200 Conspicuous, Unusual, or Economically Important Tropical Plants of the Caribbean  •  John Kingsbury FIELD GUIDE •  1988 •  PAPER  • 220 PAGES A general purpose plant identification guide to Caribbean shores, also useful for subtropical Florida. Written for a popular audience, it features color photographs and short descriptions. (CRB01, $20.00)
Ancient Forests, Discovering Nature  •  Margaret Anderson NATURAL HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 40 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A workbook on the ecology and folklore of the old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest, this book features 16 activities geared for children ages 9-12. (ALA67, $5.95)
Baja California Plant Field Guide  •  Norman C. Roberts FIELD GUIDE •  1989 •  PAPER  • 309 PAGES Indispensable for plant identification. With hundreds of color photographs illustrating commonly encountered plants, this excellent field guide also includes short introductory chapters on the botanic areas of Baja California as well as its geology and climate. We can't imagine a walk through the deserts of Baja California without this book in hand. (BJA05, $24.95)
Biology of Plants  •  Peter Raven NATURAL HISTORY •  2005 •  HARD COVER  • 875 PAGES This is the sort of textbook that you'll drag from the shelves and pore over. It's an elegantly written, illustrated overview of plants, covering physiology, anatomy, ecology and evolution. (NAT09, $140.60)
The Botany of Desire  •  Michael Pollan NATURAL HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 271 PAGES Four marvelous essays on four plants, all with the common theme of how well each has manipulated humans for its benefit. The plants are: the apple, the tulip, the potato, and marijuana. Pollan's writing is beautiful, and the apple essay alone -- you'll never think of Johnny Appleseed in the same way! -- is as satisfying an essay as we've read in a long time. Two of these pieces (potato, marijuana) were originally published in the New York Times Magazine. (NAT56, $15.00)
Coastal Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest  •  Elizabeth Horn FIELD GUIDE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 179 PAGES From British Columbia to northern California, this is a handy photo-identification guide to coastal shrubs and wildflowers. It's divided into five habitats and organized by plant family. With 200 photographs. (PNW15, $14.00)
The Compact Guide to the Wildflowers of the Rockies  •  Dana Bush FIELD GUIDE •  1990 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES A palm-sized guide featuring watercolor illustrations of 100 species of wildflowers commonly encountered in the Rocky Mountains. Designed for easy use in the field, it classifies the plants according to habitat and elevation, and explains some of their identifying characteristics. (USW10, $7.95)
Costa Rican Natural History  •  Daniel Janzen NATURAL HISTORY •  1983 •  PAPER  • 832 PAGES A thorough, prize-winning source reader on all aspects of the natural history of Costa Rica as edited by the iconoclast ecologist Daniel Janzen. This hefty book contains review articles by 174 contributors on birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, geology, climate, ecology and vegetation. It's illustrated, remarkably well written -- and rewarding for the serious general reader. While its audience is tropical ecologists working in Costa Rica, many of the plants and animals described exist throughout Central America. The format of the book invites selective reading on areas of particular interest. The species-by-species accounts are especially recommended. (CAM05, $49.00)
Darwin's Dreampond, Drama in Lake Victoria  •  Tijs Goldschmidt NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 274 PAGES A fortuitous combination of solid science and vivid travel writing, this book is Goldschmidt's account of his field work at Lake Victoria, and especially of his work on the ecology and evolution of the cichlid fishes. (EAF53, $27.00)
Favorite Wildflowers of the Great Lakes and the Northeastern U.S.  •  Richard E. Schinkel FIELD GUIDE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 217 PAGES A compact guide to common wildflowers of the region with 100 color illustrations and non-technical information about each species. (GLK03, $16.95)
Field Guide to Alaskan Wildflowers  •  Verna Pratt FIELD GUIDE •  1990 •  PAPER  • 136 PAGES This convenient guide features 248 full-color photographs of the most common Alaskan flowers, trees and shrubs, color-coded for easy reference. Slim and easy to carry. (ALA40, $15.95)
