Product Description

This book celebrates the plants of the Old Testament and New Testament, including the Apocrypha, and of the Quran. From acacia, the wood of the tabernacle, to wormwood, whose bitter leaves cured intestinal worms, 81 fascinating chapters—covering every plant that has a true botanical counterpart—tell the stories of the fruits and grains, grasses and trees, flowers and fragrances of ancient lore. The descriptions include the plants' botanical characteristics, habitat, uses, and literary context. With evocative quotations and revelatory interpretations, this information is all the more critical today as the traditional agrarian societies that knew the plants intimately become urbanized.

The unusually broad geographic range of this volume extends beyond Israel to encompass the Holy Land's biblical neighbors from southern Turkey to central Sudan and from Cyprus to the Iraq border.

Richly illustrated with extensive color photography and with a foreword by the incomparable Garrison Keillor, this delightful ecumenical botany offers the welcome tonic of a deep look into an enduring, shared natural heritage.

Customer Reviews (4)

Just what I hoped for; a fantastic encyclopedia of biblical plants
I'm a landscape designer with a starry-eyed interest in ancient lives and texts, so when I saw this book had come out from Timber Press, my favorite Horticultural publishers, I had to pick it up.

It's exactly what I hoped for - an encyclopedic reference, with many photos, of the plants in the Quran and Bible, with references to the actual text in which they are mentioned, and their historical context and info.

I learned all about what the plants were used for, what they represented in the texts, how people processed them and interacted with the plants in ancient times, and saw photos of the relevant plant parts and the plants in the wild and even used in a modern context.

Even for an atheist like me, there is a huge amount of historical information and interest in this book. I loved the concise yet thorough information and all the photos. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in history, religious texts, or plants. It's not dry at all as I had feared.

Figs, Dates, Laurel and Myrrh
Excellent book and guide for planting a Biblical garden.The book arrived promptly and was is excellent condition.

An extraordinary book!
First, start out reading a rib-tickling introduction by Garrison Keillor.Keillor grew up in the same church with the author and that's an interesting story,Even more entertaining is Keillor's effort to describe myrrh, his reflections on the Song of Solomon(!), and his thoughts on rue!If that doesn't leave you smiling your face is broken!

Second, if you have any interest in plants or gardens and the Bible (or the Quran) you will be thrilled with the photos of biblical plants as they are grown, prepared and enjoyed today in the lands of the Bible.Musselman has spent good stretches of time in several areas of the Middle East, and local folks have joyfully shared their ongoing practices with him.His photos are extremely valuable in their beauty, their ability to set plants of the Bible and Quran in their contemporary setting, and to show us their blossoms, fruit, and leaves in case you decide to create a faith garden and hope to choose other similar plants.Even if you don't have a big interest in Bible plants (as I do) you will enjoy the many, many beautiful full-color photos!

Third, if you ever thought about growing plants from the Bible or the Quran, Dr. Musselman gives you a wonderful guide for selecting the plants.Not only does he present an interesting and extremely thorough study of which plants are in these sacred books (Musselman teaches Biblical Botany at Old Dominion College).He shares the process by which he made his choices.Some are identical to the best of his predecessors in identifying plants in the Bible, and some well-argued that differ.Keep us thinking!

Finally, if you teach faith to children at home or at your place of worship, the photos and stories about plants in the Bible will be a wonderful way to help your students start a hands-on experience of faith.Children in churches, synagogues and mosques around the world are growing faith gardens - raising their own watermelons, lilies, grapes, wheat, figs, and up to 100 other plants that bring faith to life.Classes and families are learning and growing, feasting and drawing, worshipping and playing in faith-nurturing gardens - while learning to care for creation!Google "Biblical Gardens" and discover some of the many ways people are teaching faith to their children.Then get a copy of Figs, Dates, Laurels and Myrrh right away and start your own faith garden!

I feel a special gratitude to Dr. Musselman.Our church and others have been growing and promoting faith gardens for 25 years.He has encouraged us along the way and his work gives us all a beautiful, well-studied resource to take us to real people today who, like people in Bible times, are growing gardens and growing faith!May he be blessed, as you will be, through his lovely book!

The Rev. Marsh Hudson-Knapp is the co-founder of the Biblical Gardens at the First Congregational Church of Fair Haven, VT, U.C.C., webmaster of a Biblical Garden website, and author of several publications about Biblical Gardens including the Selection Guide for Planning Your Biblical Garden.hkfamily@sover.net

figs dates laurel and myrrh- plants of the bible and the quran
This hardcover book is beautifully illustrated on the research of the individual plants discussed. It is well written,interesting and easily understood. It is a valued addition to my library of bible plant literature.Thank you amazon for your speedy and efficient service.
Tom
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Product Description
There is no easy was to identify grasses. And no one understood this better than H.D. Harrington, who observed thousands of students struggle and learn. His clear, concise, and well-organized guide will continue to be a basic and essential text for use in the classroom or in the field. The book contains over 500 drawings and an illustrated glossary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Preparing to identify grasses & grasslike plants!
My review title should have been the title of this book. I for the most part agree with all reviews up until the date of this one. This book will not allow you to identify a grass in your yard to a species; however, what it will do is give you a thorough overview of techniques and terminology associated with identifying grasses, sedges and rushes. It contains an illustrated glossary that is very useful. You will however need another book to get descriptions of various species found in the U.S. or elsewhere.

