Reviews (6)

Needs updating
At the time of publication this book was the only encyclopedic reference on palm trees. However, the passage of time and new titles such as An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms by Craft and Cultivated Palms of the World by Betrocks with updated information have made this title outdated as well as errors on some of the species and reclassifications. For an update to reference seek the newer publications. My copy sits on my shelf and hardly gets pulled as I prefer the newer publications on this topic.

You need this book.
I have been reading books on palms for the last 2 years. Many are extremely superficial treatments of appearances only. Others are extremely detailed and not very useful to the non-botanist/horticulturalist. This book has a satisfying combination of background on a variety of palms, basic palm information, and excellent photographs. I would have liked more horticultural information regarding seed propagation, light and soil requirements for the specific species. Overall, however, you need this book.

Very Pleased
I use this wonderful book on a regular basis for identifing species on catalog lists. I consider this one of my primary palm books. Great for the novice or nurseryman. Easy to read. I would love to see more cultural information in the next edition. However, I would be lost without this book.
...John TexasGardenCenter.com

Great Book
This book is great for those interested in learning about palms. It has great information and pictures on many types of palms. I look forward to any upcoming editions to this one.

Very Thorough
This is probably one of my most used palm books. It has extensive information on a huge number of palms, such as culture, care, propagation, habit, native habitat, and positive or negative traits. There are many photographs which make this a great book to sit down and browse through, while planning your next project. A great idea book and reference resource. The one difficulty I found, is that many of the palm tree heights are listed in metric without giving any equivalent of what that is in feet, for people in the U.S. Not a huge problem, but I found myself constantly trying to figure out how high something was going to get. Nevertheless, a great book that I highly recommend and a must for everyone interested in palms. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A quirky little nature book
This odd little book explores connections between plants, bugs and their habitat. Illustrations are line drawings. It is arranged alphabetically by plant name and each entry describes the plant and its natural associates.

Very little is said about the author's qualifications, so one must, I guess, assume that he knows whereof he writes.

A very limited list of plants is covered, with many major ones omitted. Some of the taxonomy is dated (and may have been wrong when it was written) eg including poison ivy in the Rhus genus.

I can think of better ways to spend money.

Great book!!!
I happpen to live with lots of thickets so this was very appropriate for us. It has really good drawings of the plants and insects that you might encounter with some ofthem. It talks about the different seasons and what the plants go through and what to look for. It also has special tips for id and has a section on lore for each plant so you get stories too. The swamp and bog book is layed out the same way and is also excellent. They go further than the typical plant id book so you can really learn something

Just what I was looking for!
For those people who already kind of know their way around the forest, and are more interested in what they are going to see ASSOCIATED with the plants they see than what an Audobon book says, this is a naturalist's dream come true!

Great b/w illustrations of not only leaves and fruits, but insects, diseases, toothmarks, clawmarks and nests that can be found on and around the trees and plants listed in the book...

Also highly recommended is the Swamp and Bog book... ... Read more

Book 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 notes To 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

Reviews (3)

The Source
I am new to Texas gardening, and I am more familiar with the Northwest, where we have the wonderful Sunset books to help us with our planting advice. Garrett's Plants for Texas comes close to the excellent format of those Sunset books that I have depended on for years. It covers nearly every plant I have researched for my difficult caliche-filled yard, and the advice is right on. It sometimes takes a few page jumps to find the information, as I am redirected from the common name to the more obscure Latin, but I eventually find the plant. At points, he seems a little over-the-top with organic gardening, and a few newer plants seem to be only briefly covered. The scant information on palms is disappointing. Still, I find myself using this book nearly every week. I recommend it. With this and Scott Ogden's Gardening Success With Difficult Soils: Limestone, Alkaline Clay, and Caliche, I have all my Austin gardening needs covered.

Just What I Wanted!
My significant other lives in Houston, and I, a Californian by birth, have lived in Philadelphia most of my life. An avid gardener at home here in PA, I felt uncharacteristically unsure about tackling the long-neglected flower beds in Houston.

Then I read the reviews for Howard Garrett's charming and fabulous "Plants for Texas," and ordered it immediately. It arrived yesterday and I could not put it down until I had read it cover to cover.