A Field Guide to Medicinal and Useful Plants of the Upper Amazon  •  James L. Castner  •  Stephen L. Timme  •  James A. Duke FIELD GUIDE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 154 PAGES This photographic guide to identification focuses on the practical uses of common plants of the tropical forest. Many of the 120 species illustrated and described grow along the Medicinal Plant Trail at ACEER outside Iquitos. (AMZ39, $38.00)
A Field Guide to the Cascades and Olympics  •  Stephen Whitney FIELD GUIDE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES A compact field guide to 600 species of plants and animals found in Washington's Cascades and Olympics, featuring 36 color and 53 black-and-white plates. It's also a good field guide for the entire region. (PNW20, $19.95)
A Field Guide to the Grand Canyon  •  Stephen Whitney FIELD GUIDE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 268 PAGES A compact guide to the natural history of the Grand Canyon with 71 handsome color plates, maps and illustrations. Bring it along. (USW06, $19.95)
A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona  •  Anne Orth Epple  •  Lewis Epple FIELD GUIDE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 350 PAGES A comprehensive photographic field guide to the flora of Arizona covering all the state's habitats, from the deserts and grasslands to the mountains. With nearly 1,000 color photos, it covers wildflowers, cacti, trees and other plant-life, and is color-coded for easy reference. (SWU60, $24.95)
Flowering Plant Families of the World  •  V.H. Heywood FIELD GUIDE •  2007 •  HARD COVER  • 335 PAGES An illustrated overview of systemic botany, this book covers the range, distribution, classifications and economic use of 300 plant families. With maps, descriptive information and beautifully rendered color illustrations of leaves, flowers and seeds. An excellent reference. (NAT08, $59.95)
Flowers of the Pacific Island Seashore  •  W. Arthur Whistler FIELD GUIDE •  1993 •  HARD COVER  • 154 PAGES A photographic field guide to the seaside plants found throughout the Pacific islands, including Tonga, Samoa, Tahiti, the Cook Islands, Fiji and Micronesia. A fine companion for botanically interested sailors in the region. With an island-by-island checklist. (PAC20, $19.00)
The Forgotten Peninsula, A Naturalist in Baja California  •  Joseph Wood Krutch NATURAL HISTORY •  1986 •  PAPER  • 277 PAGES A classic portrait and celebration of the plants, landscapes and history of Baja Naturalist Ann Zwinger called this book "a delightful narrative of natural history exploration at its best." It's a classic. (BJA01, $17.95)
Galapagos, A Natural History  •  Michael H. Jackson NATURAL HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 316 PAGES • BEST SELLER • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE This comprehensive overview of the habitats, plants, birds, and animals of the islands, written with the curious visitor in mind, is practically mandatory reading. It's the single best overview of the archipelago. Jackson also includes a useful bibliography, wildlife checklists and a list of plants by vegetation zone. Illustrated with many charts and maps, we refer to the book often. (GPS03, $29.95)
Gathering the Desert  •  Gary Paul Nabhan NATURAL HISTORY •  1985 •  PAPER  • 209 PAGES An ecologist with a particular interest in the origins of foodstuffs, Nabhan interweaves ethnography, biochemistry, natural history and journalism to document traditional uses of 12 Sonoran desert plants: the creosote bush, palm, mescal, sandfood, organpipe cactus, amaranth, tepary bean, chile, devil's claw, panicgrass, and wild gourds. (USW120, $19.95)
The Green Pharmacy  •  James A. Duke NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 507 PAGES An A to Z catalog of ailments and the herbal remedies that heal them. Full of facts on the ecology and traditional uses of medicinal plants by a leading ethnobotanist who has conducted much of his research in the Upper Amazon of Peru. Each chapter begins with an anecdote of an encounter with a patient and leads to easy "how-to" instructions for treating the health condition. The chapters cover minor and serious complaints, ranging from bad breath to depression, high cholesterol to wrinkles, morning sickness to viral infections. (AMZ40, $19.95)