A manual of grass biology definitions
This book is esentially a manual of definitions related to grass biology.If you read it cover to cover, you will not be able to identify any species of grass at all. If you have a book that gives the characteristics of various species for the purpose of identification - and that book uses terms like "gibbous" or mentions "carpels" or a "bearded lemma" as a characteristidc of a certain species, the definitions of those terms are given in this book.The whole book is esentially a glossery of grass terms with some line drawing illustrations of parts.Don't look for definitions or pictures for the words "Ryegrass", "Bluestem", or "Oats". They are not there.

The title is misleading!
Although the book title implies that if we use the book we will be able to identify different grasses, there isn't a shred of information it this book that will allow us to identify any grass species.The book seems to have been created for a class on grass biology.It has a lot of good pictures on the different parts of the grass plant.But for instance if we want to know what Big Bluestem grass looks like, or if we are looking at a plant and want to figure out what species it is, this book does not provide any of that information at all.If you are looking for a companion book to a class on grass biology, this book is great.If you want to try to identify grass species, this book is worthless without a lot of additional information.

Poor book
With this book, you will know all about how to identify a grass, and not be able to identify a single one. It reminds me of the new husband who sits on the edge of the bed and tells his new wife how wonderful it is going to be, but never gets around to it.
I returned the book.

Harrington Guides
There are a lot of plants that become colorful on the earth.
The plant that occupies the majority of Holocene place is a grasses and grasslike plants.
However, if it is not a specialist, the grasses and grasslike plant are not distinguished easily.
I am a farmer. The grasses and grasslikes were an annoying weed in me.
This book is a book that gave me new feeling to the grasses and grasslikes. It is not an interpretation weed in me any further any longer. I give my thanks to Doctor Harrington.

This book is as splendid as "Peterson first guides".
I call this book and "How to identify plants" "HARRINGTON MANUALS" !



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Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

plants . . . where they came from and howthey were moved across the world
The Plant Hunters
Author - Carolyn Fry
Favorite Features -
*includes more than 100 images from the archives of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew as well as drawings/sketches of plants from across time and around the world
*enclosures throughout with facsimiles of documents, books and more really add a nice and special touch to this book
*fascinating information on Tulipomania
*covers first known transfer of plants from one place to another and follows it through the centuries
*explains how plants were perused for pharmacies and profit and documents the exploitation of people for plants like sugar cane, rubber and tea
*encourages conservation of plants
*warns of invasive plant species

As the author says, this book, "tells how plants were moved across the world". Before reading this book I never realized the power, wealth and control that came with owning and transporting plants. Not only is The Plant Hunters a genuinely lovely book with all the drawings, photos and sketches of incredible plants, but it is also fascinating to read and get a glimpse into where plants originated, how they were moved around the world and the history associated with it all - both positive and sadly, negative. This is a wonderful gift for the person on your list who loves plants and history and makes a lovely and interesting coffee table book. Tremendously well done!
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Product Description
Interest in California's beautiful native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers is at an all-time high. Yet identification and classification of the state's vast and varied flora can be challenging for both amateurs and professionals. This book provides a superb way for learning to identify California's native and naturalized plants by learning to recognize plant families. The heart of the book contains user-friendly keys and descriptions of seventy major families prominent in wildlands. With this book in hand, anyone will be able to identify common native and naturalized species throughout California's majestic floristic province extending from southwestern Oregon into northern Baja California and to the western side of the major mountain ranges. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Helpful Native Landscaping Info
Very thorough book with details of so many types of WI native plants (flowers, grasses and sedges, ferns, and trees).Great info about using native plants in your home landscape.It is an important part of my landscaping references as I plan and execute my landscaping around my new home.

Concise information on native plants for Wisconsin
I am pleased with this book, the information is clearly presented, nicely organized and the photography is outstanding. I appreciate the fact that it gives me grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and trees to select from with detailed descriptions of each species. Ms Steiner also makes suggestion for use of plants that are non-native but not a threat to our environment to use in conjunction with the natives if desired. I read the entire book and will definitely be using it for reference again and again.

Exceeded Every Expectation
This book without question exceeded all expectations I may have harbored. I have a dream of both creativity and restoration on the land for which I am now caretaker. With the assistance of theis book I will do so.

It is a great publication
I bought two "Landscaping with Native Plants of WI, one for me and one for my daughter's birthday.99.9% of the pages have colored pictures.It give about a half page for each plant providing a good description and concise info on native habitat, uses, good compantions, site prep. It covers flowers, grsses, ferns, vines, evergreens and desicuous shrubs and trees.I would recommend the book.

The definitive and strongly recommended reference for any Wisconsin gardener or landscaper
Beautifully illustrated throughout with full-color photography, "Landscape With Native Plants Of Wisconsin" by Lynn M. Steiner (one of the Midwest's most respected garden writers with a life-long interest in native plants) is an essential instructional guide to successful native-plant gardening in Wisconsin. This is the first gardening and landscaping guidebook to focus specifically on the use of Wisconsin's native plants and native-plant communities in home gardens and landscapes. All the basic information is provided, including how to determine what level of native-plant landscaping is appropriate for where the garden is to be located in the Badger state. This thoroughly "user friendly" compendium of expert advice on the process of designing, implementing, and maintaining a natural garden includes plant lists, solutions to commonly encountered landscaping issues ranging from deer-resistant plants, to shade gardens, to water-wise gardens, what native plants work best in different garden styles, water gardens, rock gardens, humming bird gardens, butterfly gardens, and so much more. With descriptions of some 500 Wisconsin native-plant species, varieties, and cultivars of flowers, trees, shrubs, vines, evergreens, grasses, ferns, and groundcovers, "Landscape With Native Plants Of Wisconsin" is the definitive and strongly recommended reference for any Wisconsin gardener or landscaper wanting to utilize and incorporate Wisconsin native plants. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very useful manual for coastal wetland plants:
Sections include:
-Coastal Wetland Ecology: A General Overview (different tidal wetland habitats, their description and characteristics, & typical species of each)
-Identification of Coastal Wetland Plants (keyed system, easy to use diagnostic keys)
-WETLAND PLANT DESCRIPTIONS and ILLUSTRATIONS (this is over half the book, organized by environment:Each entry with name, common and scientific names, family, full description, habitat, range, similar species, and very accurate diagram drawings by Abigail Rorer.Over 150 species covered).
-Places to Observe Coastal Wetlands, with maps
-Sources of Other Information, References, Glossary, and Index.

