cacti, roses, lilies, annuals and perennials. There are also sections devoted to plants for balconies and terraces, plants for borders and rock gardens, medicinal and aromatic plants, wildflowers, orchids, succulents, bulbs, herbs, and aquatic plants. Edited by a member of the Royal Horticultural Society, the book has been especially designed for American gardeners, providing accurate descriptions of plants that thrive in various parts of the country -- the Northeast, Southwest, Midwest, and so on. There is no comparable book available on the market today. This is a must for indoor gardeners, outdoor gardeners, and all those who want to learn more about the wonderful world of plants. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great Reference Book!
I love having this on hand to go back to, plus I enjoy reading it!Very good book for people who love plants and flowers!

Guide to Plant and Flowers
It is a great reference andgreat help when deciding what to put in your yard!

Simon & Shuster's Guide To Plants And Flowers
The content of the book was helpful.Would recommend to anyone that is interested in plants and flowers.

One of the Best!
I have been a semi-professional gardener for 25 years and this is one of the best plant and flower guides you can buy.This book has all the features a beginner or accomplished gardener can ask for -- concise information, a photo of every listed plant, compact size, well organized, very reasonable price, and a large, varied selection.I own many gardening books but this is the first I turn to when I'm looking for plant information.

Fabulous Book
An enormous variety of plants and flowers to learn about. Beautiful photos and helpful information of the orginality. A wonderful start to earning a green thumb! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

BEST NATIVE PLANTS FOR SOUTHERN GARDENS
GIL NELSON BRINGS GARDENERS CLEAR INFORMATION ON NEW AND OLD FAVORITE PLANTS IN AN EASY READING FORMAT. ... Read more

Product Description
All around us there are wild plants good for food, medicine, clothing, and shelter, but most of us don't know how to identify or use them. Delena Tull amply supplies that knowledge in this book, one of the first focused specifically on plants that grow in Texas and surrounding regions of the South and Southwest. Extensively illustrated with black-and-white drawings and color photos, this book includes the following special features:∑ Recipes for foods made from edible wild plants.∑ Wild teas and spices.∑ Wild plant dyes, with instructions for preparing the plants and dying wool, cotton, and other materials.∑ Instructions for preparing fibers for use in making baskets, textiles, and paper.∑ Information on wild plants used for making rubber, wax, oil, and soap. ∑ Information on medicinal uses of plants.∑ An identification guide to hay fever plants and plants that cause rashes.∑ Instructions for distinguishing edible from poisonous berries.∑ Detailed information on poisonous plants, including poison ivy, oak, and sumac, as well as herbal treatments for their rashes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A Disappointment
I was so looking forward to receiving this book!The title led me to believe it was exactly what I was needing.Alas, not so!This book is crammed with somewhat random information and might be very appealing to those looking for help with natural fibers and dyes, but I wanted details on edible and medicinal wild plants of Texas and this book is a very poor reference guide for that purpose.An appalling lack of photographs and only average black and white line drawings make it almost useless as an aid in field identification.It is not well organized from a practical standpoint and only if you already know the name of the plant (why would I need such a book if I already knew?) is it easy to find.Directions for harvest and use are sketchy, at best.Sadly I must say I do not recommend it.

Good book for Texas
This book goes into really great detail on the use of a few of the plants in Texas. For someone living in Texas and wanting to find edible plants, there are better books. This book, however, would be really useful to people interested in how the local Native Americans lived and survived in Texas or someone wishing to be self sufficient in the region. A good, general reference.

Don't waste your time
This book has no redeming value as a guide for anything other than natural dyes. It is poorly illustrated, relying on description rather than photographs except for a few color plates that are poorly organized and of dubious value.The information on edibility and other usefulness is limited, often speculative and not to be relied on.

Edible and Useful Plants
I am pleased to have this book, and I appreciate that it was sent promptly and in good condition.

Great Book
This is a great book for anyone who is wanting to learn about plants in Texas.If you want to learn about what plants are edible, what certain plants can be used for and even a few recipies then this is the book for you. ... Read more