Trees, wildflowers and plants: general interest Books

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Book SynopsisLegumes of the Great Plains: An Illustrated Guide is an invaluable tool for the identification of more than 114 species of legumes in the Great Plains. In addition to a distribution map, botanical illustration, and an in-depth botanical description, this comprehensive guide describes the habitat, uses and values, pollinators, forage value for livestock and wildlife, toxic properties, and ethnobotany of each species. The botanical synonyms and other common namesincluding those used by the Great Plains Indiansare also provided. This volume includes more than one hundred similar species with a description of how each differs from the main species. This reference book is indispensable to anyone interested in grassland and prairie conservation and management, the Great Plains, botany, or modern taxonomy. Trade Review"Stubbendieck and Milby (both, Univ. of Nebraska) have produced a high quality, comprehensive key for Great Plains legumes. The volume reviews the general climate, geology, soils, prairie habitat, abundance, and value of legumes to wildlife, Native Americans, and livestock, providing descriptions and line drawings of general legume characteristics. . . . The volume also includes a brief glossary, a list of abbreviations for nomenclatural authorities, and selected references. Detailed and comprehensive, this volume is sure to satisfy specialists in legumes, botanical taxonomy, or Great Plains grasslands."—S. T. Meiers, ChoiceTable of ContentsIntroduction Climate Geology Soils PrairiesAbundance and Value of LegumesKeysTaxonomyIllustrationsMapsDescriptions of Individual SpeciesCharacteristics of LegumesTaxonomy of Legumes I. CAESALPINIACEAE,Cercis canadensis,Chamaecrista fasciculata,Gleditsia triacanthos,Gymnocladus dioicus,Hoffmannseggia glauca,Senna marilandica, II. FABACEAE Amorpha canescens,fruticosa,nana,Amphicarpaea bracteata,Apios americana,Astragalus agrestis,bisulcatus,canadensis,ceramicus,cicer,crassicarpus,drummondii,flexuosus,gracilis,kentrophyta,laxmannii,lotiflorus,missouriensis,mollissimus,multiflorus,nuttallianus,pectinatus,plattensis,racemosus,spatulatus,Baptisia alba,australis,bracteata,Caragana arborescens,Crotalaria sagittalis,Dalea aurea,candida,cylindriceps,enneandra,formosa,lanata,leporina,multiflora,purpurea, villosa,Desmodium canadense,canescens,glutinosum,illinoense,nudiflorum,paniculatum,sessilifolium,Glycyrrhiza lepidota,Kummerowia stipulaceae,striata,Lathyrus decaphyllus,latifolius,venosus,Lespedeza capitata,cuneata,violacea,virginica,Lotus corniculatus,purshianus,Lupinus argenteus,caudatus,plattensis,pusillus,subcarnosus,Medicago lupulina,polymorpha,sativa,Melilotusofficinalis,Onobrychis viciifolia,Orophaca caespitosa,hyalina,sericea,Oxytropis campestris,lambertii,multiceps,sericea,Pediomelum argophyllum,cuspidatum,digitatum,esculentum,Pisum sativum,Psoralidium lanceolatum,tenuiflorum,Pueraria montana,Robinia pseudoacacia,Securigera varia,Sophora nuttalliana,Strophostyles helvola, leiosperma,Stylosanthes biflora,Tephrosia virginiana,Thermopsis rhombifolia,Trifolium campestre, fragiferum, hybridum, incarnatum, pratense, reflexum, repens,Vicia americana,sativa, villosa, III. MIMOSACEAE Acacia berlandieri, greggii,Desmanthus illinoensis,Mimosa quadrivalvis,Neptunia lutea,Prosopis glandulosa, Glossary Abbreviations for Nomenclature Authorities Selected References Index

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Book SynopsisFeaturing four hundred beautiful colour photographs and a complete index of included species, Mississippi’s Natural Heritage is the first book of its kind dedicated to Mississippi’s natural world.Trade ReviewWesley Shoop’s knowledge of native Mississippi taxa is immense, rivaled only by his skill with a camera. It has been a joy to watch his photographic collection of our state’s flora and fauna grow, and I’m sure this publication will be a tremendous aid to both the professional and amateur naturalist alike." - Chris King, education chair and former president of the Jackson, Mississippi Audubon Society"Through outstanding photographs and field guide-like narratives, Mississippi’s Natural Heritage shines a spotlight on the biota of LeFleur’s Bluff State Park, a beautiful, well-known urban natural area and wildlife corridor in Mississippi’s state capital. This book will surely foster a greater awareness of and appreciation for the diversity of plant and animal life in Mississippi." - Libby Hartfield, director emerita of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science"An excellent addition to the growing literature about nature in Mississippi!" - Frank R. Hensley, professor of biology at Mississippi College

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Book SynopsisThis field guide is useful for trained ecologists, botanists, and naturalists, and is accessible to anyone else who wonders what is sprouting up from that sidewalk crack or in that corner of their suburban garden.? RhodoraIn this field guide to the future, esteemed Harvard University botanist Peter Del Tredici unveils the plants that will become even more dominant in urban environments under projected future environmental conditions. These plants are the most important and most common plants in cities. Learning what they are and the role they play, he writes, will help us all make cities more livable and enjoyable.With more than 1000 photos, readers can easily identify these powerful plants. Learn about the fascinating cultural history of each plant.Trade ReviewThis field guide is useful for trained ecologists, botanists, and naturalists, and is accessible to anyone else who wonders what is sprouting up from that sidewalk crack or in that corner of their suburban garden. * Rhodora *Table of ContentsIntroduction Mosses and Ferns Bryaceae (Silvertip Moss Family) Dryopteridaceae (Woodfern Family) Horsetails Equisetaceae (Horsetail Family) Conifers Taxaceae (Yew Family) Woody Dicots Anacardiaceae (Cashew Family) Berberidaceae (Barberry Family) Betulaceae (Birch Family) Bignoniaceae (Trumpet Creeper Family) Cannabaceae (Hemp Family) Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family) Celastraceae (Stafftree Family) Elaeagnaceae (Oleaster Family) Fabaceae = Leguminosae (Pea Family) Fagaceae (Beech Family) Juglandaceae (Walnut Family) Moraceae (Mulberry Family) Oleaceae (Olive Family) Paulowniaceae (Princess Tree Family) Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family) Rosaceae (Rose Family) Rutaceae (Rue Family) Salicaceae (Willow Family) Sapindaceae (Soapwort Family) Simaroubaceae (Quassia Family) Solanaceae (Nightshade Family) Ulmaceae (Elm Family) Vitaceae (Grape Family) Herbaceous Dicots xv Amaranthaceae (Amaranth Family) Apiaceae = Umbelliferae (Carrot Family) Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family) Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed Family) Asteraceae = Compositae (Aster Family) Balsaminaceae (Touch-me-not Family) Brassicaceae = Cruciferae (Mustard Family) Cannabaceae (Hemp Family) Caryophyllaceae (Pink Family) Convolvulaceae (Morning Glory Family) Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family) Cucurbitaceae (Gourd Family) Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family) Fabaceae = Leguminosae (Pea Family) Hyperiaceae (St. John's Wort Family) Lamiaceae = Labiatae (Mint Family) Lythraceae (Loosestrife Family) Malvaceae (Mallow Family) Molluginaceae (Carpetweed Family) Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family) Oxalidaceae (Woodsorrel Family) Papaveraceae (Poppy Family) Phytolaccaceae (Pokeweed Family) Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family) Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family) Portulacaceae (Purslane Family) Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) Rosaceae (Rose Family) Rubiaceae (Madder Family) Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family) Solanaceae (Nightshade Family) Urticaceae (Nettle Family) Verbenaceae (Verbena Family) Violaceae (Violet Family) Monocots xv Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis Family) Commelinaceae (Spiderwort Family) Cyperaceae (Sedge Family) Iridaceae (Iris Family) Juncaceae (Rush Family) Poaceae = Gramineae (Grass Family) Smilacaceae (Smilax Family) Typhaceae (Cattail Family)