Every single question I have had is answered in this book in a format so clear, so concise, and so heartwarming to any gardener, that I found I was smiling ear to ear. From the beginning pages, where Garrett presents his no-nonsense advice on design, maintenance, and care of everything from trees to turf grasses to annuals, to his staunch anti-chemical point of view (YES!), I gained a wealth of information.

By the time I got to the alphabetical pages with the full-color pictures of everything a Texas gardener could ever want to plant, I was thoroughly and totally delighted. Already I have made a rudimentary list (way too ambitious, of course). Already, I have page after page bookmarked and highlighted. Already, I have planted perfect gardens in my mind's eye.

Perhaps my favorite part of the entire book is the page on hackberry (celtis), which nastily eats up a major portion of my friend's flower beds, and which I secretly, and guiltily, hate. Garrett's take: "Do not plant and cut down the ones that sprout up!" Gotta love a man who shares my views on hackberry. I love this book. Plain and simple. I recommend it to anybody who gardens, or who plans to garden, in the Great State of Texas!

Excellent book for the Texas Gardener!!
He lists almost all the plants that can grow in Texas and ones that don't-- The best part are the color photos of each plant along with details on mature height, distinguishing attributes and cultural requirements for each. An excellent reference for the Texas do it yourself home landscaper. His info on trees was invaluable to me ... Read more

Book Description

Adrian Slack focuses on some fifty species, using photographs, line drawings, and diagrams to illustrate their peculiarities. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

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," 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. ... .

One of the best
This book is one of the best books on carnivorous plants (CP). Slack writes in an easy fluid style that reads well, although occasionally his British terminology can confuse the reader. The book covers a wide variety of species and techniques for growing each of them. My only major complaint (and my reason for giving it only 4 stars) is the small number of colored pictures. These plants are some of the most beautiful plants on earth but it is hard to grasp their beauty from line drawings. Slack's second book (Insect-Eating Plants and How to Grow Them) and D'Amato's book (The Savage Garden) do better in this regard. I would recommend this book both to the beginner and experienced CP grower for its wealth of useful information. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

A Perfect Read!
What more could you want in a collection of essays by women on plants? The editor includes essays to pique anyone's interest and arranges them in a charming and thoughtful manner. If you enjoy either nature writings or feminist prose this book is for you!

A remarkable collections of singularly unique essays
Collaboratively edited by Linda Hogan and Brenda Peterson, The Sweet Breathing Of Plants is a gentle and remarkable collections of singularly unique essays about the relationship between women and plants, interdependent upon one another for life since prehistory. From "The Language of Flowers" to "The Flooded Forest," each individual treatise significantly contributes an unusual and memorable insight to the wondrous whole in this spiritually moving and deeply meaningful metaphysical anthology.

Book of wisdom.....
THE SWEET BREATHING OF PLANTS should be required reading for high school and early college classes covering the natural world. I'm a big fan of essays, books, etc. written by naturalists, and SBP is one of the best collections of essays I've come across. The editors, Linda Hogan and Brenda Peterson have included the works of leading scientists such as Rachel Carson and Jane Goodall, but they've gone beyond the tried and true and compiled a collection of essays by many other scientists, naturalists, veternarians, and very wise women including Susan Orlean who recently produced THE ORCHID THEIF.

The golden rule of nature seems to be cooperation, not competion. SCIENCE magazine once published an article entitled "Nature Red in Tooth and Claw" and while a good deal of consumption takes place in the natural world, symbiosis is far more important. Nature is bigger than the "survival of the fittest." Many plants and animals have symbiotic relationships. I think my favorite example is the dandelion which pulls calcium to the surface which allows other plants to thrive. In the plant world, having a dandelion for a neighbor can be a good thing good.

Native Americans in the Amazon riverine forests have not lost touch with nature. They understand that partially submerged trees feed the fish, and that they must build their gardens in the forest and away from the river banks which are exposed in the dry season. Contrast this attitude with that of the inhabitants of the Sierra who are felling trees in old growth forests as fast as they can. The regrowth is never the same. As one writer who used to work for the U.S. Forest service explains, the name of the game is to replace the living forest with a single tree. Monoculture seems to be more economically sound.

But is it economically sound to destroy the environment including the old growth forests? A growing body of evidence suggests this is not the case and much of it is contained in this book. A good deal of money (if that is all that matters) can be made from keeping the forests entact. Medicinal plants yet to be discovered live in the forest. Recreation including sight-seeing, fishing, and other "noninvasive" outdoor sports are an important source of income.

