Introduction to California Plant Life, Revised Edition

Book 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

Customer Reviews:

A brief comment.......2007-03-23

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.

Introduction to California Mountain Wildflowers, Revised Edition

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Introduction to California Mountain Wildflowers, Revised Edition
Philip A. Munz
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0520236378

Book Description

Many landscapes in California's mountains are still relatively untouched by human activity and provide excellent opportunities for viewing wildflowers. This guidebook describes and illustrates the wildflowers that grow from the yellow pine belt up into the natural rock gardens that grow above timberline. First published in 1963, this convenient book has introduced thousands to California's mountain wildflowers. Now fully updated and revised, it reflects the many advances in botany that have occurred in the past forty years.
* 257 species are described and illustrated by a new color photograph, a precise line drawing, or both
* Covers all of California's mountain ranges--from the Klamath Mountains and Cascade Range to the north, through the Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada, to the peninsular ranges and San Bernardino mountains in southern California--as well as most of the mountain ranges in between
* This new edition includes more plants, gives helpful hints for identifying species, and incorporates new taxonomic and distribution information

Book Description

A guide covering the Western desert to the coastal resport of the Red Sea and from Alexandria to Aswan, Footprint's Egypt Handbook is the most practical guide to a stupendous country.

Footprint Egypt Handbook (Egypt Handbook, 3rd ed)

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Footprint Egypt Handbook (Egypt Handbook, 3rd ed)
Anne McLachlan , and Keith McLachlan
Manufacturer: Passport Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Footprint Handbooks | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0658010840

Book Description

From the Libyan border in the west to the coastal resorts of the Red Sea and from Alexandria to Aswan, the Footprint Egypt Handbook contains more information than any rival publication. Updated and revised by a team who know Egypt and the whole region inside out, this third edition is in the highly acclaimed Footprint paperback format. It includes highlights of Egypt with colour photography, coverage of all the "not to be missed" sites plus much more off the beaten track, Nile cruises - how to organise them and how to survive them, diving in the Red Sea in addition to colour maps to help plan your journey and keep you orientated.

Footprint Libya Handbook: The Travel Guide (Footprint Libya Handbook)

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It may not be Lonely Planet, but it is almost as great.

Footprint Libya Handbook: The Travel Guide (Footprint Libya Handbook)
James Azema
Manufacturer: Footprint Handbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Africa | Travel | Subjects | Books

Libya | Africa | Travel | Subjects | Books

Tunisia | Africa | Travel | Subjects | Books

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Footprint Handbooks | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1900949776

Book Description

This award-winning series is jam packed with up-to-date, in depth travel information and fascinating background details, including highlights of every town and site, money-saving tips, health precautions, and anecdotes on local history, culture, and customs.

*Footprint Handbooks have been essential reading for almost 78 years, making these the world's longest-running travel series in the English language

*Features travel-tough paperback covers, color pages, and a more relaxed, user-friendly style for the traveler of the 21st century

*All authors are experts who have lived or worked in the countries they write about; these books will inspire readers to enjoy those places as much as they

Customer Reviews:

It may not be Lonely Planet, but it is almost as great........2001-07-28

Libya is a wonderful country yet to be discoveted, which only opened up to foreign tourism in year 2000 amidst a deep economic crisis caused by internal factors as well as a foreign embargo. Finally, Libya is accessible for foreign travelers - and, not less importantly, reasonably safe. Yet, given the relative lack of infrastructure, and as the volume of tourism is still low, travelers are unlikely to really experience Libya unless they are in a group, which may not always be pleasant. In order to truly get to know this wonderful nation, the independent traveler needs some help. And indeed, in this wonderful guidebook is contained plenty of useful, if not invaluable, advice, on what to see in Libya, how to move around, and how to have a great time altogether. The author has clearly put an incredible amount of time and great effort into researching all and any information that can be useful to the traveler, and has done a great job overall. To my knowledge, this is the best travel guide to Libya, and I would strongly recommend to pack it in your luggage before setting off. Yet, one aspect on which this guidebook is rather weak (compared for example to Lonely Planet guides), is on Libyan people and society. This means that the guidebook is a little better suited for those wishing to visit historical sites etc, rather than those wishing to get into Lybian politics, society, culture, and Lybian life in general. Yet, it is still a useful tool in that respect too.

Footprints in the sand: Religious interests of Egyptian Arab youth : survey report

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Footprints in the sand: Religious interests of Egyptian Arab youth : survey report
Grant Henning
Manufacturer: Grant Henning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Inverted footprints: A contribution to the ancient popular religion

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Inverted footprints: A contribution to the ancient popular religion
László Castiglione
Manufacturer: Hungarian Academy of Sciences
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007KCHNQ

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

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World Explorer: Medieval Times to Today
Heidi Hayes Jacobs , Michal L. LeVasseur , and Brenda Randolph
Manufacturer: Pearson Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Medieval Times to Today (Prentice Hall World Explorer)

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Medieval Times to Today (Prentice Hall World Explorer)

Manufacturer: Pearson Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Children's Books | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0130502316

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Medieval Times to Today (Prentice Hall World Explorer)
Heidi Hayes Jacobs , Michel Levasseur , and Randolph
Manufacturer: Pearson Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0130629952

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Medieval Times TODAY Teacher Resources
n/a
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0134337018

Medieval Times to Today (Prentice Hall World Explorer, Grades 6-8)

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Medieval Times to Today (Prentice Hall World Explorer, Grades 6-8)

Manufacturer: Pearson Education, Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: 0130629987

Product Description

Student Edition Audio CDs (5) Table of Contents: Chapter 1: The Byzantine and Muslim Empires Chapter 2: Civilizations in Africa Chapter 3: The Ancient Americas Chapter 4: Civilizations of Asia Chapter 5: Europe in the Middle Ages Chapter 6: A New Age in Europe Chapter 7: Changes in the Western World Chapter 8: A Century of Turmoil These CDs provide support for English Language Learners, auditory Learners and less proficient readers.

Medieval Times to Today: Itec (World Explorer)

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Medieval Times to Today: Itec (World Explorer)

Manufacturer: Pearson Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Medieval | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0131159720

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World Explorer (Medieval Times to Today)

Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0130629960

World Studies Medieval Times to Today -Student Edition

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World Studies Medieval Times to Today -Student Edition

Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0131307525

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World Studies: Medieval Times to Today
Jacqueline Mitton
Manufacturer: Pearson Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Medieval | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0131669753

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