Book Description
Here are descriptions and illustrations of 1,492 species from 77 families - virtually all of the wildflowers found from British Columbia to Baja California, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Grouped by color, each species description includes field marks, size, habitat, range, flowering season, and common and scientific names.
Customer Reviews:
A Field Guide to Western Wildflowers.......2005-06-12
Personally, I think the Peterson Guides are far more helpful than the Audobon publications. As mentioned in other reviews, Peterson uses illustrations organized by color and flower configuration. The illustrations are very well done. Audobon uses photos. The idea is that you match your specimen to the photo it most closely matches and follow further identification from there. The books are complimetary and work well together; however, if you can only choose one-- get the Peterson book. Overall, I have had much better success keying out plants with Peterson and repeatedly have found the plant I am looking for overlooked in the Audobon text. The truth be known, I doubt I will ever buy a Audobon plant book again-- perhaps they are better with birds.
Pacific States Wildflowers........2001-06-22
I like the book and the topic, however the binding is is such bad shape that the book is useless in the field or for a more robust usage. Can this be fixed?
A Useful Tool.......2000-04-04
Though this title may be a little pricy, it is a must have for residents of California, Oregon, and Washington. At any rate, any family within which there is a flower collecter, should have a copy of this excellent resource. Though my family originally purchased this title because of a biology project assigned to my daughter, it has since opened up an interesting world of the natural plant life of this area and even those farther away.
Excellent Field Guide to help identify Wildflowers.......1999-07-06
I take this guide (and the Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers-- west) on all my field trips to identify wildflowers. Though Peterson has fewer real photos, it does have better aids to identify specific wildflowers, as it is organized by color, as well as number and types of petals. The sketches help me do a preliminary id on the wildflower.
Average customer rating:
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Wild Plants Of The Sierra Nevada
Ray S. Vizgirdas
Manufacturer: University of Nevada Press
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A Sierra Nevada Flora
ASIN: 0874175356 |
Book Description
The first comprehensive look at the many uses, from historical to pharmacological, of vascular plants found in the Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Nevada of California and Nevada is the longest continuous mountain range in the United States. Covering about 20 percent of California's land base and part of western Nevada, it offers an exceptional variety of topographic relief and environmental conditions that allow for a high diversity of plant species, many of them endemic to the range. The Sierra contains over 50 percent of California's total flora, approximately 405 plant taxa endemic to the Sierra, and 218 taxa considered rare.
Wild Plants of the Sierra Nevada inventories the flora of the entire range, including comprehensive descriptions of the plants; their traditional uses as food, medicine, or for making tools and other utensils; and their habitat; plus "quick keys" to help identify similar species. The authors' introduction describes the natural history and ecology of Sierra Nevada plants in terms of plant communities and life zones, addressing the impact of such variables as climate, elevation, soil, and precipitation. They also outline the basic principles of ethnobotany, the role of plants in nutrition and human medicine, the classification of plants, and methods of collecting plant specimens and protecting rare species. The plant descriptions are accompanied by line drawings of each major species, and the book includes a table of Sierra Nevada habitats and their associated plants, along with a list of threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant species found in the range. Wild Plants of the Sierra Nevada is an essential guide for botanists, outdoors aficionados, and anyone interested in the intricate connections between plants, their environment, and our human species.
Customer Reviews:
Save your money..........2007-01-30
I am very disappointed in this book.
From the Introduction: "Common names for plants can be misleading and do not always distinguish among the species. Additionally a plant known by a common name in one region may have another common name elsewhere, leading to further confusion. However, common names have been retained because they are generally of more interest." Then the book presents the plants alphabetically by common name. Of course this presumes that I even *know* common names for plants I know by botanical nomenclature.
Clearly I was wearing botany blinders when I read the description, saw, "an essential guide for botanists" and thought it might be a good addition to my library. It should be called "Eating the Plants of the Sierra" because it is all about the ethno botany, hardly bothering to offer more than a few one-line descriptions of a "key characteristic" to help you realize that out of a particular group of related plants, some are edible, some are not.