One of my favorite essays was written by Donna Kelleher, a veternarian who practices holistic medicine. In her essay entitled, "Living Medicine for Animals" Kelleher writes of her experiences with animals, including Chirpy, a pet bird who suffered from a claw infection of Staphylococcus bacteria. Kelleher treated Chirpy with a mixture she concocted consisting of Calendula and other herbs after conventional forms of treatment failed to help Chirpy. The little bird was healed and lived two more years untile he died of old age.

This book of essays should not be overlooked. If you think you've read it all you probably haven't. Although much of the information in this book can be found elsewhere (most of the authors have written extensively on their topics), this is a nice anthology of essays and a good place to start discovering all the natural world.

At last a feminine book on plants!
To be honest, I never really considered myself a "plantswoman," just a dabbler when it came to gardening. But then I read this amazing collection of stories (with a few poems) and realized how much plants infuence my life--from sourdough "mold" to the herbal supplements I use as medicine, to the woods outside the backdoor of my childhood home.

This is a very inspirational, accessible, and occasionally playful book. Above all else, it is excellently written. Thank you author Trish Maharam for that beautiful essay "Plantswoman." It taught me that woman do have their place in the green world no matter how unsophisticated they are in their plant knowledge, "it's the relationship that matters."

I highly recommend this book to women everywhere. ... Read more

Book Description

Easy-to-use and very accessible to the average gardener, Garden Plants and Flowers is a plant by plant guide that shows you what to grow and how to grow it. Including more than 2,500 common garden plants and arranged alphabetically within each plant type, such as trees and shrubs, this is one of the most practical guides on the market.

The American Horticultural Society's mission is to open the eyes of all Americans to the vital connection between people and plants, to inspire all Americans to become responsible caretakers of the Earth, to celebrate America's diversity through the arts and sciences of horticulture, and to lead this effort by sharing the Society's unique national resources with all Americans. ... Read more

Book Description

Since 1956, when the late Boughton Cobb wrote his field guide to ferns, this book, unchanged in all the years since, has become the classic on the subject. Now the New England Wild Flower Society (NEWFS) has completely updated the text and added 100 color photographs. The incredibly beautiful full-page line drawings by the late Laura Louise Foster have been reproduced from the original art. New subjects include a section on habitats and conservation, a glossary of botanical terms, and a chapter on gardening with ferns.

The New England Wild Flower Society is the nation"s oldest organization devoted to the conservation of wild plants. It recently received a number of grants to celebrate its "Year of the Fern." NEWFS books published by Houghton Mifflin are Wildflowers and Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines, both by William Cullina. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

A book for all lovers of art
When I saw this book I was blown away by the range and quality of the work in it. As soon as I was back at my computer, I purchased a copy for my sister who does botanical illustration. She too was very impressed with it. You cannot go wrong buying this book if you enjoy a) art; b) botanical illustration, or; c) all things beautiful.

A must-have for botanical artists
Have recommended this book to other botanical artists and every one who sees it has purchased it. Full of exquisitely rendered specimens in many different styles of botanical painting. Gives some background on each of the artists, but the real feature is the large reproductions of the art work. An excellent reference book for painters and a beautiful book to display. Don't miss this one!

An absolute stunner of a book!
This is a book of dazzling beauty. The first time that I read it I had to keep trying to remember to breath! This is not a how-to book but a WOW! book. The range and quality of the illustrations is astounding, particularly in view of the large number of pictures and the comparatively low price

Beautiful
The pinnacle of botanical illustration books. I own this book and have slowly gone through it many times. It contains paintings by today's most talented botanical illustrators and is both awe inspiring and humbling. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Ethical Herbalism
This book goes beyond the typical field guide to herbs in promoting the ethical harvest of wild plants and putting emphysis on the herbalist's connection to the Earth. Although it only covers 52 common herbs, it does so thoroughly and includes nice color plates for identification and typical information such as habitat and range of the herbs, applications & seasons to harvest. However, it also includes plant-animal interdependence and a "tread lighly" section which discusses how to minimize damage to the micro-ecosystem when harvesting each specific plant. Also incuded is a general chapter on ethical harvesting, and a chapter on basic herbal preparation. More field guides and herb books need to follow this ethical approach to help preserve our wild plants for the future. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (6)

Good for flowers and ornamentals
Every page covers two plants each with a large photo on top. They present very compact information, consistently covering when flowers bloom, heights, wind, sun, watering, overwintering, which will help plan a full year graden.