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Book SynopsisNature on the Doorstep reveals the simple pleasures of paying attention to the natural world in one''s own backyard over the course of a year. In weekly letters, Angela Douglas shares the joys and curiosities of a decidedly ordinary patch of green in upstate New York cultivated through the art of strategic neglectsometimes taking a hand to manage wildlife, more often letting nature go its own way. From the first flowers of spring to cardinals singing in the winter, Douglas shows us the magic of welcoming unexpected plant and animal life into one''s backyard. A paean to the richness we find when we stop to look and let be, Nature on the Doorstep celebrates the role humble backyards play both in conservation efforts and in an expanded appreciation of the living world.Trade ReviewFilled with wide-eyed wonder, these lighthearted letters charm. This book has plenty to offer those looking to discover the magic in one's own backyard. * Publishers Weekly *Table of ContentsMarch 22, 2020: On the horns of a dilemma March 29, 2020: Spring is coming... April 5, 2020: Wordsworth's flowers April 12, 2020: Vultures and rabbits April 19, 2020: Bloom where you are planted April 26, 2020: Winter's dregs May 3, 2020: The English daisy May 10, 2020: Bud burst! May 17, 2020: And now it's summer May 24, 2020: Chipmunks and woodchucks May 31, 2020: Looking up June 7, 2020: Natives and aliens June 14, 2002: Save the bees! June 21, 2020: A terminological jungle June 28, 2020: Empires under the maple tree July 5, 2020: Fireflies: a wonder of the Ithaca world July 12, 2020: The Deptford pink July 19, 2020: Blue jay birds and blue jay humans July 26, 2020: Call my bluff August 2, 2020: Termite mound or Italian villa? August 9, 2020: Happy families August 16, 2020: The orthopteran orchestra August 23, 2020: Backyard munchers August 30, 2020: Wasps galore September 6, 2020: The official end of summer September 13, 2020: Garden silks September 20, 2020: Late season flowers September 27, 2020: The War of the Seasons October 4, 2020: The backyard harvest October 11, 2020: Making a living in the backyard October 18, 2020: The winter birdseed feeder is back in business October 25, 2020: Fall colors November 1, 2020: The end of the 2020 orthopteran orchestra November 8, 2020: Fake news! November 15, 2020: What's on today's menu? November 22, 2020: It smells to high heaven November 29, 2020: Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater December 6, 2020: Hawk, beware! December 13, 2020: Life in the leafless trees December 20, 2020: Nearly a foot of snow December 27, 2020: Mass Sparrow Attack January 3, 2021: Celebrating the last day of the year January 10, 2021: Winter sounds January 17, 2021: Sparrow Wars January 24, 2021: The daily red squirrel January 31, 2021: It is nothing but winter—winter, cold and savage February 7, 2021: A Miller B nor'easter and a Bumpus event February 14, 2021: Finding their voice February 21, 2021: The daily crow commute February 28, 2021: Periwinkle for tea March 7, 2021: Snow fleas March 14, 2021: All change

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Book SynopsisTree by Tree is a warning and a toolkit for the future of forest recovery. Scott J. Meiners investigates the critical biological threats endangering tree species native to the forests of eastern North America, providing a needed focus on this plight. Meiners suggests that if we are to save our forests, the first step is to recognize the threats in front of us. Meiners focuses on five familiar treesthe American elm, the American chestnut, the eastern hemlock, the white ash, and the sugar mapleand shares why they matter economically, ecologically, and culturally. From outbreaks of Dutch elm disease to infestations of emerald ash borers, Meiners highlights the challenges that have led or will lead to the disappearance of these trees from forests. In doing so, he shows us how diversity loss often disrupts intricately balanced ecosystems and how vital it is that we pay more attention to massive changes in forest composition.With practical steps for the Table of ContentsIntroduction: First, Some Context 1. American Elm—Ulmus americana 2. American Chestnut—Castanea dentata 3. Eastern Hemlock—Tsuga canadensis 4. White Ash—Fraxinus americana 5. Sugar Maple—Acer saccharum 6. Other Trees with Other Challenges 7. The Next in Line 8. Accumulating Impacts—Putting It All Together Conclusion: Protecting Our Forests' Future

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Book SynopsisPhiladelphia Trees is a pocket-sized resource for identifying the native trees, commonly encountered exotics, and popular ornamentals of the Philadelphia metropolitan area and adjacent counties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Each of the 118 tree-identification entries features a description of a tree species or several related species; a list of places to see specimens; individual photos of leaves, bark, fruits, and seeds; striking portrait photos; and winter-silhouette drawings. The guide also contains a section on more than fifty of the best parks, botanical gardens, and preserves for viewing trees in and around Philadelphia. Included in this section are ten maps identifying specific trees in such places as Fairmount Park, one of the world’s largest urban parks, and the Morris Arboretum, the official arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A third section, “Great Trees of Philadelphia,” highlights fifty special, historic, and record-breaking trees. Using this field guide, nature lovers will be able to identify and locate the fantastic trees that this unique region, sometimes called “the cradle of American horticulture,” has to offer.