It's ironic that Amazon is pairing this book with Weedon's "Sierra Nevada Flora"; while "Wild Plants" acknowledges that "various keys are adapted from several sources, including ...Weedon.", what the book does NOT report is that there are direct remarks in "Wild Plants" that are almost identical to remarks made by Weedon; about Snowplant (Sarcodes sanguinea): Weedon says, "Stalks edible when cooked like asparagus; however this plant is rare and protected by law."; "Wild Plants" says: This fleshy plant is edible when prepared like asparagus. However, this is a protected and rare plant..." adding that you should only eat one in a emergency! I'm still trying to imagine being stuck in a bad situation with only my stove, a steamer and some hollandaise!
IF your primary interest is in learning about native uses of plants, this might be a better book than I realize. Aside from just about everything seeming to be a cure for toothaches or some sort of bleeding, I also learned this "Interesting fact: Small-flowered collinsia was used to make a horse run fast and was used externally for sore flesh." So I guess if you are on a slow horse, bleeding, and happen to ride by some small-flowered collinsia (and recognize it), you are going to be in luck.
Ready to snack on something from the carrot family? Cautiously go through the ways to prepare delicious Lomatium ("Caution: SOME species were too resinous to enjoy") but don't stop short of reading about Poison Hemlock (described but not illustrated) which is described as "a painless way to die!"
The book actually mentions that some plants are rare, then goes on to suggest that if you want to try eating them you should do so with moderation. "If you decide to harvest plants, it is important to harvest them with wisdom and respect."
Bottom line: this book, with misspelled plant names (a few found so far), minimal identification information, and that odd common-name thing, is not worth $40 unless you are a pharmacist.
Book Description
Lester G. E. Rowntree (1879-1979), free-spirited adventurer and pioneering botanist, was fifty-two when she traded a comfortable home for the life of a peripatetic traveler in the California mountains, deserts, and forests. Through hundreds of magazine and journal articles, two acclaimed books, and uncounted public lectures, Rowntree shared her vast knowledge of California native plants and at the same time argued passionately for the protection of the state's bountiful flora. A mountain mystic who worshipped on Sierra peaks, bathed in alpine streams, and lived for months on beans and bread, Rowntree has remained an inspiration in native plant horticulture and plant conservation to this day.
A beloved classic first published in 1936, Hardy Californians is Rowntree's poetic sketch of California and its plant life. In charming prose, she takes us along on her annual seed-collecting journey through the state and gives a concise introduction to the complexities of California flora, climate, and geography. The book also gives information on the suitability of many native California plants for the garden. This new edition includes a comprehensive biographical essay, a chapter on Rowntree's horticultural legacy, an updated species list, and a complete bibliography of her writings.
Customer Reviews:
If You Love Your Plants and the Worlds They Thrive In, Buy This Book!.......2007-07-12
First published in 1936, this seminal guide to California's native plants is a must-have for any gardener, Californian or not, who wants to work with rather than against nature in the garden. Lester Rowntree spent her summers exploring the back roads, desert washes, and mountain trails of California collecting specimens and documenting the habits and habitats of her beloved native plants. Her winters were spent writing up her notes and experimenting with propagating and growing native plants in her own garden in the Carmel Highlands just north of Big Sur. An amateur "plant enthusiast," committed conservationist, and gifted writer with an unpretentious style and a wry, gentle sense of humor, her keen insight into plant ecology years before the term "ecology" was coined will amaze, delight, and humble the contemporary reader. Lester Rowntree wrote another classic, The Flowering Shrubs of California (1939), regrettably out of print at this time but available in many libraries.
Customer Reviews:
Southern California Flora.......2000-08-06
I have found this to be the most useful wildflower book for coastal southern California. It serves me well from Ensenada, in Baja California to Nojoqui Falls, in Santa Barbara county.
This book has been my field guide, and notebook/palimpsest since 1995.
Other books I have, but don't rate 5 stars: Peterson's Pacific States Wildflowers; Coffeen's Central Coast Wildflowers; Audubon's Field Guide to North American Wildflowers -- Western Region.