Largely the book is about flowers and ornamentals. Only 12 herbs and 7 vegetables are covered and insufficently. FOr the vegetables I was interested in found terms/instructions used not in the glossary and descriptions that diagrams would have helped more on. BOUNTIFUL CONTAINER for growing edibles in containers was by far better for that topic.

Simply the Best!
I found information on overwintering plumbagos that I couldn't find any place else. Focused on containering, no raised beds, no plant biology. It's informative, and the pictures make it entertaining to read, as well. Easy to read picture symbols let you know right away which plants need sun, and which need shade, how much water they need, and how much light they need. In the front there are seasonal suggestions for combining plants and how to make their suggestions. Yes, roses and hydrangeas grow in a tub! There's information on how to make chemical-free potions for your plants to take care of fungal infections, aphids, and mildew. And for the brave, you can start your patio collection from seed...helpful instructions show how. I've done them and trust me, if I can do it, anybody can!

I can't say enough about this book. I consider this book my container garden bible, and has been very useful for me in creating a garden environment on my 7x10 apartment patio in the Oklahoma City area! This is simply the best book I've seen on container gardening.

Very Helpful Overwintering Reference Sections
This makes book 4 in a row in my quest to learn the wonders of container gardening, and it does a pretty good job. The first third of this work follows the lead of the previous, it shows the four seasons and a decent number of example containers along with the dimensions and what it would take at the nursery to put it together. The final two thirds though is where it shines, the author provides a compact encyclopedia of container plants arranged by scientific name. The plus here is that they include information for each and every one on overwintering. Starting my garden in November in Zone 8 I found this information extremely useful when picking out my next project. Overall a very good offering, especially for the reference information contained therein. For further reading, I suggest Hillier's book [for great ideas/examples], and David Joyce's for classification based on color.

Great Book!
This is absolutely the best book on container plants. There are so many plants that I would never think of planting in a pot, but Heitz will try anything. This book has been the greatest influence on my container garden (which you can see in Fine Gardening Magazine March/April 2000). Get this book if you are serious about container gardening.

Great resource for gardeners with small spaces!
This is an excellent book that I use constantly as a resource. Not only did it offer valuable tips about plant care and different appropriate plants for containers, it also had nice examples of container gardens for all seasons. I find the plant index in the back the most helpful. Recommended for beginners and those with apartment balconies or patios! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Just what I wanted....
After years of thinking how helpful a book about weeds would be, I was delighted to find this one. Included in Spencer's text is a layperson's description of each plant, as well as where it grows, how it is spread, who its relatives are, how to get rid of it and any known uses or lore associated with it. At the end of the "common" information for each weed is its technical description and formal names. The illustrations are excellent, although color photographs would have been more useful for weed identification. Overall though, a great find, and one I have already passed on to others! ... Read more

Book Description

Detailed descriptions of 154 commonly cultivated or naturally growing plants found in the wild or landscaping. A good book to have in the home or on hikes. ... Read more

Book Description

The author and photographer of The Tropical Garden, first published by Thames and Hudson in 1991, combine forces again in this book devoted to the presentation of flowers and plants native to the tropical area of the world--plants that are now also widely appreciated and cultivated in America. Tropical Plants is divided into flowering shrubs and annuals, foliage plants, ornamental trees, ornamental vines and creepers, palms and palm-like plants, exotics, water plants, ground covers, ferns and fernlike plants, and orchids. It functions as a guide, an aid to identification, and a horticultural survey. Tettoni's remarkable photography of plants and flowers meticulously observed and documented is the perfect instrument for capturing the beauty of plants and their backgrounds. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Showy Book Loses Stars for Imbalance, Lack of Variety
Neither a good specimen guide nor glamorous coffee table showpiece, this nonetheless fills a gap in my growing library of tropical gardening books. It could be a nice introduction to tropical plants, but anyone who wants to actually garden with tropical specimens would be better served by other books, perhaps best of all, Gardening in the Tropics, ISBN: 0881923095 .

As one reviewer points out, there are several silly mistakes. It is telling that the publisher is known for style & design books. It needed an editor with a little more botanical savvy.

