Product Description

This revised edition of the popular field guide provides a color photograph and gives family name, scientific name, common name, and a general description for each of more than 180 species of trees, shrubs, and sub-shrubs and more than twenty species of cactus common to the fourteen southernmost counties of Texas. The book contains twelve species not included in the previous edition, plus newly updated information. It describes frequently encountered species as well as many rare or endangered species, and native plants as well as introduced plants that have escaped cultivation and are reproducing in the wild. The text accompanying each plant's photograph includes not only a general description of the plant and its habit, but also its geographical range; a brief description of the habitat in which it can be found; its value and uses, if any, by wildlife and livestock; and, other distinguishing ecological characteristics. Most of the plants were photographed at either the flowering or fruiting stage so that they might be more easily recognized. Although only fourteen counties of South Texas are represented, the extensive ranges of many of the included species make this book a useful reference for plants in other areas of Texas, the southwestern United States, and Northern Mexico. This publication will be useful to ranchers and ranch managers, scientists, and anyone else interested in the flora of southern Texas. Information gleaned from this book will contribute to sound land management programs.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2081758 in Books
• Published on: 1992-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 216 pages

Customer Reviews

OK
This guide book devotes a page to each species treated, with half the page taken up by a color picture of a flowering or fruiting specimen of the species in question. On the same page some data are given. Arranged by family (look for Leguminosae under Fabaceae, Buddleja under Loganiaceae, etc). Picture quality varies from pretty decent to quite good, although it is noticeable that a curious grid tends to be visible in the background (a digital camera?). Some pictures are a little overexposed. Occasionally the composition could be better (sometimes a lot better). Text seems unremarkable, but the choice to include author citations in the botanical names has not been followed up by doing this properly (needs a lot of work). Synonyms are provided. The "Trees" in the title should be taken to include a palm; the "Shrubs" is meant in the widest possible sense (including subshrubs and smaller stuff) and this goes for "Cacti" too (= "succulents"). Printing quality is just short of excellent. All in all this is OK, but unremarkable.

Disappointing photos
With half of each page dedicated to a photograph of the species, there should be no excuse for not providing an excellent, high quality photograph. Most of the photographs are grainy and washed out. Several photographs lack depth of field needed to key in on leaf or flower characteristics. There are better south Texas guides out there.

Good as far as it goes
This book is a graet resource if you live on the Texas-Mexico border. Unfortunately, it is supposed to cover South Texas. Inside, the book reveals it covers 14 of the southernmost counties in Texas, along the border. There are 254 counties in Texas, and I expected a book on South Texas to cover a lot more. Very disappointing and misleading, but good for border dwellers.