Average customer rating:
- Extremely Easy To Use
- Beautiful pix, helpful text
- Great book
- A Gorgeous, Informative, Sturdy Field Guide
- Beautiful Book!
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Mojave Desert Wildflowers: A Field Guide to Wildflowers, Trees, and Shrubs of the Mojave Desert, Including the Mojave National Preserve, Death Valley National Park, and Joshua Tree National Park
Pam MacKay
Manufacturer: Falcon
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The Jepson Desert Manual: Vascular Plants of Southeastern California
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Sonoran Desert Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Common Wildflowers of the Sonoran Desert, Including Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Saguaro National Park, Organ Pipe National Monument, Ironwood Forest National Monument, and the Sonoran Portion of Joshua Tree National Park
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Flowers and Shrubs of the Mojave Desert
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Hiking Death Valley: A Guide to Its Natural Wonders & Mining Past
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California Desert Flowers: An Introduction to Families, Genera, and Species (Phyllis M. Faber Books)
ASIN: 0762711620 |
Book Description
The Mojave Desert eco-region extends from eastern California to northwestern Arizona, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah, and boasts plant communities as diverse as alkali sinks, dune systems, Joshua tree woodland, pinyon juniper woodland, mixed mojave scrub, and even riparian woodland. Mojave Desert Wildflowers will be appreciated not only by amateur wildflower enthusiasts, but experts will also find the detailed photographs and charts useful in distinguishing among similar species in difficult groups. Species are arranged by color and plant family for easy identification. This guide features 300 of the common species, full-color photographs, detailed descriptions, information on bloom season, and interesting facts about each plant.
Customer Reviews:
Extremely Easy To Use.......2006-04-16
This is probably the easiest to use desert plant book I have (and I have eight that focus on desert plants in all). What it lacks in completeness, it more than makes up for in terms of ease of use. There is a picture for each plant and the plants are grouped according to flower color. So as long as the plant is in bloom, it's not too hard to find out what it is. This book does a great job of covering the plants you are most likely to come across which makes it a great book to thumb through in the field. If you are dealing with similar species within the same genus or rare plants, you'll probably want to get the Jepson guide.
Beautiful pix, helpful text.......2005-09-02
I love these Falcon guides mainly because of the lavish color illustrations. Every flower in the book has its own color picture, along with helpful descriptions. The front matter in this book includes all sorts of background material about the Mojave, along with the usual educational stuff about plant types, leaf distribution, etc. And the book is made to last -- if you take any care of it at all, it will last you forever.
Great book.......2005-02-12
Money well spent. We are ready for wildflower season! A lot of color pictures with good information. If you live in or near the Mojave Desert this is a valuable book.
A Gorgeous, Informative, Sturdy Field Guide.......2003-07-15
Pam MacKay's 'Mojave Desert Wildflowers' is a wonderfully informative & beautifully photographed guide to the wildflowers of the Mojave. This sturdy plastic-coated field guide contains over 300 gorgeous photos, finely detailed plant descriptions, and is virtually an introductory textbook on Mojave Desert ecology. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the Mojave Desert. The author lives & teaches in the Mojave and her dedication, attention to detail, and love of the desert are revealed on every page.
Jim Otterstrom
Beautiful Book!.......2003-05-15
This guide is so easy to use and the pictures are beautiful. I highly recommend this guide for first time wildflower enthusiasts!
Book Description
In the spring, California's rolling hills, green valleys, and coastal slopes are colored with wildflowers treasured by both residents and visitors to the state. First published more than forty years ago, this popular guidebook has helped thousands of amateur and intermediate wildflower enthusiasts learn the names of the flowers located in some of the state's loveliest and most accessible areas--from below the yellow pine belt in the Sierra Nevada westward to the coast. Thoroughly revised and updated throughout, it is now easier to use and more accurate--the perfect guide to take along on outdoor excursions in California and surrounding regions.