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Book SynopsisThe first comprehensive, fully illustrated field guide to Minnesota’s nearly 250 species of sedges and rushes When most of us encounter a sea of what seem like grasses, we don’t know if we’re looking at a bog or a fen, a swamp or a marsh or a meadow. What we’re seeing probably aren’t even grasses. They are sedges and rushes, which frequently make up the majority of plants in a wetland—and they can tell us, by their presence and pattern of occurrence, what kind of wetland it is. Quick to respond to changes in habitat, they are good indicators of ecological conditions. As significant as they are in the natural environment, sedges and rushes are also simply beautiful—noteworthy features in a garden and in the wild. This book is an expert, accessible guide to the nearly 250 species of sedges and rushes in Minnesota. With its finely detailed photographs and descriptions, Sedges and Rushes of Minnesota enables quick and reliable identification of these often difficult-to-distinguish species. As an in-depth introduction or a handy field guide, the book is the first complete, comprehensive reference on these important plants of Minnesota—an invaluable resource for specialists, naturalists, and wild plant lovers.Trade Review"Welby Smith has followed up on his wonderful Trees and Shrubs of Minnesota and created another gem with Sedges and Rushes of Minnesota. Smith takes the intimidating world of rushes and sedges and chronicles them in an easy-to-use field guide and resource that is the first of its kind for the state. This is a magnificent resource that will no doubt by used by botanists, naturalists, interpreters, and nature enthusiasts for generations to come."—Bryan Wood, Executive Director, Audubon Center of the North Woods "This hefty volume brings care and expertise to a regional plant species study."—ARBAonline "Any reader who picks up this guide will be consumed with the rare and curious disease of sedge fever, in which sufferers are compelled to know and key out all the rushes and sedges, even those without edges."—CHOICE "If you are looking at a plant catalogue trying to decide which sedge to add to your yard, you can use this book to find the plant’s distribution and habitat."—The Trumpeter "Overall, this book provides an excellent, user-friendly guide to the sedges and rushes of Minnesota. I recommend it highly to all field biologists involved in botanical inventories in the central part of the continent, and to students of these two families in general."—The Canadian Field-Naturalist "This book is thoroughly referenced, clearly written, and beautifully illustrated. Professional botanists throughout Minnesota and the Midwest will definitely want to have this book in their field pack or on their shelf."—The Great Lakes Botanist "The individual accounts are thorough, accurate and include good field characters that are useful in separating the species covered with others it could be confused with."—Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas Table of ContentsContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsMinnesota County MapIntroductionKey to the Genera of Sedges and Rushes in MinnesotaThe genus BolboschoenusThe genus BulbostylisThe genus CarexCarex section AcrocystisCarex section AlbaeCarex section AmmoglochinCarex section BicoloresCarex section CarexCarex section CareyanaeCarex section CeratocystisCarex section ChlorostachyaeCarex section ChordorrhizaeCarex section ClandestinaeCarex section DeweyanaeCarex section DispermaeCarex section DivisaeCarex section FilifoliaeCarex section GlareosaeCarex section GranularesCarex section GriseaeCarex section HeleoglochinCarex section HirtifoliaeCarex section HolarrhenaeCarex section HymenochlaenaeCarex section LamprochlaenaeCarex section LaxifloraeCarex section LeptocephalaeCarex section LeucoglochinCarex section LimosaeCarex section LupulinaeCarex section MultifloraeCarex section ObtusataeCarex section OvalesCarex section PaludosaeCarex section PaniceaeCarex section PhacocystisCarex section PhaestoglochinCarex section PhyllostachyaeCarex section PhysoglochinCarex section PorocystisCarex section RacemosaeCarex section RostralesCarex section ScirpinaeCarex section SquarrosaeCarex section StellulataeCarex section VesicariaeCarex section VulpinaeThe genus CladiumThe genus CyperusThe genus DulichiumThe genus EleocharisThe genus EriophorumThe genus FimbristylisThe genus JuncusThe genus LuzulaThe genus RhynchosporaThe genus SchoenoplectiellaThe genus SchoenoplectusThe genus ScirpusThe genus ScleriaThe genus TrichophorumGlossaryBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisHow afforestation reveals the often-concealed politics between humans and plantsIn Plant Life, Rosetta S. Elkin explores the procedures of afforestation, the large-scale planting of trees in otherwise treeless environments, including grasslands, prairies, and drylands. Elkin reveals that planting a tree can either be one of the ultimate offerings to thriving on this planet, or one of the most extreme perversions of human agency over it. Using three supracontinental case studies—scientific forestry in the American prairies, colonial control in Africa’s Sahelian grasslands, and Chinese efforts to control and administer territory—Elkin explores the political implications of plant life as a tool of environmentalism. By exposing the human tendency to fix or solve environmental matters by exploiting other organisms, this work exposes the relationship between human and plant life, revealing that afforestation is not an ecological act: rather, it is deliberately political and distressingly social. Plant Life ultimately reveals that afforestation cannot offset deforestation, an important distinction that sheds light on current environmental trends that suggest we can plant our way out of climate change. By radicalizing what conservation protects and by framing plants in their total aliveness, Elkin shows that there are many kinds of life—not just our own—to consider when advancing environmental policy. Trade Review "In Plant Life, the misadventures of tree planting campaigns around the world expose a fundamental failure to understand things that are alive. Human cultivation—a blunt apparatus often focused only on an above-ground outcropping—usually manages to kill plants. Rosetta S. Elkin’s lush and stringent narratives travel instead within the roots and ramifying relationships that huge forests and grasslands generate when they are simply allowed to grow—a live rhizosphere in the crust of the earth."—Keller Easterling, Yale University "With climate change comes a recognition that we are part of a global landscape and that we need to think at this scale. However, even as we need to ‘think global, act local,’ what Rosetta S. Elkin shows in her in her deep and multi-faceted reading of afforestation projects is that in doing so we must really ‘think local, act global.’"—Julian Raxworthy, University of Canberra "Tightly argued and rigorously researched, Plant Life draws on history, geography, political ecology, botany, landscape ecology, and climate science to present a powerful critique of afforestation. "—Landscape Architecture Magazine "Delving into philosophical treatises, colonial archives, and botanical manuals that span such themes as soil science, plant morphology, and taxonomy, Elkin convincingly argues that planting is a social—not ecological—act that radically reshapes landscapes based on models of standardization and replicability."—H-Net Reviews Table of ContentsContentsPrefaceAbbreviationsIntroductionArtifact1. The Problem of Parts2. Great Green Wall3. Genus FaidherbiaIndex4. Confronting Treelessness5. Prairie States Forestry Project6. Ulmus pumilaL.Trace7. Contextual Indifference8. Three Norths Shelter System9. Species PopulusEpilogueNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of the explosive illegal trade in succulents and the passion that drives it Cacti and succulents are phenomenally popular worldwide among plant enthusiasts, despite being among the world’s most threatened species. The fervor driving the illegal trade in succulents might also be driving some species to extinction. Delving into the strange world of succulent collecting, The Cactus Hunters takes us to the heart of this conundrum: the mystery of how and why ardent lovers of these plants engage in their illicit trade. This is a world of alluring desires, where collectors and conservationists alike are animated by passions that at times exceed the limits of law. What inspires the desire for a plant? What kind of satisfaction does it promise? The answer, Jared D. Margulies suspects, might be traced through the roots and workings of the illegal succulent trade—an exploration that traverses the fields of botany and criminology, political ecology and human geography, and psychoanalysis. His globe-spanning inquiry leads Margulies from a spectacular series of succulent heists on a small island off the coast of Mexico to California law enforcement agents infiltrating a smuggling ring in South Korea, from scientists racing to discover new and rare species before poachers find them to a notorious Czech “cacto-explorer” who helped turn a landlocked European country into the epicenter of the illegal succulent trade. A heady blend of international intrigue, social theory, botanical lore, and ecological study, The Cactus Hunters offers complex insight into species extinction, conservation, and more-than-human care. Retail e-book files for this title are screen-reader friendly with images accompanied by short alt text and/or extended descriptions.Trade Review "The Cactus Hunters takes us into the fascinating world of succulent collecting. Jared D. Margulies skillfully traces the consequential ways in which people and cacti move one another, remaking possibilities for life, desire, wealth, extinction, and more in the process. This book offers a powerful example of the value of close attention to the entangled lives of plants and their people."—Thom van Dooren, author of A World in a Shell: Snail Stories for a Time of Extinctions "Follow Jared D. Margulies and his infectious curiosity on a riveting global tour starring charismatic cacti and the people who desire them. In moving plants and the unconscious to center stage, The Cactus Hunters is a deeply felt and nuanced reckoning with desire as a structurally produced and world-making force—a unique and major contribution to political ecology."—Rosemary Collard, author of Animal Traffic: Lively Capital in the Global Exotic Pet Trade "An esoteric deep dive into the illegal cactus trade."—Publishers Weekly Table of Contents Contents Preface Abbreviations Introduction: Cactus, Be My Desire 1. On Collecting and Caring for Cacti 2. Illicit Encounters with Succulent Collectors 3. Between the Iron Curtain and the Glass House 4. Confronting Extinction Anxiety in Cactus Country 5. A New Illicit Trade 6. Learning to Know a Plant 7. Disentangling Succulent Desires 8. For a Flourishing Geography of Succulent Life Acknowledgments Additional Resources Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThe definitive field guide for understanding and identifying ferns and lycophytes in Minnesota Rapid advances in DNA studies have given scientists new understandings of ferns and lycophytes, making books published only a decade ago now obsolete. Ferns and Lycophytes of Minnesota is the first comprehensive presentation of these oldest of land plants in Minnesota. Welby R. Smith, Minnesota state botanist, thoroughly developed this essential guide for anyone interested in learning about and identifying these ubiquitous plants that have fascinated people for centuries.Found in forests, prairies, marshes, and lakes throughout the state, ferns and lycophytes are marvelously adaptive, allowing them to inhabit and thrive in unique ecological niches, including native plant gardens. Created for natural resource professionals as well as avid gardeners, hikers, and naturalists at all levels, this easy-to-use reference enables the quick and reliable identification of each of the one hundred species of ferns and lycophytes that grow wild in Minnesota.Illustrated with more than four hundred original photographs, primarily by Richard W. Haug, this complete and up-to-date field guide includes information about how to distinguish closely related species as well as details about the ecology, distribution, and phenology of each species.Trade Review "This book is a must have for any plant enthusiast."—Terrace Horticulture Books

