California Desert Flowers: An Introduction to Families, Genera, and Species (Phyllis M. Faber Books) (Paperback)

~ (Author), J. Emil Morhardt (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This easy-to-use guide to the most visible families of California desert flowers includes family and genus keys, color photographs of nearly 300 species, and a wealth of diagrams. Created as a primer on identification to family and genus, California Desert Flowers takes readers to a new level of understanding and appreciation of wildflower relationships and their habitats and adaptations.

From the Inside Flap

"I am impressed with the attractive format, the excellent color photographs, and the simplified, workable keys to family and genus."--Edwin A. Phillips, Emeritus Professor of Botany, Pomona College and the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden

"These fine photographs and clear explanations of plant families, genera, and species will entice the amateur botanist lucky enough to be exploring the California deserts and their wildflowers."--David M. Gates, Professor Emeritus of Biology and former Director, Biological Station, University of Michigan

"This beautifully conceived book not only provides an outstanding introduction to the magnificent wildflowers that carpet California's deserts in years with sufficient rainfall, it does so in a way that skillfully introduces users to plant families and genera and thus gives them a foundation of understanding plants wherever they find them."--Peter Raven, Director, Missouri Botanical Garden

"[This] is an easy-to-use work that can serve equally well as a stand-alone guide to a casual day trip or, for more advanced botanists, as a practical companion to the Jepson Manual."--John N. Trager, Curator of Desert Collections, Huntington Botanical Gardens

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Product Details

• Paperback: 295 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (June 21, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520240030
• ISBN-13: 978-0520240032
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #712,240 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive & Beautifully Illustrated, December 11, 2004

By	L. Paul "Desert Rat" (Southern California USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Beginner or advanced wildflower botanist, there is something for everyone in this new field guide for California desert wildflowers. Each chapter is introduced with a stunning photo, followed by wildflower species grouped by family, genera, and species, rather than approximate color of the flower. This format enables the user to familiarize themselves with the characteristics and similarities between related species, leading to a better understanding of wildflower diversity and habitat adaptations. The book is illustrated with excellent photos taken almost exclusively by the authors. In addition to close up photos of the flowers, there's often an image showing the entire plant. This is very handy for identification purposes. The text is enriched by tidbits of information regarding usages of the plant, unusual features, etc. For those who wish to own only one field guide about desert wildflowers, this well-researched book should be the one. For those of us with "field-guide-itis," no collection would be complete without this volume on the reference shelf or in a daypack.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent new field guide, January 26, 2006

By	Michael Cyr - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This field guide contains very useful keys, which is quite rare for a book of this type, with excellent illustrations and Family descriptions.
I own many field guides and botanical manuals and this is one of the best I have seen.