Should the author ever desire to revise or write another edition, I hope he doesn't change much, as it is good, but he might consider adding a few key upland plants which grow in extreme proximity to coastal wetland plants; these might be American Beach Grass (Ammophila brevigulata), Beachpeas (Lathyrus maritimus), Seaside Rose (Rosa), Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica), Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica), Sea Celery (Ligusticum scoticum), Common Sow Thistle or Beach Lettuce (Sondus oleraceae) - but these are easily learned on their own.

This is an excellent, very well written reference manual, useful to environmental consultants, wetland delineators, and botanists.Get a plastic book cover to protect it, and use it in the field (or salt-marsh, as the case may be).This may be the best text on this particular subject.-DMM ... Read more

Product Description
Nevin Smith has spent his life growing plants and exploring the wild California landscape. A highly respected horticulturalist and practitioner who is also a gifted writer, Smith shares his years of experience growing native California plants in this lively, informative book. Rather than being a systematic "how-to" manual, Native Treasures combines Smith's personal thoughts, sometimes maverick opinions, and matchless expertise with practical advice on selected groups of native plants and their culture. The author explains how California's diverse terrain, climate, and geology support a wealth of plant species--more than 6000--and offers suggestions for designing withmost of the major natives in cultivation, as well as with some more obscure but garden-worthy groups. With an engaging narrative and a wealth of illustrations, this ode to beauty and diversity celebrates California's rich store of native plants and encourages readers to visit them in their native haunts and invite them into their gardens.
* Describes the use of plants in varying landscapes and gardens
* State of the art propagation techniques
* Beautifully illustrated with color photos and line drawings ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Native Treasures
This book has a lot of information on plants for Calif. I would have liked to see more on hardiness, deer, and fire resistance. but other wise this book has a lot going for it..

Wonderful resource for those interested in CA natives
I got it to help me give preference to Ca natives and to know about needs for water and sun, plant size, etc. Great resource.Of course lots of the info would apply for gardeners in other Mediterranean climates, but I hope gardeners elsewhere will find out about their own natives.

Excellent book for California native gardening
What really stands out in this book is the analysisfor each plant species. Several varieties and hybrids of the species are listed and best location and cultural needs for each.In spite of all the technical information the book is an easy read.

More than just beautiful photos
I just finished reading this book and it was a delight!More than just a reference book, it is chock full of excellent information on origins, habitat, usage, reliability and much more.The suggestions and advice from Mr. Smith, who has been a plant enthusiast for so long, really hit the mark.The style is so friendly without a bit of condescension.
There is nothing dry or distant about the book.It bursts with the excitment of discovery, knowledge and the adventure of plant hunting, growing and thenselecting.If one is even a little bit curious about the amazing native plants of the west, this book is for you.It is a book to go back to again and again for suggestions and information.
I read it over four cloudy days and couldn't wait to get outside and see for myself the beauty and wonder of our native plants.
Patrick Jesse Pons-Worley ... Read more

Product Description
Have you ever wanted to match a plant's common name withits botanical equivalent? Or wanted to know how a plant got its nameand what it means? Or wished you knew how to properly pronounce theLatin names of your favorite garden plants?

The Dictionary of Plant Names is a guide that not only crossreferences common names to their Latin counterparts, but also detailsthe origins, meanings, and pronunciation of each name.

Each genus name is followed by the suggested pronunciation, the familyin which it is placed, and the derivation of the name (Latin, Greek,or other). Then the main garden use of the plants in the genus,e.g. herbaceous perennials, trees, etc., is listed. Many interestingfacts come to light in the origin of the Latinate name, for examplethat Kalmia is named after Pehr Kalm, a Finnish student ofLinnaeus. Each genus concludes with the common name and place oforigin of the whole species, if applicable. Species are listedalphabetically under the genus with the same categories ofinformation.

Allen Coombes is a botanist with a rich background in plant lore. Hisbotanical expertise and extensive knowledge of plant history make thisa fascinating, compact volume. It is the type of book one picks up toanswer a specific question and keeps on reading out of curiosity andenjoyment. The Dictionary of Plant Names is one of Timber Press'perennial bestsellers for its information and entertainment value. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

fascinating and helpful
I love this book because it provides information not available in most gardener's references. Origin of the plant's botanical name, the meaning of its name, where the plant originally came from, its family - all information that helps the gardener understand the plant and remember its botanical name. I was surprised to learn that many botanical names are not of Latin derivation, but are Greek or simply named after a person. The original nurserymen and plant hunters are named here and provide a reminder that our common garden and houseplants were once very exotic and hard-won. I refer to this book constantly as I'm getting to know my plants.