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Book SynopsisNative Trees of the Midwest is a definitive guide to identifying trees in Indiana and surrounding states, written by three leading forestry experts. Descriptive text explains how to identify every species in any season and color photographs show all important characteristics. Not only does the book allow the user to identify trees and learn of their ecological and distributional attributes, but it also presents an evaluation of each species relative to its potential ornamental value for those interested in landscaping. Since tree species have diverse values to wildlife, an evaluation of wildlife uses is presented with a degree of detail available nowhere else. This second edition contains a chapter on introduced species that have become naturalized and invasive throughout the region. All accounts have been reviewed and modifications made when necessary to reflect changes in taxonomy, status, or wildlife uses. Keys have been modified to incorporate introduced species.

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Book SynopsisA History of Zinnias brings forward the fascinating adventure of zinnias and the spirit of civilization. With colorful illustrations, this book is a cultural and horticultural history documenting the development of garden zinnias—one of the top ten garden annuals grown in the United States today.The deep and exciting history of garden zinnias pieces together a tale involving Aztecs, Spanish conquistadors, people of faith, people of medicine, explorers, scientists, writers, botanists, painters, and gardeners. The trail leads from the halls of Moctezuma to a cliff-diving prime minister; from Handel, Mozart, and Rossini to Gilbert and Sullivan; from a little-known confession by Benjamin Franklin to a controversy raised by Charles Darwin; from Emily Dickinson, who writes of death and zinnias, to a twenty-year-old woman who writes of reanimated corpses; and from a scissor-wielding septuagenarian who painted with bits of paper to the "Black Grandma Moses" who painted zinnias and inspired the opera Zinnias.Zinnias are far more than just a flower: They represent the constant exploration of humankind's quest for beauty and innovation.Table of Contents Preface 1. From Gilbert and Sullivan to Corvettes 2. Starting in the Middle 3. Search for the Historic Zinnia: New Spain and Old Legends 4. Of Marigolds, Dahlias, and Zinnias 5. Coming of Age: The European Period 6. Homeward Bound: America 7. Doubling Your Pleasure 8. The Revolution 9. Confusion Reigns 10. Modern Times, or Sex to the Rescue 11. In the Garden Acknowledgments Appendix 1: Seed Sources and Developers Appendix 2: Zinnia Awards Appendix 3: Zinnia Species

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Book SynopsisThis photographic guide to grasses gives all who have been frustrated trying to identify these difficult plants an easy-to-use, visually precise, and information-packed field guide to seventy-seven native and introduced species that grow in the Texas Hill Country and beyond. With a blade of grass in hand, open this book and find: handy thumb guides to seed head type, the most visible distinguishing characteristic to begin identification; color photographs of stands of grasses and detailed close-ups; concise information about economic uses, habitat, range, and flowering season; and quick-reference icons for native status, toxicity, growing season, and grazing response.

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Book SynopsisNative orchids are increasingly threatened by pressure from population growth and development but, nonetheless, still present a welcome surprise to observant hikers in every state and province. Compiled and illustrated by long-time orchid specialist Paul Martin Brown, this pocket guide to the fringed orchids forms part of a series that will cover all the wild orchids of the continental United States and Canada. Brown provides a description, general distributional information, time of flowering, and habitat requirements for each species as well as a complete list of hybrids and the many different growth and color forms that can make identifying orchids so challenging. For the fringed-lipped orchids, which make up some of the most intriguing and richly colored of all wild orchids, he includes information on fourteen species and thirteen hybrids. The genus Platanthera is the largest genus of orchids to be found in North America north of Mexico; the fringe-lipped group is found primarily in the eastern U.S. and Canada, extending west to the prairies and Great Plains. The fringed orchids, so-called because of the delicately fringed petals and lips on many of the species, comprise some of the largest and showiest native orchids found in our region. Most of these species are easy to identify based upon their general appearance, range, and time of flowering. Answering three simple questions - when, where, and how does it grow? - and comparing the living plants with the striking photos in the backpack-friendly laminated guide and the information in the simple key should enable both professional and amateur naturalists to achieve the satisfaction of identifying a specific orchid.

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Book SynopsisValued for their lumber, their shade, and the beauty of their flowers and foliage as well as the nuts that nourish wildlife and humans alike, trees play important economic, ecological, and aesthetic roles in our lives. From honey and black locusts to white and chinkapin oaks to yellow and river birches, Trees in Your Pocket gives us identification and natural history information for about forty prominent deciduous species found in the Upper Midwest states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.Botanist Tom Rosburg provides diagnostic color photographs of leaves, acorns and other fruits, and bark along with descriptions of leaves, fruits, and measurements of blades. The composition, arrangement, shape, and margin of leaves are most important for tree identification. Fruits can help confirm identification of species with similar leaves. The bark of a tree can be very helpful for identifying some species; as a tree ages, older bark (lower on the tree) can be quite different from younger bark (higher and on branches). In addition to these essential markers, Rosburg gives information about range, habitat—savannas, moist forests, dry slopes, sandy soils, and so on—life-span, and tolerance of shade, fire, drought, and flood.Each state in this region maintains a Big Tree program that honours the largest individual tree of each species. Champion trees are determined by adding together measurements of trunk circumference, height, and canopy spread. Rosburg identifies the trees with the largest diameter and the tallest trees among the champion trees in the Upper Midwest by their county and state. Together his superb photographs and key information make this guide the perfect companion for enjoying the diversity of trees in all kinds of environments.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing more than two hundred gorgeous color photographs of Indiana's champion trees and old-growth forest remnants, Magnificent Trees of Indiana is a celebration of the state's natural beauty. Seventy-four trees are featured as well as twenty old-growth woods. Each has been photographed to illuminate the grandeur of the natural world. Accessible to the outdoor enthusiast, this book details the changes that have occurred over the last two centuries in Indiana's forests, including the landscape geology and physiography. The forest is celebrated as a living community, with highlights including odd forms, curious trees, and unique occurrences—many of which can still be visited today. Magnificent Trees of Indiana makes for a beautiful coffee-table gift book for any Hoosier or nature lover, walking the reader through the geologic past, into early pioneer times, and onward to the present, all while covering the history, value, and economic importance of our hardwood forests.Table of Contents Chapter 1: Past to Present Chapter 2: Landscapes of Indiana and Their Relationships to Forests Chapter 3: The Forest as a Living Community Chapter 4: Big Trees and Champions Chapter 5: Oldest of the Old: Indiana's Wondrous Old-Growth Woods Chapter 6: The Odd and Curious Chapter 7: Sheer Beauty Chapter 8: Woodland Values Chapter 9: People and Trees Chapter 10: Protecting and Sustaining Our Forest Heritage Chapter 11: Inspirations and Reflections