The format is clear and attractive, with huge photos and a little, nicely written text for each. The content is somewhat inconsistent. While many photographs are clear and nicely illustrative of the whole plant, some specimens are photographed in a massive mixed border some distance away. Identification, therefore, can be very frustrating. For every delight (there are, indeed, many gorgeous photos), there is a disappointment.

Nomenclature seemed inconsistent, and local names (Indonesia, Malaysia, etc) could have been supplied by these contributors who spend much of their time in southeast Asia.

There is no practical advice for a gardener (beyond the occasional note about something tolerating dry conditions or some such), but book doesn't pretend to be a guide book.

A good reference
This book is a good reference for everyone who love tropical plant and garden, many beautiful photographs from good garden and healthy plant, I note some mistakes:
(pg 50) pict 1 is not jackfruit or breadfruit
(pg 50) pict 2 is not breadfruit, it's a jackfruit
(pg 105) pict 2 is also Dracaena marginata, not a wild type
(pg 226) pict 4 is Epidendrum radicans not a Dendrobium
(pg 226) pict 3 is not Arundina, probably Arachnis hybrid
(pg 228) pict 2 is not Phalaenopsis hybrid, probably Miltonia
(pg 232) pict 2 is not Vanda tricolor
(pg 236) pict 2 must be rotate clockwise

Beautiful & Informative
I really loved this book. As a novice gardner I was able to learn more about plants, their correct names, how they reproduce and view spectular picturers. I keep wanting more and more. I've have read it several times and I refer to it frequently. It is informative without being too long winded. A must buy for the novice gardner.

A superb pictorial summary
This book is the companion to 'The Tropical Garden' by the same author, and maintains the same high standards.

The book is well-organized with a large selection of some of the best known species of tropical plants. Concise but informative descriptions of each species are provided complete with the scientific and common names. The highlight, however is the superb full-color photographs that accompany every entry. While lacking in hints for the budding gardener, this book provides plenty of inspiration as well as probably the best pictorial summary of the subject matter currently in print.

Tropical Plants : for Home and Garden
Absolutely stunning. For the novice, do not be afraid to buy this book. This book is a delight and the photos are breathtaking. A must for the tropical plant enthusiast. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wild Orchids of New Mexico
This book is extremely well done with excellent photogrphic images, good field stories, and generally well written. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

Alaska Trees & Wildflowers, An Introduction to Familiar Plants, is a must-have, reference guide for beginners and experts alike. Whether you're on a nature hike or taking a stroll in your neighborhood, you'll want to take along a copy of this indispensable guide.

The Pocket Naturalist(tm) series is an introduction to common plants and animals and natural phenomena. Each pocket-sized, folding guide highlights up to 150 species and most feature a map identifying prominent sanctuaries and outstanding natural attractions. Each is laminated for durability. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The best I've seen yet
Full color photographs of every plant in the book, along with very complete, if brief, descriptions of characteristics and properties.The book itself is compact and easy to carry with you into the field, which is the ONLY place to truly study the subject matter.Enjoy this gem!

Medicinal Plants of the West
OK, but it would help if the pictures of the plants were real photos.

Very good, yet lacking some food sources.
This book is a good beginning book on edible and medicinal plants of the west.The pictures are excellent and really help in identify species.The only complaint I have with this book is that it is missing some importantedible plant sources, and it is also could be more detailed in methods ofcooking and eating the plants.

A Very Useful Book
I bought this book as a Christmas present for my dad, and he hasn't put it down since he got it.The detailed descriptions of habitat, appearance, and usefulness of each plant are supplemented by great color pictures, aswell as instructions for avoiding dangerous look-alikes.I would highlyrecommend this book for hikers, backpackers, woodsmen, and anyone else thatspends a lot of time outdoors.

