Newcomb's Wildflower Guide
by Lawrence Newcomb
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Book Summary Information
Author: Lawrence NewcombIllustrator: Gordon Morrison
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1989-04-13
ISBN: 0316604429
Number of pages: 490
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Book Reviews of Newcomb's Wildflower Guide
Book Review: THE Definitive Guide for the NE Quadrant of the United States
Summary: 5 Stars
Newcomb's Wildflower Guide has been around for quite some time and is still a popular seller. Why? Because no one has developed a wildflower guide that works better. If you live in the area bounded on the west by Wisconsin and the south by Tennessee, this is the finest guide you'll find.
The intro to the book includes detailed descriptions of plant physiology to help users understand the basic rules used to distinguish wildflower forms. Employing a five-question user query system, the guide uses the process of elimination based on forms to direct users to one or two pages that contain the correct plant. The questions are primarily based on the number of petals in the flowers, shape of the flowers, types of flower heads, flower colors, and arrangement of leaves and their shapes. The pages that contain the desired wildflower give further descriptions of the flower, along with the formal (and informal) name, Latin name, growing location and environment, blooming season, plant size, and the plant family name.
PROS:
+ The query system really works.
+ The beautiful line illustrations (some in color) simplify the look of the plant for users, resulting in more accurate identification than photographs.
+ The guide is a convenient size for carrying into the field.
+ A ruler is included on the opening page, handy for checking sizes.
+ Because it is so accurate when used properly, it can replace the need for multiple guides, making it an outstanding value.
CONS:
- The query system is only as good as a user's understanding of the wildflower form definitions laid out in the "Explanation of Basic Terms" section of the guide. If the user confuses the terms or encounters a plant that seems to straddle forms, the query system becomes more hit or miss.
- Users in parts of the United States outside the northeast quadrant are out of luck because the guide does not cover the entire country (though it doesn't claim to).
- The guide has a standard trade paperback cover, making it less durable than the reinforced, plasticized covers found on other field guides.
Once a user has used the guide for a while, it becomes second nature. Anyone can feel like a professional botanist in no time. For those who are serious about wildflower identification, Newcomb's is THE guide to own.
Summary of Newcomb's Wildflower Guide
Lawrence Newcomb's system of identification on wild flowers is based on natural structural features that are easily visible to the untrained eye and enables amateurs and experts to identify almost any wildflower quickly and accurately.Flowers Books
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