How To Identify Plants

I am NOT a botanist by profession but have a strong interest in plants and have worked as a naturalist in a number of National Park Service areas, including Yosemite (YOSE) and Chiricahua Nat'l. Mon., and I do a lot of photography of plants. Being able to ID them in the field using a guide or flora is often necessary for accurate notes. My vocabulary has always been "shaky." I was first introduced to an earlier printing of this book by a fellow naturalist at YOSE, Marilyn H. (I'm forever thankful to her for that!), and it made using "Munz" (the most modern of the CA floras then) easier as the vocabulary in "Munz" was very complete, sometimes painfully so. (I said I was NOT a pro!) It was much easier to use it with "Munz" than by continually going to the back of "Munz" to look up the glossary. Harrington's neat book was not only useful but also easily carried in a day pack or camera bag.What I've just said about that earlier printing is just as valid for this one! The size is slightly different but it still easily fits into both day pack and camera bag. The book is simply a reprinting of the original but now it is readily AVAILABLE again. Some might consider the illustrations simplistic BUT, once reading the definition of a word, you can see the the feature defined is OBVIOUS... that is what I want! Tell me and show me... YES!!!You can tell how much I go to my old copy by how many pages are loose from the binding... hey, I've had it since 1973 and it is an oft-used paperback! In the past, whenever I've seen it in a used bookstore I've bought a copy or two to be given away to friends whose botanical vocabulary needs tweaking, like mine. I love this book, used it very often, and am thrilled that Ohio Univ. Press has reprinted it. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!

This is a book written for college-level field courses (as well as the independent naturalist). First published in 1957, this is the 1985 edition, so some of it may be out-dated. However, this book contains excellent information about what questions to ask when examining plants and how to use keys. Lots and lots of vocabulary terms are defined, and both common and scientific names of plants are given. I recommend it.

From the copyright date, this book was written in the fifties. The quality of the black and white photos is consistent with this guess, as is the rather pedantic style. There are also chapters on the structure of the nomenclature system, which is probably already well-known by most of the likely readers, and on how to collect plants, which may not be a good idea these days, at least for the rarer species.For $6 more, I'd go for the similar book by James/Melinda Harris. More focussed; better illustrations; less pedantic style.

This book does a great job of defining terminology which makes using a plant key for identification much easier!

A bit obtuse and illustrations are difficult to understand in some places, but otherwise a good book.

Great book. Very thorough and informative. Got it for school and love it...

This is a great educational book. It is clearly written, with many pictures which will help me figure out plant species for the rest of my inquisitive life.

I have the original version. The new updated font is more pleasing to look at. The old version looks like an old type written essay.

I wish I knew about this before my plant ID class begun, but I am so glad to have it now. It’s a must need for us Horticulture students.

Giod