Product Description

Pennsylvania, a state of diverse geography and geology, is rich in flora. The Plants of Pennsylvania provides a means of positively identifying the more than 3,000 species of flowering plants, ferns, and gymnosperms native or naturalized in the Commonwealth.

The manual includes keys to families, genera, and species; extensive diagnostic illustrations; scientific and common names; and data on distribution ranges, relative frequency, rare and endangered species, blooming and fruiting periods; with taxonomic notes and an illustrated glossary. The information meticulously reflects the plants as represented in Pennsylvania and is derived from specimens collected within the state.

Developed in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Flora Database project, and compiled by botanists at the Morris Arboretum, the official arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, The Plants of Pennsylvania is an authoritative, accessible guide to Pennsylvania's plant life. It will be indispensable to taxonomists, conservationists, ecologists, foresters, land planners, teachers, agricultural county agents, students, and amateur naturalists.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #529655 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1056 pages

Review

"Finally, an illustrated guide to the flora of Pennsylvania written by highly respected authorities! A highly technical but user-friendly manual; every serious amateur and professional naturalist in Pennsylvania will want a copy."—Larry J. Schweiger, President, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, commenting on the first edition

"Indispensable. . . . It covers all of Pennsylvania's vascular plants. . . . In addition to its usefulness in teaching, this book is a vital research tool. . . . Gardeners, amateur botanists, and naturalists will find The Plants of Pennsylvania to be practical, accessible, and a joy to use."—Rhodora

About the Author
At the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, Ann Rhoads is Senior Scientist of the Pennsylvania Flora Project, Timothy Block is Director of Botany, and Anna Anisko is Botanical Illustrator. They are coauthors of The Trees of Pennsylvania: A Complete Reference Guide, also available from the University of Pennsylvania Press.

Customer Reviews

Hard-core Taxonomy
Plants of Pennsylvania is an exhaustive taxonomy of the fauna of the keystone state. Both native and introduced species are included. It is not light reading, but as a reference it is excellent.

The cover artwork is not representative of the text, which contains only line drawings of good quality. The book is well indexed, by both scientific and common names, and probably is the best entrance point for most readers. I found the glossary particularly helpful. It has illustrations and definitions of hundreds of mostly obscure botanical terms that a few of us forgot and most of us never learned.