In the Land of the Blue Poppies, The Collected Plant Hunting Writings of Frank Kingdon-Ward  •  Frank Kingdon-Ward  •  Tom Christopher  •  Jamaica Kincaid ANTHOLOGY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 242 PAGES An anthology of the plant hunting adventures of the intrepid Frank Kingdon-Ward (1885-1958) as presented by Tom Christopher. The collection communicates all Kingdon-Ward's excitement of discovery at the turn of the century in Tibet, China, Burma and Southeast Asia. A geographical explorer as well as horticulturist, Kingdon Ward writes of the people, landscapes and experiences trekking in the Himalayas. (ASA35, $19.00)
An Island Called California, An Ecological Introduction to Its Natural Communities  •  Elna S. Bakker NATURAL HISTORY •  1984 •  PAPER  • 484 PAGES An introduction to the ecology and wildlife of the Golden State, this volume is filled with photographs illustrating a variety plants, animals and geological features found throughout the deserts, forests and coastline of California. (CAL11, $22.95)
Mac's Field Guide to Northern California Wildflowers  •  Craig MacGowan FIELD GUIDE •  PLASTIC CARD This double-sided, laminated card features color drawings of the wildflowers commonly found in northern California. It's waterproof and small enough (7.5" by 11.5") to slip into your backpack. (CAL05, $4.95)
Mac's Field Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, Trees and Wildflowers  •  Craig MacGowan  •  Gary McCue FIELD GUIDE •  1999 •  PLASTIC CARD This double-sided, laminated card features color drawings of the trees and wildflowers commonly found in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. It's waterproof and small enough (7.5" by 11.5") to slip into your backpack. (USW194, $4.95)
Magical Mushrooms, Mischievous Molds  •  George W. Hudson NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES This engaging book, based on Hudson's plant pathology course at Cornell, focuses on man and mold. He trots out the usual story of the miracle of penicillin (a fungus, of course) but also includes a catalog of hallucinogens, deadly poisons and disaster along with a good dose of biology. (NAT10, $22.95)
Maui's Floral Splendor  •  Angela Kay Kepler FIELD GUIDE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES A beautiful and very useful book, slim yet extremely informative. Kepler is a prolific Hawaiian naturalist, writer, and photographer, and here shows pictures of over 350 species of native and introduced plants. Flowers are organized by color for easy identification. While focused on Maui, the book serves as a terrific introduction to plants throughout the islands. (HWI30, $16.75)
My Favorite Plant, Writers and Gardeners on the Plants They Love  •  Jamaica Kincaid ANTHOLOGY •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 329 PAGES An anthology of essays on plants and gardening from contemporary authors as well as luminaries of the past. Compiled by Caribbean writer and gardener Jamaica Kincaid, this eclectic mix of pieces shares a common passion for the flora of the world. This handsome, little book features selections by (among many others) D.H. Lawrence, Colette, William Carlos Williams, as well as Czech playwright Karol Capek and editor of "Horticulture" magazine Graham Thomas. (GEN126, $20.00)
My Island and I, The Nature of the Caribbean  •  Alfonso Silva Lee  •  Alexis Lago NATURAL HISTORY •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 32 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A colorful book for young children (ages 4 to 8) about the environment and biodiversity of the Caribbean islands. A pleasant look at the interaction of living things within their natural environment, accompanied by 36 watercolor illustrations. (CRB171, $15.95)
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Western Region  •  Richard Spellenburg  •  National Audubon Society FIELD GUIDE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 862 PAGES A photographic field guide to 654 species of wildflowers found from the Mississippi to California and Alaska. Recently revised it contains 941 color photographs, short descriptions and an identification key. (USW406, $19.95)
Naturalist's Big Bend, An Introduction to the Trees, Shrubs, Wildflowers, Mammals, Birds, Reptiles  •  Roland H. Wauer FIELD GUIDE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 149 PAGES A guide to commonly encountered plants and animals of Big Bend by the park's former chief naturalist with wildlife checklists, good descriptive information on the park and an extensive bibliography. Since it has few illustrations and most of those in black-and-white, the book is most useful as an introduction to the natural history of the park. (USW82, $15.95)