Useful guide for beginners
This book is a dictionary of common, especially those found in Europe. Common and Latin names are intermixed and cross-referenced in the entries. Pronunciation guides are provided for Latin names, and the meanings of the Latin names are also explained, noting for instance, who a plant is named after, or what part of the plant the Latin descriptive term refers to.A brief glossary of plant-related terms is also provided at the beginning of the book. This is a useful, brief guide for plant enthusiasts who want to learn the Latin names for the plants they work with.Originally written for European readers, its coverage of North American plants is not always complete.Nevertheless, it may prove adequate for general users throughout the English-speaking world.

Disappointed
This "dictionary" is extremely non-descriptive. It supplies the latin names, but will define them only as a deciduous tree, or a flowering shrub. That does not explain to me what it looks like compared to otherplants. It also has no pictures, so there is no help there. If you want toreally learn the latin names of plants, spend the extra money for anillustrated and more desciptive reference dictionary.

What Is the Origin of that Plant's Name?
Have you ever been curious about the origin of a plant's botanical name? How and why it got the name and what on earth it has to do with the plant? That's the type of information contained in this easy-to-use guide to botanical plant names.It lists the generic and common names in alphabeticalorder. The name of each plant genus is given, followed by the suggestedpronunciation, the family in which it was placed and the derivation of thename.

For instance, 'rana' means frog in Latin (L), and the name ranunculus is the name given to a plant, which, in many cases, prefers wetplaces ... like frogs. Now do you think that you will forever more connectfrogs with ranunculus? If the scientific name makes sense to you or makesan association for you, it may lock into your memory. By the way, the term,'scientific name' is preferable to 'Latin (L.) name, since many plantsderive from the Greek (Gk.) or are personal names. Here are some origins ofnames that caught my interest, of the over 1,000 plants listed:

CYMBIDIUM- from Greek 'kymbe' (a boat), referring to the hollowed lip. Greenhouseorchids. STOKESIA - was named after a person, Dr. Jonathan Stokes fromScotland. LAVANDULA - from L.'lavo' to wash, from it's use in soaps.Lavender. NICOTIANA - after Jean Nicot, (1530-1600), who introduced thetobacco plant to France. PRIMULA- from L. primus (first), referring to theearly flowers of spring. Primrose. ... Read more

Product Description

Science and art collaborate to reveal a stunning, even sensual, microscopic world.

Three landmark books -- Pollen, Seeds and Fruit -- were published in 2006 and 2008 to rave reviews: "breathtaking," "ravishing," "spectacular," "enlightening," "truly revelatory" and "beautiful almost beyond description." In The Bizarre and Incredible World of Plants, the authors bring the best of these books together in one volume that is a fascinating union of art and science.

Customer Reviews (6)

Stunning photos, poor reference design.
The photos are exceptional. Really makes these things interesting to anyone, but it makes it really difficult to take that curiosity anywhere when any and all information about the picture is buried in a wall of text at the end of the book. Why couldn't they put ten words the size of a couple postage stamps right next to the images?

Amazing world opened at the microscopic level
Amazing photos, with quite illuminating explanatory text. Lots of opportunities to learn obscure botanical terms too, such as anemochory (the strategy of dispersing seeds via the wind). My one peeve is that the labels for all the beautiful microscopic images are pushed to an appendix, so that one has to jump to the back to find out what is depicted. Since over half the pages don't even have page numbers, this task of decryption is extra hard. I wish that the authors would have found a design method for including a modest amount of identifying text on the page with each image. This quibble, notwithstanding, the book is a joy to page through, and repays frequent returns to study the unusual shapes of each surface.

A fantastic insight into the world of flowers, seeds and pollen!
This book is a real feast for the readers eye, be it "just" a coffee table book or a book for the scientifically interested reader. Page by page that hardly known micro world unfolds in breathtaking images showing previously unseen micro structures in amazing detail and precision, thanks to the use of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) used at Kew Gardens Milennium Seed Bank Project. I cannot more than recommend it also as a great gift.

Unbelievable photography
This book would appeal to both adults and children, however, I am using the book when I teach Jr. Master Gardener classes to 3rd and 4th graders.The photographs are absolutely incredible and the text is wonderful.Even the adults oooh and aaah over the photographs.

Wonderful Photography
I gave this to my dad as a Christmas present and two months later it is still a book he looks at often. ... Read more

Product Description
Nearly 2000 species of wild edible plants found in the western United States and in southwestern Canada and northwestern Mexico are covered. Excellent identifying illustrations by Janice Kirk. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

suites the needs
My son wanted this book for a hiking weekend he was going on. We live in the high country so he wanted to know which plants he would be able to eat on the trip. He really enjoyed identifying what our national forest had to offer.

lavishly illustrated; a nice little book
I'm baffled by some of the reviews that complain about the illustrations. Either these people are not looking at the same edition I am, or they have completely unrealistic expectations. This book is lavishly illustrated. It has a line drawing of every single plant discussed -- very unusual compared to most books of its type, which usually only illustrate about half the species. It also has 16 pages of color plates in the front.

Douglas L. Weaver says, "Very few pictures and if you can't select the right plant, how can you trust eating it!" I don't see how this comment can be justified, since every single species is illustrated.

R. Munsen says, "When we received the book, the only color was on the cover!" I can only guess that either the book R. Munsen is discussing is not the color edition, or that R. Munsen didn't bother looking carefully enough to see the 16 color plates in the front of the book.

Jachin Crawford says, "I would wait for an edition that has color photos." This edition does have color photos.