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Book SynopsisWith 909 recognized species of lichens, Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) is home to more of these lichenized fungi than any other national park in the United States, as well as nearly half of all species known to occur in eastern North America. There is a great deal of room for scientific exploration, inquiry, and systematic description in the realm of lichenology. In Field Guide to the Lichens of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Erin Tripp and James Lendemer take on the formidable task of creating an all-in-one resource for Park exploration, including lichen distribution maps, tools for identification, vivid photographs and illustrations, and even field notes from their own research campaigns. In the process, the authors create a touchstone for lichen taxonomy and ecology, and they inspire others—researchers as well as casual observers—to take interest in the incredible biodiversity of the Great Smoky Mountains. Biologists, botanists, visitors to the park, naturalists, and others interested in the flora and fauna of both the southern Appalachians and GSMNP will thoroughly enjoy this lovingly prepared field guide.

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Book SynopsisCovering 172 species of the most significant common grasses growing in Texas, this complete update of the now-classic Common Texas Grasses: An Illustrated Guide contains range maps and color images of the inflorescences and spikelets of each species along with the detailed, black-and-white illustrations found in the original volume.Identifying descriptive text, keys to genera and species, a checklist, and a glossary round out this standard field reference for botanists, students, and naturalists.

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Book SynopsisFlowers have played an important role in human culture and survival for thousands of years. The final products of flowers—fruits and seeds—are vitally important as food. Flowers provide bursts of color to homes and gardens and they symbolize love, sorrow, and renewal. Yet we often overlook their real purpose. Why do flowers exist and why do they have certain colors, shapes, and smells? What function does a flower have in the life and survival of the plants themselves?In nature, flowers play an essential role in improving a plant's chances of survival. Some flowers are pollinated by wind or water but most are designed to attract and reward pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, birds, and bats, to carry their pollen from flower to flower. After being pollinated, flowers produce fruits and again take advantage of wind, water, and animals to disperse their seeds, ensuring a new generation of their species.Pollination and seed dispersal are fine-tuned systems, and their importance in sustaining a healthy environment cannot be overstated. And, as ongoing climate and other environmental changes apply new pressures, flowers must continue to adapt in order to survive.In this beautifully illustrated book with over 200 stunning photographs, Michael Fogden and Patricia Fogden draw from existing research and their extensive field experiences all over the world to present a detailed but accessible introduction to the natural history of flowers. They discuss a representative sample of flowering and fruiting strategies, illustrating interactions between plants and their pollinators and dispersers, and conclude with descriptions of their favorite tropical flowers.

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Book SynopsisFrom its summits to its shores, South Carolina brims with life and unparalleled beauty thanks to its abundant array of native and naturalized flora, all carefully documented in this revised and expanded edition of A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina. Dramatic advances in plant taxonomy and ecology have occurred since the guide's publication 20 years ago; new species have been discovered while others struggle to survive in the face of vanishing habitats and climate change.The authors, all experienced botanists, offer essays on carnivorous plants, native orchids, Carolina bays, the roles and effects of fire and agriculture on the landscape, and detailed descriptions of the plant communities throughout the state's major natural regions. This expanded edition catalogs nearly 1,000 species organized by habitat, with descriptions, color photographs, range maps, and comments on pharmacological uses, suitability for garden cultivation, origin of common and scientific names, and conservation status.

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Book SynopsisFrom its summits to its shores, South Carolina brims with life and unparalleled beauty thanks to its abundant array of native and naturalized flora, all carefully documented in this revised and expanded edition of A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina. Dramatic advances in plant taxonomy and ecology have occurred since the guide's publication 20 years ago; new species have been discovered while others struggle to survive in the face of vanishing habitats and climate change.The authors, all experienced botanists, offer essays on carnivorous plants, native orchids, Carolina bays, the roles and effects of fire and agriculture on the landscape, and detailed descriptions of the plant communities throughout the state's major natural regions. This expanded edition catalogs nearly 1,000 species organized by habitat, with descriptions, color photographs, range maps, and comments on pharmacological uses, suitability for garden cultivation, origin of common and scientific names, and conservation status.

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Book SynopsisSucculents have become some of the most popular houseplants, and with good reason: they’re easy to grow…most of the time. But what happens when a plant outgrows its pot? Did you know succulents can get sunburned? How do you turn one plant into more plants? In Succulents at Home, expert gardener John Tullock addresses these questions and many more. Here, readers will learn to make the most of their plants from the how and why of soil and container choice to step-by-step instructions for repotting, propagating new succulents, and creating arrangements like terrariums and wreaths. The book is complete with a catalog of 75 species—flower-shaped echeverias, pointy haworthias, flowering kalanchoes, round mammillaria cacti, and more—which explains special care instructions for each variety. Tullock’s friendly voice and years of experience, and more than 100 color photographs, make this a must-have guide for fool-proof succulent gardening. And with a focus on growing succulents to enjoy indoors, this is a book for plant lovers in all regions and climates.

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Book SynopsisA loving look at one of the world’s most maligned, misunderstood, and fascinating insectsFamous foe of forestry professionals and despised spreader of Dutch elm disease, bark beetles have a bad reputation: the World’s Worst Forest Pests. They chew through timber profits and kill healthy trees, turning forests from carbon sinks into carbon sources. But entomologist Jiri Hulcr sees more to these evil weevils than meets the eye, and offers you a closer look—literally. With science journalist Marc Abrahams, Hulcr offers a funny and informative introduction to these under-studied and underappreciated insects. This lively book turns cutting-edge research into an enjoyable tour through the miniature world of a charming critter. Vivid macrophotography captures every aspect of bark beetle life in stunning detail, from their dramatic family stories and curiously endearing looks to their mating strategies, and the secret fungus farms where they cultivate their own “ambrosia.” You’ll learn how much we don’t know about bark beetles—and what that means for science’s attempts to control them as climate change alters their habitats. Whether you’re a scientist seeking up-to-date pest management strategies or you’re just wondering if your backyard trees are at risk, this book will help you better understand the latest discoveries in beetle symbioses, molecular biology, and ecology. But be warned: at the end of this read you may be filled with affection for these adorable and astonishing beetles.

