What's your favourite non-gardening plant book (and why)? For myself, it's the Lichens of North America by Brodo and the Sharnoffs. I love the photographs and it does an excellent job showing the diversity of these oft-unnoticed critters. It's also so heavy it makes me feel smarter just by toting it around.
I recently discovered "Botany In A Day----The Patterns Method of Plant Identification" by Thomas J. Elpel. It has a logical, simple format, introducing plants by their families and unique characteristics. Good for beginners, and for those with more knowledge as well. Also, I frequently consult my Peterson's "Wildflowers". I like the way it is organized by flower color. Works for me! Finally, I must mention a small, elderly book that has been my companion for a long, long time. "A Guide To Wild Flowers---Field Flowers" by T.H. Everett, published in 1945.This is the book that first showed me pokeweed and yarrow, and where I learned that those "weeds" in the yard were plantain, and chicory, and Queen-Anne's Lace.
Lugging cumbersome objects around is a sign of intelligence? Then I've done some very smart things in my day. The manual or monograph that helps me accurately identify a found plant I am trying to name or resolve some similar question about wild or cultivated plants becomes my favorite for that moment.
My current favourite is : " Flowering Plant Families of the World" by VH Heywood and others (2007) published by the Royal Botanic Garedns, Kew. A review of 506 flowering plant families in 424 pages. Obviously the treatment of each family is a bit synoptic, but it is packed with fascinating information and some great drawings/paintings. It is also great to have such an authoritative book to hand. Since I got it in May, this book has travelled around the house with me - but has never been closed....currently open at the Cistaceae ! Ciao BrianO
Pojar and MacKinnon- Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast, and Parish, Coupe, & Lloyd- Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia and the Inland Northwest. I use these extensively to identify plants on our various camping, hiking, and kayaking trips. I have to admit I also use them as gardening books when trying to place native plants in the landscape as well, as the information on ecology often tells me how to please that plant.