The edition I have in front of me is ISBN 0879610360, the same as the ISBN listed on this Amazon page. It says "Color Edition" on the cover, just like the photo on this Amazon page. If these reviewers are talking about the same book, then they haven't looked carefully at the book.

Wild Edible Plants of Western North America
Very few pictures and if you can't select the right plant, how can you trust eating it!

Deceptive advertising
We bought this book because it stated 'new color edition'.We wanted color illustrations/photos.When we received the book, the only color was on the cover!Black and white pencil drawings only inside.

Wonderful book!
This book is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in wild edible plants. It was written by a college professor whose expertise is called upon throughout the country. The original printing only had black and white sketches, but this latest printing includes many great color photographs. I highly recommend this book! ... Read more

Product Description
First compact dictionary to combine definitions of botanical names in general usage with information on their derivation and guides to pronunciation. A monumental index provides a cross-reference from some 1,800 common plant names to corresponding botanical ones. Indispensable reference combines thoroughness, botanical rigor and interesting facts and lore—all leavened with touches of humor.
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Customer Reviews (3)

ExcellentReference
Have owned this book for over two years and use it constantly - has easy to use and understand information and a great pronunciation guide that follows each botanical name...a very helpful tool

Vintage etymological dictionary
This is reprint of A.W.Smith's classic, which since then has been revised by William T. Stearn as "A Gardener's Dictionary of Plant Names" (1972) and "Stearn's Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners"(1992). Comparing it with the latter it is obvious at once that there stillis a great similarity, with many entries a 100% identical. The majordifferences are that the latter has a more modern layout, is updated andcontains more information.

This reprint of the original has as bonuspoints that it is cheaper and includes directions at pronounciation. Insome cases it also contains bits of information which were edited out ofits modern descendant.

Review of "A Gardener's Book of Plant Names"
I needed a book to use to give me the derivation of the scientific names for plants found in the wild throughout California.I looked at fifteen books at the University of California Davis Library and checked out five.I found this book to be the most useful of the bunch.It had the name ofalmost every plant I looked up, whereas most of the others had far fewer. I recommend this book if you want to know the derivation of plant names,whether in the garden or in the wild. ... Read more

Product Description
The book includes: * Plants organized within family groups * 214 color photographs and 51 original botanical drawings accompanying text * Details on 260 species 63 families * Simple explanations of botanical terms * Early California botanical history as it relates to specific plants * The cultural history of specific plants * Maps of the Santa Monica Mountains and suggested wildflower trips * Flowers indexed by color, name, and family * Also includes facts on Indian uses of plants, ancient medicinal practices, cultivation requirements for home gardening, and some recipes. --- from book's back cover ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Southern California Flora
I have found this to be the most useful wildflower book for coastal southern California.It serves me well from Ensenada, in Baja Californiato Nojoqui Falls, in Santa Barbara county.

This book has been my fieldguide, and notebook/palimpsest since 1995.

Other books I have, but don'trate 5 stars:Peterson's Pacific States Wildflowers; Coffeen's CentralCoast Wildflowers; Audubon's Field Guide to North American Wildflowers --Western Region. ... Read more

Product Description
Teaches how to recognize edible plants and where to find them, their medicinal and nutritional properties, and their growing cycles. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Book Review
The Guide to Wild foods and Useful Plants provided me with the infomation I was hoping for.I am using the book to a reference for my Senior Project. It is a good book to have if you what to live off the land.

A more complete plant guide than many others
I have reviewed all the plant books while writing my survival guide (How to Survive Chaos, available on Kindle). This one was one of the most useful and well organized books on edibles that I have found.

helpful
This book has really good easy to read info about plants in it.A must for the survivalist

They're all in here!
This is a great wild plant guide for use in Boy Scout outings!All of the major species are covered as well as other more common edible and poisonous plants.I highly reccomend this book as well as other Christopher Nyerges books for Boy Scouts and Boy Scout Leaders

Collage style of book
This book has a comprehensive description of many plants as well as many black and white pictures. I'm sure it would satisfy the most curious researcher. ... Read more

Product Description
An authoritative introduction to more than 70 of Alaska's most common wild edible plants, with identification information and recipes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Alaska Plants
I live in South Central Alaska and recently purchased the Alaska Wild Plants book. It was very well written and easy to use but I do have one gripe. The book didn't include many very common edibles that I was hoping to teach my son about. Did the author run short on time? Hope there is a part two!!! Include Eskimo Potatoes in the next addition! Thank you.

Excellent pocket guide!
This field guide was very useful during our recent inspection of our Alaskan property. It's small size makes it easy to carry during hiking, and it contains the most common edible plants you might encounter throughout the state. The information is detailed enough to be confident about eating different parts of a wild plant... or not eating it because the guide has indicated a toxic look-alike and the parts of each plant that are and are not edible when prepared different ways depending on the harvest time. I look forward to using it more extensively when we finally move to Alaska permanently.

I own several edible plant references for North America and can say without a doubt that they were only marginally helpful for identifying some of the Alaskan varieties... seems the climate and remoteness really does change the appearance and edibility of many plants just enough to make the standard guides less than 100% useful up there!

Great Field Guide!
A wonderful field guide to wild Alaskan edibles. Plenty sufficient to make positive identification easy and rewarding. A must have for all Alaskans.