This book has great pictures and is very informative.
The pictures are great for identifying plants. It gives a good decription for the habitat that the plants live in and also has warnings of look a like plants. This book is a great addition for anyone interested in plants. ... Read more

Book Description

A must-have reference for camellia lovers everywhere. Filled with over 100 color photos and illustrations, "Growing Camellias in Cold Climates" is the only book of its kind. After 40 years of personal research, breeding, and evaluation, the author presents both the advantages and challenges encountered by the northern camellia gardener. Camellia lovers will value this concisely written, beautifully illustrated resource as an essential part of their gardening library. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Establishing and cultivating beautiful landscape shrubs
Growing Camellias In Cold Climates by horticultural expert William L. Ackerman is an informed and informative guide to establishing and cultivating beautiful landscape shrubs that will enhance any home or garden the whole year round by using hybridization and selection to increase the plant's hardy qualities and put it on par with other sturdy ornamental plants such as azaleas and hollies. An enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal, professional, or community library gardening reference collection, Growing Camellias In Cold Climates is an excellent, detailed, and thoroughly "user friendly" guide. ... Read more

Book Description

The Galpagos are home to a wide-ranging assortment of unusual plants and animals. The islands became famous as the site of Charles Darwin's research leading to his theory of evolution by natural selection, and their magnificent flora and fauna continue to draw visitors from around the world. Based on the author's sixteen years of fieldwork and featuring his exceptional photography, Flowering Plants of the Galpagos is the first accessible, in-depth yet compact guide to the plant life of the area.An invaluable resource for tourists, natural history enthusiasts, and professionals, the book:introduces the botanical history of the islands and their varied ecological zonesallows easy identification of 436 flowering plants (77 families, 192 genera, and 390 species)covers endemic plants found exclusively on the islands; native plants, which grow on the Galpagos and elsewhere; and exotic plants present as a result of human actionsoffers thorough accounts of the plants which give the scientific, common, and family names; range; islands inhabited; habitat; description; and additional notes of interestis richly illustrated with 266 color photographs of flowering plants and 117 of plant pollinators, vegetation zones, non-flowering plants, and the islands themselvesorganizes species by form, leaf arrangement, and flower color and includes descriptive plant drawings to aid in identification provides a map of the Galpagos and a list of plants likely to be seen at popular tourist sites ... Read more

Reviews (5)

User friendly guide.
I found the "Flowering Plants of the Galapagos" to be a very useful and user-friendly flower guide. The discussion on how to use the guide was thorough yet simple enough for the botanical novice to understand the information. The "Introduction" section was helpful in acquanting the user with the general characterists of the archipelago and the vegetation zones of the islands. This section not only assists the reader in knowing where specific plants may be located, but also gives some insight into the ecology of the plants. I found the key to be one of the most straight-forward and user-friendly that I have used. Even the most botanically challenged individual could easily work through the logical progression of choices offered in the key. The amount of information given with each plant is also a positive attribute to this guide book. The author clearly outlines the range of the plants and lists the islands in which the plants inhabit, which is a very useful piece of information. The habitat is given along with a thorough description of the plant. Lastly, the additional comments offer a nice touch of the plants natural history, use, or some other piece of interesting trivia. I thought the author did a superb job of presenting the amazing flora of the Galapagos in a simple, easy to understand fashion that any visitor could appreciate. Lastly, the quality of the photos truly add to the attractiveness and effectiveness of the book.

Recommended
A wonderful book for botanists or any traveler heading to the Galapagos. It covers 436 flowering plants and provides photos of more than half. It also introduces the botanical history of the islands and their varied ecological zones. Its boasts clear text and some exceptional pictures.

A Must for Flower Lovers Everywhere
I have been intrigued for years by the plants, animals and birds of the Galapagos. Not only have I found the perfect field guide for flowering plants written by Dr. McMullen but, in addition, this book will serve a dual purpose as a guide for my own visit and that visitors to my home will find it on display among my favorite and frequent references. The pictures are beautiful with detail and clarity. Keep up the great work Dr. McMullen and I hope your obvious hard work and labor continue to bear fruit.

A book long overdue
This is a GREAT book! The descriptions are concise and accurate, and the photographs are excellent as well. This guide is clearly head and shoulders above all other existing literature in terms of utility. If you can only buy one book about the islands, this is it.

A must for any visitor, naturalist, or fan of flora!
It would have been a lot easier to have been a naturalist guide in the Galapagos if we had only had this book. This is a treat and a treasure! The plant life of these incredible islands has been overshadowed by the antics of the wildlife and threats of El Nino. They can now take front stage with this useful guide that even a novice will find easy to use. The pictures are beautiful and the descriptions accurate. For those that use this book, they will introduced to a special world that has been ignored. Conley - you have made all Galapagos Guides very happy! ... Read more