A Field Guide to Tropical Plants of Asia [Illustrated] [Paperback]

David H. Engel (Author), Suchart Phummai (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2002

A Field Guide to Tropical Plants of Asia is an indispensable companion for the traveler, backpacker, plant hobbyist, or botanist interested in learning about tropical plants, whether studying them in Indonesian rain forests or the glass houses of an American botanical garden. Using his own experience as a New Jersey native trying to familiarize himself with the local Thai flora, Engel has organized this book for ultimate ease of use. More than 300 color photos - both close-ups and habitat shots - accompany the listings and provide a key piece of the identification process.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

An indispensable companion for the traveler, backpacker, plant hobbyist, or learning botanist interested in tropical plants, whether studying them in Indonesian rain forests or the glass houses of an American botanical garden.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press, Incorporated (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088192542X
• ISBN-13: 978-0881925425
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,371,127 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full-color photographs on every page of high-quality paper, June 17, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Field Guide to Tropical Plants of Asia (Paperback)

The collaborative effort of American landscape architect David H. Engel and naturalist Suchart Phummai, A Field Guide To Tropical Plants Of Asia is a gorgeously illustrated guide featuring full-color photographs on every page of high-quality paper. Basic identification information for some 300 species of trees, shrubs, vines, groundcovers and more, easily looked up by flower, leaf, or fruit, fill this 280 page, first-rate reference for professional landscapers and horticulturalists, and which is a simple joy and splendor to simply to page through for the non-specialist garden and gardening enthusiast.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quick check, June 6, 2003

By 

P. van Rijckevorsel (The Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Field Guide to Tropical Plants of Asia (Paperback)

Among the good points of this book are that it is well printed, with a sturdy cover (for a paperback). It is very accessible with a good size of pictures, and some of these pictures are very good. The idea is that if one sees a brightly flowering roadside woody plant one whips out this guide, looks under the appropriate flower color and will find the popular ornamental it belongs to. This goes with a brief description of habit and a list of names (for several countries in Asia). In the back of the book one can find a brief entry with some further detail such as where the plant came from. The botanical names appear to be remarkably free from typos (although not quite).

The bad points are that among the pictures more than a few are a little overexposed (too much sun!). The selection of species illustrates quite clearly that tropical ornamentals (in Asia and elswhere) have become a universal and standard mix that ubiquitously accompanies Man wherever he goes.

For those who are in need of a guide (as described above) this will be a great, perhaps even invaluable resource. Good value for money! For those expecting to learn something of the tropical plants of Asia this will be a letdown, and not really worth taking up shelf space.

1.0 out of 5 stars Mostly unsuitable and far too expensive, January 3, 2012

By 

Bio - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Field Guide to Tropical Plants of Asia (Paperback)

This book is not worth its money at all and probably useless for everybody. If you look for a beautiful picture book, the pictures are often disappointingly bad, overexposed, not well printed, colours are not reflecting the original tones. If you look for a professional or even only helpful field guide you will find this book completely useless, as there is often only one (1!) photograph per species which is then often a detail of one plant part or a picture of a whole tree, where you won't even be able to see the leave type. If you look for an information about certain species you will only find a minimal set of information which is often so reduced that it does not even help to identify the plant with security or get a better idea about its morphology.

In conclusion, if you are desperate you may consider buying it for 20 USD, but more it is not worth.