Just OK
Lots of good information in this book. I would have liked to get more ways of eating the plants. What seasons do they taste the best and what seasons should you avoid them. I also would like to know what plants one could dig up in the winter. Roots and bulbs/corms etc. Maybe some indian receipys or?
The book just left me wanting more info! But it is a good book to have and pick up when you can't remember if you can eat that shrub or not! ... Read more

Product Description
If you want to know how the Indians, pioneers, and earlySpanish-Americans used many of the common wild plants for food, building shelters, or making artifacts, this book has the answers. Remedies are included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not A Good Primary Choice
This small book contains 105 species and weighs 3.6 ounces on my scale and is 8.5"x5.5"-important for backpackers.I bought it because of its low price, light weight for backpacking, and as a second source to my "Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West" by Tilford which is excellent.Unlike the Tilford guide, the plants in this book are categorized according to trees, shrubs, vines, herbs, and water plants as all plant guides should be for easier look up.The sketches are only average which is a big problem with an identification book.Photographs are far superior to even the best drawings, but photographic paper is much heavier.The descriptions and common uses of the plants are also sketchy, but like the author says the book contains only the most important and common edible plants of the West.So I would not recommend the book for the beginner and only maybe for the more experienced forager for reminders on plant uses while out hiking because of the book's light weight. ... Read more

Product Description
Learning About Plants gives your students a complete introduction to plants, from the roots to the seeds. Whether they're coloring, cutting and pasting, matching, or just listening to you read a favorite story about plants, children will be involved with the subject on several levels.

Activities help children practice skills in: observation, communication, making comparisons, ordering, and categorization. You get student activity sheets, teacher resource pages with ideas for special projects like field trips and literature references, and 36 reproducible picture cards (to be copied onto tag or card board, laminated and cut for use with resource pages).

Plant topics and concepts covered include: plants and animals are alike in some ways, size, shape, color, roots, stems, leaves, seeds, types of plants, and how we use plants, plus a complete activity unit -- All About Apples.

Cute, yet accurate line art illustrations throughout. All 48 pages perforated for easy removal. ... Read more

Product Description
"This book has the most beautiful illustrations of carnivorous plantsthat I have ever seen." -- Carroll E. Wood, Jr., Curator and Professorof Biology, The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University

Plants that catch and feed upon animals exert a strange fascination oftheir own. The mobile tentacles of the Sundews, the snapping lobes ofthe Venus Fly Trap and the slippery, baited pitfalls of the PitcherPlants provide the stuff of which science fiction is made. Yet far frombeing fantasy, these extraordinary organisms are fact, and this bookexplores in depth the astonishingly subtle manner in which each type oftrap entices, catches, and digests its prey.

The author focuses on some fifty species, using photographs, linedrawings, and diagrams to illustrate their peculiarities. He takes usfrom his own climate to the mountains of Borneo, through the bushlandsof Australia, to the swamps of the Amazon Forest. We find plants whosetraps catch only microscopic animals, and others that may trap smallreptiles, mammals and even birds.

In addition to its spectacular photographs, other important features arethe book's world-wide coverage of carnivorous plants (the first since1942) and its comprehensive chapters on cultivation of the variousgroups. It will appeal to botanists and zoologists and to the numerousenthusiasts who will find a good many of these intriguing plants easy togrow indoors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Outstanding reference for carnivorous plants!
I think some of the previous reviewers may not have been aware that Adrian Slack has a different book available that deals specifically with growing carnivorous plants. This book's intended purpose is definitely not to be a "growing guide" for carnivorous plants. Rather, it is a rigorous and detailed study of the plants themselves, their history, biology and trapping mechanisms. Yes, there is a small section in end of the book regarding cultivation, but it is clearly intended to serve more as an appendix than a main chapter in the book.

To dismiss this text on the basis that it is not a growing guide and that it lacks sufficient cultivation information is a cheap shot, because that was never the author's intent and anyone who has read it could tell you that.

For what this book IS intended to do, it is without a doubt the best on the market (even today!). No other carnivorous plant book on the market today covers their biology and trapping mechanisms in such vivid detail, nor do they provide such high quality drawings and examinations of just how these plants function.

If you want information on how to cultivate these amazing plants, this is definitely not the book for you. If, however, you want to know where these plants come from and seek rigorous scientific detail on just how they work, this is without a doubt the best resource in publication, bar none.

This book has been around for a long time and I hope it remains in publication because there is currently nothing else that supplies the same information. If you are growing these plants and want to know more about them than what is covered in more popular cultivation books (e.g. Peter D'Amato or Barry Rice's texts) then this book is what you need. It makes an excellent companion to many of the cultivation books on the market today and will give you an even greater appreciation and understanding of these remarkable plants.

Fantastic on the scientific side of things
This book definitely excels in the scientific side of things. Reading the various methods by which the plants lure their prey and then trap them was extremely fascinating. There is no doubt, that if you want to know the different mechanisms by which these amazing plants work, then this book is for you.

Unfortunately, I don't feel it explained in any great detail on how to cultivate the plants or how to grow them. The section of the book that dealt with growing the plants was rather superficial and disorganised.

Nonetheless, when it comes to science I give it 5 stars, but when it comes to methods of growing, I give it 3 stars. Overall, I would give it four stars. I still recommend it- it was a great read for me and I'm sure it will be for you too.

A bit of a disappointment
I was a little disappointed with this book.Adrian Slack's expertise can't be doubted but as a layperson I found the book heavy going. There was an awful lot of scientific jargon used and I didn't even finish reading it - something I rarely do. There were some stunning full-page colour photos in the book which were sadly few and far between.Most of the photos were black and white or sketches.I like my gardening books to have full colour photos and a minimum of jargon.One for those with scientific/botanical backgrounds only I think.