One River, Explorations and Discoveries in the Amazon  •  Wade Davis TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 537 PAGES Wade Davis has written a lyrical, meticulously researched book of discovery. One River is both a biography of his mentor, the director of the Harvard botanical museum Richard Schultes, and the story of his own botanical adventures throughout South America with colleague Tim Plowman. It's a sprawling tale of explorers, botanical secrets, and larger-than-life personalities. This unconventional book is, in part, a testimonial to Schultes, a legendary teacher and explorer who single-handedly created the discipline of ethnobotany. More than that, it's a magnificently written chronicle of five decades of botanical exploration (including some pretty wild experiments with native hallucinogens). (AMZ22, $17.00)
Orchid Fever, A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust, and Lunacy  •  Eric Hansen NATURAL HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES Any book that begins with someone hurling from the forest canopy after an encounter with a pit viper can't be all bad. Hansen ("Stranger in the Forest," "Motoring with Mohammed") brings his usual wit, spirit and insight to this latest effort. Largely set in Borneo (where he has been visiting for a decade), the book zigzags from tropical jungle to botanic gardens, convention halls and nurseries in pursuit of orchids. Although you don't have to be interested in these sexy flowers to enjoy the book, it wouldn't hurt. (GEN112, $13.95)
Plant Life in the World's Mediterranean Climates  •  Paul Dallman NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 210 PAGES Richly illustrated, clearly written and engaging, this book is an ecological overview of the landscapes, plants and vegetation types found in Mediterranean climates. It's an eye-opening guide to California, Chile, South Africa, Australia and -- naturally -- the Mediterranean. (MED21, $34.95)
Plants and Animals of the Pacific Northwest  •  Eugene Kozloff FIELD GUIDE •  1978 •  PAPER  • 264 PAGES This convenient guide is an excellent single-volume introduction to the natural history of coastal Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. Divided by habitat, it covers plant life in detail with some information on associated invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians and a few mammals. With hundreds of color photographs of the flora and fauna of the region, this is an essential handbook for the serious naturalist and good browsing for those with a more casual interest. (PNW10, $35.00)
Plants of the Gods: Their Sacred, Healing and Hallucinogenic Powers  •  Richard Evans Schultes  •  Albert Hofmann NATURAL HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES An illuminating guide to indigenous peoples and their use of hallucinogenic plants, co-authored by the father of ethnobotany and discoverer of LSD. With hundreds of photographs, maps and drawings, it documents the ecology, chemistry, and especially the social history of hallucinogens. Excellent. (AMZ38, $29.95)
Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska  •  Andy MacKinnon  •  Jim Pojar FIELD GUIDE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 528 PAGES For those with wide-ranging botanical interest, we recommend this terrific handbook to nearly 800 species of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, ferns, mosses and lichens. It features over 1,100 color photographs, and 1000 line drawings, color range maps, and a keys to identifying the plants in each family. Revised edition (PNW02, $24.95)
Rain Forest Revealed  •  DK Publishing EXPLORATION •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 48 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A colorful illustrated children's guide to the plant and animal life of tropical rainforests, featuring transparent pages that allow young readers to explore the subject from many angles. (NAT66, $12.99)
Rainforest Remedies: One Hundred Healing Herbs of Belize  •  Michael J. Balick  •  Rosita Arvigo NATURAL HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 255 PAGES An ethnobotanist who has lived and worked in Central and South America, Balick and co-author Arvigo present 100 traditional herbs of Belize along with the culture and lore surrounding their use in traditional medicine. Each is accompanied by a black-and-white line drawing. Balick is also the author of Plants, People and Culture (AMZ37), an excellent overview of the science of ethnobotany. (BLZ10, $15.95)
