Alaska Trees and Shrubs (Agriculture handbook, No. 410) [Paperback]

Leslie A. Viereck (Author), Elbert L. Little Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1986

Alaska Trees and Shrubs has been the definitive work on the woody plants of Alaska for more than three decades. This new, completely revised second edition provides updated information on habitat, as well as detailed descriptions of every tree or shrub species in the state. New distribution maps reflect the latest survey data, while the keys, glossary, and appendix on non-native plants make this the most useful guide to Alaska trees and shrubs ever published.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Leslie A Viereck retired as principal plant ecologist from the U.S. Forest Service’s Institute of Northern Forestry in Fairbanks in 1996. Since then he has been an emeritus scientist with the Boreal Ecology Cooperative Research Unit (BECRU) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

He also holds an Affiliate Professor of Forest Ecology position in the School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences (SNRAS) at UAF, as well as research associate appointments with the Institute of Arctic Biology and the University of Alaska Museum of the North.

Elbert L. Little, Jr., died in 2004 after a distinguished career as senior scientist and chief dendrologist with the U.S. Forest Service in Washington, D.C. He was an authority on both North American and tropical trees. Among his more than twenty books on trees are the five-volume Atlas of United States Trees (1981) and the popular Audubon Field Guide to North American Trees. Dr. Little was coauthor of the 1950 edition of the Pocket Guide to Alaska Trees and made several extended field trips to Alaska during the preparation of Alaska Trees and Shrubs.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 265 pages
• Publisher: Univ of Alaska Pr (November 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0912006196
• ISBN-13: 978-0912006192
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,346,534 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful reference, June 5, 2000

By 

"yla" (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alaska Trees and Shrubs (Agriculture handbook, No. 410) (Paperback)

This book contains a tremendous amount of information. Most of this book comprises detailed descriptions of each tree and shrub that grows in Alaska. Each write-up includes a physical description of the plant (including description of various seasonal forms), description of uses of the plant by humans and wild animals, description of the plant's range (which is illustrated on a range map for each taxon); and the names of closely-related plants. And every write-up is accompanied by an excellent, detailed black-and-white illustration of parts of the plant (most are drawn actual size). Given all of this information, I had no trouble identifying most of the trees and shrubs that I have encountered in Alaska. And I am no botanist.

Includes an introduction generally describing the vegetation zones of Alaska, and a key to identifying trees based mainly upon characteristics of their leaves. This reference is still cited in the academic literature today; and although it lacks color photographs (and plants are organized taxonomically rather than by color or other feature) I believe it would be an excellent reference for the non-expert who is interested in learning about the trees and shrubs of the arctic and sub-arctic Alaskan environments. Highly recommended!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good general guide, June 13, 2005

By 

Paul J. Forbes (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alaska Trees and Shrubs (Agriculture handbook, No. 410) (Paperback)

This book is the only one generally available on the topic and it is, in general, an excellent book. It does a very good job of being accessable to non-experts and yet provides enough detail for serious botanists. The major criticism is that the map published with the original printing is no longer available. It is unfortunate, because it would have been an excellent resource. Another criticism is the very small maps for ranges of various plants. Aside from these points it is a good general guide. Of the many keys I have used in many different texts, the ones here are unique, combining a blend of taxonimic and non-taxonomic characteristics to make them useful and easy to follow. I was very impressed with the key for willows, which many books have a very difficult time with. The winter and summer keys were also helpful for many species. The black and white drawings are excellent and numerous. It packs a lot of information in a very small book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Contains some obscure plants I couldn't find elsewhere!, May 10, 2010

By 

AK Mama in the Woods "Kaydee" (Beluga, Alaska) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alaska Trees and Shrubs (Paperback)

This has been the BEST plant, tree, and brush/shrub identification book I've found yet! Although it doesn't have "flowers" or "berries" in the title, flowers and berries are in there (well, if they're a shrub, like wild roses, but not like irises or chocolate lillies)...Black and white sketches with a few color photographs, AK state map of distribution, some historical notes, and, sometimes, common uses are listed (although I haven't seen any medicinal uses). Vegetations grouped by family. Detailed description of the plant from the leaf to bark to twigs to flower to berry (if applicable) to wood (if applicable)...detailed enough to differentiate between two closely related species. Great reference book!