Great for the collector, but probably not for a beginner
This book takes a look at the various types and species of carnivorous plants.It is not an all-encompasing field guide and doesn't try to list every known species, but is a good introduction to carnivorous plants and the methods they use to trap prey and some of the more common species in cultivation at the time.

Practical growing advice is at a minimum - for that it's better to see the author's later work Insect-eating Plants and How to Grow Them (recently reprinted as Insect Eaters), or a more recent book such as D'Amato's The Savage Garden.As I understand it, this was the first serious book devoted specifically to the study of carnivorous plants since the 1940's.As such it is probably more suitable to the collector of carnivorous plants (and books about them) than someone who is trying to grow them.

But still, I've heard Slack called the "Father" of modern carnivorous plant cultivation, and his books deserve respect for that alone.The photos in the book are superb, although there are few, and most are B&W.

Informative and comprehensive, great photos
The book is outstanding.It covers most types of carnivorous plants, and has many excelent color photos.It has a section on how to grow & care for each type of plant.From pot size, soil, light, humidity, fertilizers, growing period and more.

A minor negative - some additional information would have been useful.I wish it had a little more information on the optimal pot size for the plants, some have this info, some don't.And don't expect it to have every complex Sarracenia Hybrid covered, although it does have a lot of them.

Ive read many (most?) books on CPs published in the last 50-60 years, and this one covers more, provides more info, and has better pictures.This deserves 5 stars, unlike the typically inflated rating.I use it to research any plants I consider buying. If you're interested in CPs this book would be worth buying.It's a steal at its current price. ... .


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Product Description
California's unique plants range in size from the stately Coast Redwoods to the minute belly plants of the southern deserts and in age from the four-thousand year-old Bristlecone Pines to ephemeral annuals whose life span can be counted in weeks. Available at last in a thoroughly updated and revised edition, this popular book is the only concise overview of the state's remarkable flora, its plant communities, and the environmental factors that shape them.

* 188 color photographs illustrate plants and typical plant communities around the state

* New chapters give expanded discussions of the evolution of the California landscape, recent changes in California's flora, and more

* Introduces basic concepts of plant taxonomy and plant ecology through clear examples and covers topics such as soil, climate, and geography ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A brief comment
I have a 20-year old edition of this book and quite simply it is the best general introduction to California plant life I have seen. Without getting too technical, Prof. Ornduff introduces the reader to the many faces of California's diverse plant species. The discussions are organized by type of ecology, and if I remember right, two or three dozen different ones get treated.

California is a land where geology often takes precedence over even climate and weather in determining which plants grow where, such as in the serpentine barrens, which produce very nutrient poor soils and support very few species, although many are unique to that substrate and are found only in California. Rocky cliffs, vernal pools or "hog wallows," and California's several deserts are other examples, and these geological influences are one thing that makes the study of its plants so interesting and rewarding.

After reading this book, I highly recommend Introduction to California Soils and Plants: Serpentine, Vernal Pools, and Other Geobotanical Wonders (California Natural History Guides) by Arthur R. Kruckeberg, which discusses the soil-plant interface in even more detail. Both books are superb and really complement each other, so after reading Ornduff's book, I recommend that you get Kruckeberg's volume, which takes the discussion of the relationship between soils and plants in California even further.

Before reading Kruckeberg's book, it helps to have read at least a basic text on geology with a good introductory chapter on igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic petrology, and also basic minerology and soil geology. If you remember some of your high school or college inorganic chemistry that will be of use too, although a little goes a long way here and you probably won't have to reread your chemistry text if you don't want to. :-) I don't recall that much of my chemistry, although I did remember enough of my geology courses to find them useful in reading this book.

Last but not least, the author writes with a great deal of enthusisasm and excitement about what is still a somewhat obscure area of botany, and his obvious enthusiasm and enjoyment of the subject is contagious. The book is printed on very high quality glossy paper with a good binding, and overall I think it's an excellent value at 19 bucks. ... Read more

Product Description
Hundreds of different aquarium plants are illustrated in color with detailed descriptions of each plant, its common name, botanical designation, and information on its growth cycle and general care. A brand-new title in the growing Mini Encyclopedia Series for aquarium hobbyists, this book helps aquarium owners plan, create, and maintain a colorful and interesting environment for fish and aquatic life. Each volume provides in-depth information and instruction on a specific subdivision of fish keeping. Complementing the text are sets of illustration panels filled with full-color photos, each with its own detailed and instructive caption. The team of authors, all recognized aquarium experts, show readers how to set up an aquarium, select species, and maintain an optimal environment for the tank’s aquatic and plant life. Approximately 250 color photos and illustrations in each volume. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A Fine Book
It is a great book.
I have had problems keeping plants alive in my aquarium. With this book I found out why.Most tank lights don't produce enough light for most plants.
This book told me what plants would work and now I have a nice display of living plants in the tank.
I love the pictures in the book and the text is very well done.

Terrific first plant guide
Hiscock's book is correctly titled a "mini" encyclopedia. For first-time planted tank owners, it is a godsend. It describes in detail the lighting, CO2, and substrate issues every planted tank has. It then shows layouts for many types of tanks, and how the plants might be placed in them.

He explains that there are hundreds of plant species available, and that he has hit on the most common ones.

The back part of the book, with the plant species, is the first place I look when I'm considering a new plant. Each plant is shown and a chart is given describing the growth conditions required, how fast it grows, and how to propagate it. With Hiscock's help, I have planted 5 tanks so far, with plans to expand to my others soon.