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Book SynopsisWhat kind of tree is that? Whether you’re hiking in the woods or simply sitting in your backyard, from Maine to New York you’ll never be without an answer to that question, thanks to this handy companion to the trees of the Northeast. Featuring detailed information and illustrations covering each phase of a tree’s lifecycle, this indispensable guidebook explains how to identify trees by their bark alone—no more need to wait for leaf season. Chapters on the structure and ecology of tree bark, descriptions of bark appearance, an easy-to-use identification key, and supplemental information on non-bark characteristics—all enhanced by more than 450 photographs, illustrations, and maps—will show you how to distinguish the textures, shapes, and colors of bark to recognize various tree species, and also understand why these traits evolved. Whether you’re a professional naturalist or a parent leading a family hike, this new edition of Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast is your essential guide to the region’s 67 native and naturalized tree species.Trade Review“This reviewer always assumed that bark was too variable to use as a primary characteristic for tree identification, but natural history/tree researcher Wojtech has proven him wrong. . . . Recommended." * Choice *Table of ContentsForewordPreface1. How to Use This Field Guide2. Bark Structure3. Bark Types4. Secondary Identification Keys 1-75. Bark Ecology,6. SpeciesAcknowledgmentsSuggested ReadingBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisNo matter where you look in Australia, you're more than likely to see a eucalyptus tree. Scrawny or majestic, smooth as pearl or rough as a pub brawl, they have defined a continent for thousands of years, and they continue to shape our imagination.First Nations Australians have long known the abilities of the eucalyptus. And as part of the raft of changes wrought by the arrival of colonial Australia, botanists have battled in a race to count, classify and own the species – a battle that has lasted more than two hundred years.Gum: The Story of Eucalypts and Their Champions is the story of that battle and of so many other eucalyptographers – explorers, poets, painters, foresters, conservationists, scientists (and engine drivers) – who have also been obsessed by these trees and who have championed their powers. Gum trees have been feted as a cure for malaria, as a solution for the drainage problems that defeated the Roman emperors, as the tree that could forest the Sahara, the tree that could divine gold.This new edition of Gum, from award-winning author Ashley Hay, is a powerful and lyrical exploration of these magical, mythical, medicinal trees, and the story of new worlds, curious people and big ideas.

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Book SynopsisThe Plant Thieves reveals remarkable stories from the National Herbarium of New South Wales – its people, its archives and its most guarded specimens.Who gets to collect plants, name them, propagate them, extract their chemicals, sell them and use them? Whose knowledge is it? And what can the people that work with plants, just outside the law, teach us about plant care?In The Plant Thieves, Prudence Gibson explores the secrets of the National Herbarium of New South Wales and unearths remarkable stories of plant naming wars, rediscovered lost species, First Nations agriculture, illegal drug labs and psychoactive plant knowledge.Gibson reveals the tale of the anti-inflammatory plant that saved a herbarium manager when she was collecting in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, stories about the secret wollemi pine plantation (from one of its botanical guardians) and the truth about a beach daisy that has changed so much in 100 years that it needs to be completely reclassified. She also follows the story of the black bean Songline, a recent collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers, to find the route of this important agriculture plant.The Plant Thieves is both a lament for lost and disappearing species and a celebration of being human, of wanting to collect things and of learning more about plant life and ourselves.Trade ReviewA real treat. I found myself intrigued, amused, surprised, occasionally infuriated, but always engaged and provoked. A must read for anyone interested in plants and plant collecting (or is it thieving…)."" - Tim Entwisle""This reads like a Michael Pollan book with a feminine touch! Prue tells the hidden and too-often silenced stories of our past and present relationships with plants, inspiring hope for the future. Highly recommended."" - Monica Gagliano""This book will take you on an adventurous read through the lives of plants and their people…personal and surprising, reflecting the writer's deep curiosity and love for plants."" - Janet Laurence""Very rarely do herbaria come alive and tell stories with so much vividness as in this book by Prue Gibson. Through her sensitive writing and attentive engagement with plants, we encounter them face-to-face, face-to-surface, surface-to-surface."" - Michael Marder""Wonderful stories that bring to life fraught histories within the colonial herbarium. A journey that creates fascinating human and plant connection."" - Caroline Rothwell""Gibson threads the personal through the botanical in this stunning book about ecology, humanity and the future of our world."" - Anna Westbrook

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Book SynopsisThis book discusses traditional Maori uses of native plants of the South Island of New Zealand and traditions around them. The text describes the features and uses of each plant, listed alphabetically for quick reference. These stories of native plants of the South Island describe how Maori and Europeans grew and processed the plants, and it uncovers some surprising uses of native plants. Written by a journalist, the book is engaging, enlightening and user-friendly and is beautiful to browse and informative about native plants.

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Book SynopsisAs it ranges from the traditions of the medieval marriage bed to Renaissance paintings of the Madonna and Child, this lavishly illustrated book will entertain anyone with an interest in history, art or culture. It is full of unexpected delights that will charm the mind and invigorate the senses - just like the carnation itself.

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Book SynopsisThe CABI Encyclopedia of Forest Trees provides an extensive overview of 300 of the world's most important forest trees. Tropical, subtropical, temperate and boreal trees of major economic importance are included, covering tree species used in agroforestry practices around the world. Many of the species covered are considered to be ‘multipurpose’ trees with uses extending beyond timber alone; the land uses such as watershed protection or provision of windbreaks, and non-wood uses such as the production of medicines, resins, food and forage, are also listed. Comprehensive information is presented on each tree's importance, with a summary of the main characteristics of the species, its potential for agroforestry use and any disadvantages it possesses. The tree’s botanical features such as habit, stem form, foliage, inflorescence, flower and fruit characters and phenology are covered in detail with over 70 colour plate pictures to aid identification. Also included are specific sections devoted to pests and diseases, distribution and silvicultural characteristics and practices, including seed sowing, nursery care, planting, thinning, and harvesting. In addition to the wealth of information detailed, based on datasheets from CABI’s Forestry Compendium, selected references for further reading are provided for each entry, making this book an essential reference work for forestry students, researchers and practitioners.Table of Contents1: Alphabetical Entries 2: Index of Species