Rocky Mountain Wildflowers  •  John J. Craighead FIELD GUIDE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 277 PAGES A Peterson guide to 590 species of wildflowers, with both line drawings and a section of color photographs. Each species is thoroughly described with information on range and habitat, as well as "interesting facts." A classic first published in 1963, this book is a good choice for travelers from Northern Arizona and New Mexico to British Columbia. With a focus on family and genus, the book includes the most conspicuous and commonly encountered flowers. (USW41, $21.00)
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker: Traveller and Plant Collector  •  Raymond Desmond BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1999 •  HARD COVER  • 286 PAGES A marvelously illustrated biography of the Victorian explorer and botanist featuring dozens of color and black-and-white photographs and engravings. In addition to plant collecting in the Himalayas, Hooker accompanied Sir James Clark Ross to the Antarctic (1839-1843), explored the Middle East and traveled to the American West. This handsome book, published in conjunction with an exhibition at Kew Gardens, includes excerpts from his "Himalayan Journals" along with many drawings, engravings and lithographs. (GEN79, $49.50)
A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf  •  John Muir BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1998 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES A vivid portrait of post-Civil War South. This slim book is the diary of 28-year-old Muir. It is the record of a botanical expedition along the eastern seaboard south to Florida -- and a good introduction to this popular writer. It includes a long chapter on the swamps and forests of Florida. Although he scatters botanical information throughout the book, it is really the story of a wonderful adventure. (FLA09, $11.95)
The Tulip  •  Anna Pavord HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 296 PAGES In Holland, the tulip is not just another flower; it's a national obsession. Pavord traces the history of the magnificent flower through the last few hundred years, with stories about how much it was treasured and her own reflections on its beauty. With 150 color plates. (NTH21, $14.95)
Why Big Fierce Animals are Rare, An Ecologist's Perspective  •  Paul Colinvaux NATURAL HISTORY •  1988 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES A classic published more than 20 years ago, these essays illuminate basic ecological questions of the distribution and abundance of plants and animals. (NAT14, $19.95)
Wild Plants of the Pueblo Province, Exploring Ancient and Enduring Uses  •  William Dunmire  •  Gail Tierney FIELD GUIDE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES A plant ecologist and an anthropologist teamed up to write this accessible guide to the diverse plant communities of the Pueblo people, a rich source of information on the plants and human ecology of the high deserts and mountains of New Mexico and surrounding regions. With a laminated paper cover and sturdy spine, this book is meant to be taken in the field. With color landscape photos and individual drawings of 60 important plants. (USW09, $22.50)
Wildflowers of Britain and Europe, Compact Guide  •  W. Lippert  •  D. Podlech FIELD GUIDE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 252 PAGES A compact photographic guide to British and European wildflowers, covering 350 of the most commonly encountered species. Flowers are organized by color for easy identification. Enclosed in a clear plastic cover. (EUR46, $19.99)
Wildflowers of the Columbia Gorge  •  Russ Jolley FIELD GUIDE •  1988 •  PAPER  • 331 PAGES Designed for spring voyages, this comprehensive field guide illustrates 774 species of wildflowers. Featuring a good map and flowering times. (PNW32, $24.95)
The Wildlife of Southern Africa, A Field Guide to the Animals and Plants of the Region  •  Vincent Carruthers  •  Kenneth Newman FIELD GUIDE •  2008 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES • BEST SELLER • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE A handsomely illustrated field guide to the birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, insects, fish and plants of Southern Africa, all in one compact volume. It features 1,200 illustrations and short descriptions of each species, including habitat and range. With contributions by experts and good color plates. A nice overview for even the keen naturalist; it covers -- for example -- over 600 of the 900 species of birds found in the region. (SAF59, $29.95)