A Comprehensive Starter for the Aquarist
This book provides an excellent start for anyone who wants to start using real plants in an aquarium. Part 1 of the book covers: plant biology and photosynthesis, water quality/filtration, substrates, planting, lighting and feeding, propagating, and aquarium maintenance. His explanations are clear English which do not require an M.S. in botany to understand. He gives you enough information to help you understand what is happening "behind the scenes" in your tank regarding your plants' growth and how light, substrate, water quality, food, and dissolved gases in the water all influence plant health and growth.

Part 1 also includes a few sample biotopes with suggested types of fish for each one (unlike one review that claims this book is solely for planted aquariums sans fish). He also gives a brief introduction to placement of your plants.

Part 2 covers over 150 aquatic plants (after all, it's a MINI-encyclopedia). He presents both Latin name as well as the common name of the plants. Each plant is accompanied by a short narrative about the plant plus data: origin, maximum height, growth rate, area of placement, light needs, temperature, how to propagate, and difficulty of maintaining.

The book includes excellent photos and diagrams to better illustrate the points he makes. If you are an aquatic botanist this book probably won't tell you anything new. If you have or are starting an aquarium and want to go beyond some Java Fern and don't want to toss money in the trash by buying plants not suitable for your setup, then I believe this book is an excellent choice.

For a plant tank not a fish tank
I find the title containing the word encyclopedia a little deceiving. The back of the book describes the book a little better as "Wide-ranging selection of the most common plants". Though this book has many listings of aquarium plants I would not use this book to identify a plant because it is highly abridged. The advice on how to setup a planted tank is geared towards a plant only tank and would be atypical for a aquarium where the main focus is tropical fish. Maybe just me but I was looking for a book about having ornamental plants in my tropical fish tank. Still useful, Easy read, I would suggest this book to someone who doesn't know much about aquarium plants but wants to get a good foothold in the basics. Keep in mind that this book is about a plant tank not a fish tank.

Has one great Chapter other books don't have...
I bought this book specifically because it has a guide to diagnose plant problems.The leaves are turning yellow?That means something specific!There are holes in the leaves?That means something else entirely!Well worth the price if you're having problems growing healthy plants or are just starting out in the hobby. ... Read more

Product Description
Since 1987, when Texas Parks and Wildlife Department botanists published their first in-house summary of Texas' threatened plants, more than 225 species have been identified and described as endangered, imperiled, or declining. Because most of these plants are too rare to be mentioned, much less pictured, in standard field guides, only a handful of botanists have known what these plants or their habitats look like.

Complete with photographs, line drawings, and county maps, this book describes the officially listed, candidate, and species-of-concern plants in Texas. Individual accounts include information on distribution, habitat, physical description, flowering time, federal and state status, similar species, and published references. The authors also provide brief introductory chapters on the state's vegetation regions; the history of plant conservation in Texas; federal, state, and other ranking methods; threats to native plants; recovery methods; and reporting guidelines.

With the growing recognition that native plants support wildlife, conserve water, promote biodiversity, and exemplify our natural heritage, we must also recognize the need for greater understanding of endangered plants, the threats to their existence, and the importance of their survival. Rare Plants of Texas is highly recommended for professional botanists and advanced researchers, conservationists, students, range managers, and others concerned with preserving the ecosystems of Texas and the Southwest. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Reviewing: Rare Plants of Texas
Recently released by Texas A&M University Press this reference guide is a comprehensive and detailed look at the rare plants of Texas. While useful for the layman, the book is primarily of interest for botanists and others deeply immersed in the subject matter. As such, the book is highly technical in nature and written in a dry academic tone.

After a brief preface and an acknowledgment section, there is a multi page section on the various natural regions of Texas. Filled with facts and figures and a single solitary map of the state that contains no reference points, this section goes into detail about the land mass and various types of plants typically found in the 11 regions. It is noted here and elsewhere in this book that rare species are still being found today in Texas as much of the state has not been surveyed in the manner required to note and document everything.

Sections on the history of planet conservation as well as a section on the law and terms being used as well as another section on the threats to rare plants which are primarily human related follow the natural regions section.This is followed by sections on "Management and Restoration of Rare Plants" and "Nomenclature and Species Selection."Quickly followed by instructions for and a copy of the official "Wildlife Diversity Reporting Form" issued by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to report a rare plant, animal or habitat that will be verified before being added to the wildlife diversity database.

This leads readers to the heart of the book "Species Treatments" which begins on page 55. Each plant is depicted in a drawing, a color picture, and located on the country map of Texas. Each plant has listed various facts such as scientific name, common name, family name, endangered status date, where it lives, and a detailed description of the plant, habitat of the plant, and comments and references on the plant.Listed in alphabetical order each plant is detailed across two pages with many plants depicted in multiple color photographs and ink drawings.

Beginning on page 521 there is a short section on what was excluded from this book and why. That leads to a very detailed glossary of terms and a seventy-nine page reference section. This field guide type book concludes with an extensive index of thirteen pages.

This is a comprehensive book and is a well done reference guide that should be of interest to the professional as well as the general layman interested in the field. Certainly it isn't of interest for everyone and it was not designed to be as it is highly technical in nature. Therefore, those with a deep interest in the topic will appreciate it the most. For that readership it was designed for, it works well and provides a glimpse of the many rare plants found across the great state of Texas.


Kevin R Tipple (copyright) 2008


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