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Book SynopsisFaced with climate changes, pest pressure on plants is increasing and new pest complexes are appearing, for which plant protection solutions are not yet available. The reduction of anthropic pressure on agroecosystems requires a reduction in the use of chemical inputs and the promotion of biocontrol approaches. In this book, we present new advances on plant disease management that are emerging from research outputs. The ability of biocontrol products to directly (e.g. production of antimicrobial peptides or quorum quenching activities by microorganisms, use of plant or agro-industrial by-products as biopesticides, etc.) or indirectly (e.g. via the increase of plant defense or plant growth pathways) protect plants against pathogens and pests is also considered. We also address new strategies like the development of phage-based biocontrol products and those that consider the plant as a holobiont and plant microbiota as targets of biocontrol treatments. The important question of the current regulatory process needed to launch plant production products on the market is also addressed, such as methods to evaluate their environmental impact.Table of ContentsIntroduction xiBernard DUMAS and Claire PRIGENT-COMBARET Chapter 1 Regulatory Aspects of Biocontrol 1Diane ROBIN, Léa MERLET and Patrice MARCHAND 1.1 Regulatory definition of biocontrol 2 1.2 Current issues and limitations 3 1.3 A mixed evolution 5 1.4 Necessary evolutions 12 1.5 Conclusion 13 1.6 References 14 Chapter 2 Biological Controls in Horticulture 19Nicolas GUIBERT, Maïder SAINT JEAN, Claire PRIGENT-COMBARET, Jean-Marc DEOGRATIAS, Cécile CABASSON and Pierre PÉTRIACQ 2.1 Introduction 19 2.2 Biological controls in horticulture 24 2.3 Physiological trade-offs for growth and immunity 26 2.4 Eco-innovations and economic trade-offs 28 2.5 Challenges and perspectives 36 2.6 Concluding remarks 38 2.7 References 39 Chapter 3 Development of Omics Tools for the Assessments of the Environmental Fate and Impact of Biocontrol Agents 47Hikmat GHOSSON, Marie-Virginie SALVIA and Cédric BERTRAND 3.1 Introduction: emergence of biocontrol agents and their risks 48 3.2 Evaluation methodologies: an overview 49 3.3 Limitations of classic methodologies 50 3.4 Omics: potential tools for risks assessment? 52 3.5 Perspectives 62 3.6 List of abbreviations 63 3.7 Acknowledgments 64 3.8 References 65 Chapter 4 Plant Secondary Metabolites Mode of Action in the Control of Root-Knot Nematodes 75Nikoletta NTALLI and Pierluigi CABONI 4.1 Introduction 76 4.2 Recent research on the use of plant secondary metabolites to control Meloidogyne spp 77 4.3 Conclusion 83 4.4 References 83 Chapter 5 Agro-industrial By-products and Waste as Sources of Biopesticides 91Maria Fe ANDRES and Azucena GONZÁLEZ COLOMA 5.1 Introduction 91 5.2 Biopesticidal properties of pyrolysis products from agro-industrial waste 93 5.3 Biopesticidal properties of hydrolates: by-products of essential oil distillation 99 5.4 Biopesticidal properties of olive oil mill waste 103 5.5 Conclusion and future directives 105 5.6 Acknowledgments 107 5.7 References 107 Chapter 6 Antimicrobial and Defense Elicitor Peptides as Biopesticides for Plant Disease Control 121Emilio MONTESINOS, Esther BADOSA, Maria PLA, Laura MONTESINOS and Anna BONATERRA 6.1 Introduction 122 6.2 Peptides of microbial origin 124 6.3 Peptides from plants 130 6.4 Peptides from animals 134 6.5 Synthetic peptides 138 6.6 Biotechnological production of peptides 142 6.7 References 145 Chapter 7 Biocontrol of Plant Pathogens via Quorum Quenching 159Denis FAURE and Xavier LATOUR 7.1 Quorum quenching to counteract quorum sensing 159 7.2 Quorum sensing inhibitors 160 7.3 Quorum quenching enzymes 161 7.4 Quorum quenching biocontrol agents 162 7.5 Monitoring of quorum quenching biocontrol agents and activities 163 7.6 Biostimulation of quorum quenching 164 7.7 Management of quorum quenching treatments 165 7.8 Quorum quenching in biocontrol: perspectives 166 7.9 Acknowledgments 166 7.10 References 167 Chapter 8 Phage-mediated Biocontrol Against Plant Pathogenic Bacteria 173Fernando CLAVIJO-COPPENS, Clara TORRES-BARCELO, Mireille ANSALDI, Nicolas TAVEAU and Denis COSTECHAREYRE 8.1 Introduction 174 8.2 Bacteriophages for plant health 179 8.3 Phage-based biocontrol regulations 199 8.4 Conclusions and perspectives 201 8.5 Acknowledgments 203 8.6 References 203 Chapter 9 Microbiome-assisted Agriculture: Current Knowledge and Future Directions 217Ke YU, Hongwei LIU, Wei ZHONG and Ioannis A STRINGLIS 9.1 Introduction 217 9.2 Microbiome-mediated benefits for plants 221 9.3 Chemical cues derived from plants and microbes guide microbiome assembly 225 9.4 Plant and soil microbiome engineering 232 9.5 Concluding remarks and future perspectives 238 9.6 References 239 List of Authors 255 Index 259

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Book SynopsisThe white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus is one of the most widely cultivated mushroom species in the world. It is favored for its high nutritional value and multiple health benefits, especially by consumers interested in vegan and clean eating. This book presents fundamental guidelines for mushroom production as well as major scientific findings in this field. It covers mushroom production and trade, substrates properties, compost quality, breeding, pests and diseases, harvesting, and post-harvest technologies. With practical information on methods used by both commercial and small-scale growers, the book also addresses: The major steps of the mushroom production cycle - compost preparation, spawning, casing, pinning, cropping, and harvest. Ways to improve A. bisporus yield and quality, and disease resistance. Case studies to illustrate cultivation techniques in a range of different countries, making use of local agricultural or industrial wastes. This is a valuable resource for researchers and students in horticulture, as well as professionals and growers.Table of Contents1: General Aspects 2: Substrates for Growing A. Bisporus 3: Improvement of Compost Quality 4: Breeding of Agaricus Bisporus ; Strains, Spawns, and Impact on Yield 5: Casing and Cropping 6: Farm Design, Management of Pests and Control of Diseases 7: Harvest and Post-Harvest Technologies

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Book SynopsisThe book is a plain English guide to the use of plant names and the conventions for writing them as governed by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. It covers the naming of wild plants, plants modified by humans, why plant names change, their pronunciation and hints to help remember them. The final section provides a detailed guide to websites and published resources. Plant Names incorporates the latest information and research in the recently published Botanical and Cultivated Plant codes in an easy to read format, and offers a definitive guide to using the myriad names, including marketing names, on plant labels.Table of ContentsIntroduction: To the Codes of plant nomenclature Part 1: Wild Plants 1: Common names 2: Latin names, the binomial system and plant classification 3: The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature 4: The botanical hierarchy 5: Name changes Part 2: Cultivated Plants and Cultigens 6: The International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants 7: Marketing names (trade designations) Part 3: Using Plant Names 8: Writing Plant Names 9: Pronunciation Part 4: Plant Name Resources 10: Books and websites to help with plant names 11: Accurate lists of botanical names 12: Families 13: Genera 14: Lists of validly published names, not necessarily current 15: Floras and checklists of currently accepted plant names 16: Trademarks 17: Appendix

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Book SynopsisTowns and cities are where most of us live, work and play, and although we recognize the value of the trees standing on the corner, or in the park, or framing the cathedral, most of us are unaware that they are a vital part of our urban life-support system. Discusses what trees do for us, and traces the development of urban trees in Britain. Considers all aspects of the damaging impact of urban conditions on trees. Examines urban tree management with reference to basic principles, planning tools, species selection, and site evaluation and modification. Analyses the planting of trees in towns and cities, pruning methods, the establishment and maintenance of urban trees, and inspection, monitoring and assessment procedures. Covers tree management on streets and highways, parks, woods and other public locations, as well as in private places including homes, offices, factories and wildlife conservation sites. Summarizes the law in the UK as it relates to trees. Briefly outlines the impact of climate change on trees in urban areas and on arboriculture in general. This invaluable book is essential reading for all those who wish to discover why trees are present in our population centres, how urban life in Britain has engulfed them in the last 200 years, why life is so difficult for urban trees, what their role is, and how we should care for them and include them in our urban future.Trade ReviewNicely illustrated, written in an easy style by a practicing arboriculturalist who knows his stuff. Urban Trees has all the chapters you would expect: how trees grow, problems faced by trees and how to plant and look after them. It also covers the development of towns and how this has affected trees, and what to consider when planning new trees planting. It covers just 174 pages and so is fairly limited in its depth. It’s nicely illustrated, written in an easy style by a practicing arboriculturalist who knows his stuff, and so will be a popular science book for those urbanites who have a general interest in the trees around them. As such, while it is an interesting book, it has limited value for ecologists. -- Peter Thomas * Bulletin of the British Ecological Society *

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Book SynopsisThis book is a practical, compact guide for the identification of common tropical and subtropical ornamental plants by flower colour. It is intended for anyone who is interested in plants and would like to get to know the attractive flowering plants of warm regions while travelling. Certainly everyone in a foreign country has at some point admired a particularly exotic flower and wished to know which plant it is. With appealing photos and comprehensible texts, this book provides the answer - quickly and easily. The author is an experienced tour guide and is regularly asked for eye-catching, ornamental plants on the way. She photographed the frequently requested plants and arranged them according to colour in this nature guide. This book is also suitable for beginners without previous botanical knowledge due to its illustrations and simple sorting.Table of ContentsForeword.- Introduction.- Yellow flowers.- Orange flowers.- Red flowers.- Pink flowers.- Blue flowers.- White flowers.- Appendix.