* Includes 244 new color photographs and 102 detailed drawings
* Now describes more than 400 wildflowers emphasizing the species most likely to be encountered in the state today
* Plant descriptions now include more detail, helpful identifying tips, and locales where flowers are likely to be seen
Customer Reviews:
Intro to CA Wildflowers foothills,valley,coast.......2007-05-10
the book was very informative in identifying my flower photos
Average customer rating:
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Pacific Northwest Wildflowers: A Guide to Common Wildflowers of Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Western Idaho, Southeast Alaska, and British Columbia (Wildflower Series)
Damian Fagan
Manufacturer: Falcon
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Similar Items:
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Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest (Timber Press Field Guide)
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Plants of Western Oregon, Washington & British Columbia
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Great Basin Wildflowers: A Guide to Common Wildflowers of the High Deserts of Nevada, Utah, and Oregon (Wildflower Series)
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Trees Of The Pacific Northwest (Trees of the Us)
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Northwest Weeds: The Ugly and Beautiful Villains of Fields, Gardens, and Roadsides
ASIN: 0762735724 |
Book Description
With more than 350 color photographs, detailed line drawings, and helpful, informative text, this book introduces more than 300 of the most common wildflowers of the lush Pacific Northwest region. Glossaries, a primer on plant indentification, and an introduction to the ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest are also included.
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
Some of the most spectacular and famous spring wildflower displays in California occur in the state's deserts. In fact, California's deserts support a surprisingly rich diversity of plants and animals year-round, making them a rewarding destination for outdoor enthusiasts as well as professional naturalists. First published forty years ago, this popular field guide has never been superseded as a guide to the wildflowers in these botanically rich areas. Easy-to-use, portable, and comprehensive, it has now been thoroughly updated and revised throughout, making it the perfect guide to take along on excursions into the Mojave and Colorado Deserts.
* Includes 220 new color photographs and 123 detailed drawings
* Now identifies more than 240 wildflowers in informative, engaging species accounts
* Covers such popular destinations as Death Valley, Palm Springs, and Joshua Tree National Park
Customer Reviews:
Quite easy to use.......2007-02-27
I know a lot about wildflowers of wetter parts of California, but I rarely visit the deserts. I prefer botanical books that are more expert-oriented than this one is, but this is designed well enough that its beginner-oriented design didn't cause the kind of annoyance I normally feel with beginner-oriented botanical books. Most people will find it easy to use. It describes fewer plants than I normally expect a good botanical book to cover, but in spite of that I was surprised at how large a fraction of the flowers I searched for are covered by the book.
My only real complaint is that the index needs more work (e.g. Desert Pincushion is listed only under Desert, not under Pincushion).
Great guide for the amateur naturalist.......2005-03-15
I picked up this book during a recent trip to the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs and vicinity), after the remarkable rainy season of 2004-2005 produced an equally remarkable spring wildflower season. We found this to be a handy and user-friendly guide for the interested amateur.
The flowers are conveniently organized in sections by color, making it easy to answer the question "Now, what purple flower is this?" and the illustrations are photographs rather than drawings, which I have always found much preferable in field guides. Each plant description also includes valuable information such as in which particular desert regions, at what elevations, and during what months you might expect to find it. A must-have for visitors to Death Valley, Anza-Borrego, the Palm Springs Indian canyons, and Joshua Tree National Park during wildflower season. Perhaps this book will not tell a botanist anything new, but it was perfect for us.
The regions covered consist essentially of all desert sections from Central California south to the Mexican border. The introductory chapters contain some interesting information about desert ecosystems and the specialized mechanisms these plants have developed to survive in harsh conditions. Useful and fascinating. Highly recommended.
This one's good, but there are better for Anza-Borrego.......2005-03-09
On March 3rd, 2005, I took a trip out to Anza-Borrego with a friend of mine to see the wildflower bloom (a record year for rain I'm told). I took this book and she brought the Sonoran Desert Wildflowers guide. While the book I brought had accurate descriptions featuring detailed flower characteristics and habitat, her book was much more specific to this particular region of California. I would say her book had 2 flowers for every 1 that mine covered. So, if Anza-Borrego is your destination, the Sonoran book would be a better guide. But if you really wanted to, bring both, as it was interesting to compare descriptions. It helped to key out certain flowers by comparing both books' descriptions.
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