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Book SynopsisAn easy-to-use Jamaican nature guide, identifying over 400 species and containing over 160 colour photographs and 250 line drawings. The text is designed to give botanists and the more casual observer an opportunity to become familiar with the plants that grow in the Blue Mountain Range. This guide fosters a deeper understanding of the unique beauty and diversity of the mountain forest. More than fifty percent of the plants described in the book occur only in the Blue Mountain Forests of Jamaica and nowhere else in the world. The Blue Mountain Forests are currently threatened by agricultural activities, particularly on the southern slopes, and many of the unique species described in the book are threatened with extinction.

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Book SynopsisThe Genera of Orchidaceae in Hong Kong is a handy reference for both amateurs and professional botanists in Asia who wish to enter the field of modern orchidology. Orchid appreciation is an art deeply rooted in Asian cultures. But in 1977, when this book was first published, orchidology as a science was new to people there. The technical vocabulary was unfamiliar and the subject matter difficult to understand. Therefore, this volume was intended as a general, easy-to-use reference book, with illustrations of the basic structure of orchids and their habit and habitat clearly described in Chapter I.The book may also be used as a self-help guide for naturalists and gardeners in Hong Kong who wish to identify an orchid new to them. In Chapter II, keys, descriptions, and illustrations are given to allow the reader to look up and gain information about individual orchid species. Chapter III provides an analysis of the composition and an interpretation of the phytogeographic significance of the Orchidaceae in Hong Kong. Finally, Chapter IV helps the reader to understand and remember the Latinized names of orchids by providing an explanation on the origin and meaning of the generic names. This book is a facsimile reprint of the 1977 edition, which was published at a time when no comprehensive account of the genera of the orchids of Hong Kong had ever been attempted. Even after many decades, this volume remains the essential reference on orchid species growing in Hong Kong. This commemorative edition features a new foreword and a chronology of Professor Hu's major life events.Table of Contents Foreword to the Commemorative Edition by David T W Lau Foreword by Gordon W Dillon Preface by L B Thrower Introduction I The Basic Features Of The Orchids In Hong Kong Habit and Habitat 1 Terrestrial Orchids 2 Epiphytes 3 Symbiosis Root Stem Leaves Inflorescence Flowers Fruit Seed and Seedling II Keys and Descriptions Keys to the Subfamilies, Tribes, and Genera Descriptions of Genera with Illustrations and Keys to the Species III Composition and Phytogeographic Significance Systemic Summary Analysis of the Composition 1 Generic Affinity with the Orchids of China 2 Morphological Diversity 3 Small Species and Poor Populations 4 Alphabetic List of the Species Phytogeographic Significance 1 Indication of a Rich Flora and a Favorable Area 2 Reference for Floristic Relationships 3 Endemism at the Species Level Conclusion IV Origin and Meaning of the Generic Names of Hong Kong Orchids Glossary Bibliography Index Major Life Events of Professor Shiu-ying Hu

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Book SynopsisThis beautifully illustrated guide presents a carefully curated collection of 20 plant species native to Hong Kong, with scientific, detailed pen and ink illustrations and morphological descriptions, providing important reference materials for species authentication. Of the 20 species selected, 15 are rare and endangered species, making this guide of special importance for plant preservation in Hong Kong, as well as for botanists, plant lovers, and illustrators. This is the first volume of Shiu?Ying Hu Herbarium Scientific Illustration Series.Trade ReviewWith its numerous beautiful botanical illustrations and informative details of plant morphological features, this book is a remarkable addition to Hong Kong's botanical science collection and flora conservation work. Through this novel approach in integrating botanical knowledge in STEAM education, this book will open the eyes of our citizens, especially the younger generation, and raise their interest and awareness in plants, and contribute to promoting biodiversity conservation in Hong Kong.""-Jenny Y. Y. LAU, Curator of Hong Kong Herbarium, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department""To see these beautiful illustrations, the photos and the commentary about the plants that accompany them makes us wish that all of the rich and diverse flora of Hong Kong could be treated similarly.""-David E. Boufford, Senior Research Scientist, Harvard University Herbaria & Editorial Committee Member of Flora of ChinaTable of Contents Alsophila spinulosa (Wall. ex Hook.) R. M. Tryon Illicium dunnianum Tutcher Michelia chapensis Dandy Artabotrys hongkongensis Hance Paris polyphylla var. chinensis (Franch.) H. Hara Iris speculatrix Hance Rhodoleia championii Hook. Dalbergia assamica Benth. Dalbergia candenatensis (Dennst.) Prain Polygala hongkongensis Hemsl. Artocarpus hypargyreus Hance ex Benth. Sapindus saponaria L. Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng. Lysimachia alpestris Champ. ex Benth. Camellia oleifera C. Abel Rhododendron simsii Planch. Pavetta hongkongensis Bremek. Oroxylum indicum (L.) Benth. ex Kurz Ilex rotunda var. microcarpa (Lindl. ex Paxton) S. Y. Hu Eleutherococcus trifoliatus (L.) S. Y. Hu

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Book SynopsisFlora of Madeira is the first book to describe fully all of the vascular plants of the Madeiran and Salvage Islands. It covers over 1360 species of native and naturalized plants, many of them little known. A high proportion of taxa, some 16%, are endemic to the islands themselves or are restricted to Macaronesia (the collective name for the archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira, Salvages, Canaries and Cape Verdes). Isolated from other land-masses, the Madeiran islands are botanically rich and diverse, and the rugged and beautiful landscape embraces a broad range of habitats. Madeira also contains the most extensive remaining areas of laurisilva, the evergreen forest which is the last representative of the ancient Tethyan forests of S. Europe and N. Africa. The remote Salvage Islands have a smaller but equally interesting flora. Flora provides descriptions and keys for taxa at all levels, as well as information on habitats, distributions and flowering times. Local names are also cited. Fifty-seven plates of original drawings illustrate 212 of the Madeiran and Macaronesian endemic taxa, some of them depicted for the first time. Introductory chapters describe the geography of the islands, the main vegetation types and the extensive measures being implemented to conserve this unique flora. Flora of Madeira is the only fully comprehensive publication on the wild flora of the Madeiran and Salvage Islands, for use as both a reference work and a field guide. This book is a digital reprint of ISBN 0-11-310017-5 (1994).

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