Herbs (DK Handbooks) [Hardcover]

Lesley Bremness (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1994 | Series: DK Handbooks

With a range of over 700 species shown in 1,500 photographs, this guide gives information on each plant's chief characteristics and its principal herbal uses, from cookery to medicine, and beauty treatment to arts and crafts.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gifted English writer and herb-garden designer Bremness (Complete Book of Herbs) here produces a work of some interest, but little use. In an attempt to fit more than 700 herbs from all over the world into one glossy little book, no aspect of plant knowledge is more than merely touched upon. Although the photographs are numerous and crystal-clear, this is not a dependable field guide for plant identification, nor does it tell us what we can do with the herbs, in spite of many references to what they have been used for in various parts of the world. Editorial consultant Holly Shimizu's introduction makes wonderful reading, covering plant anatomy and much else. While the main entries include clear illustrations of what the entire plant looks like-a feature lacking in some other herb books-we don't learn whether the herb in question can be coaxed to grow for us. Beautiful it is, but the book isn't useful enough.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-Seven hundred species of herbs are presented through full-color photographs and artwork. Each section- trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, annuals and biennials, vines, and fungi and non-seed bearing plants-is arranged alphabetically. Each entry identifies botanical and common species name and provides a physical description, uses, related forms and varieties, key identifying features, natural habitat, and detailed pictures. This is a handbook for knowledgeable herbalists as well as for beginners. The latter should be cautioned since the notations concerning toxic or poisonous plants and dangerous dosages are buried in the text. An excellent guide when coupled with competent instruction.
Mary T. Gerrity, Queen Anne School Library, Upper Marlboro, MD
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT; 1 edition (September 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564584976
• ISBN-13: 978-1564584977
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,857,138 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INCREDIBLE BOOK, one flaw, September 9, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Atlanta, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Herbs (Dorling Kindersley Handbook) (Paperback)

This book is one of the very best field guides to medicinal herbs. A must have for serious herbalists of all levels. The photos are absolutely spectacular! The one flaw: the book is not easy to use as an identifier unless you are pretty sure of what the plants name is already, because the book is organized by name mainly. But, if you know the name of the plant you are looking for then there is no better book. Email the publisher telling them to reorganize this book so that it is more versatile as a field guide. The planet needs this book. I'm serious, it's that good.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best, March 8, 2005

By 

Lydia Sinclair "Lydia" (Northcoast ,OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smithsonian Handbooks: Herbs (Smithsonian Handbooks) (Turtleback)

I'm an avid reader oh herbal lore and gardening.This is the most informative book I've yet seen. This book has color photos and detailed descriptions for over 700 herbs. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in herbs.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best field guide for identification, December 15, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Smithsonian Handbooks: Herbs (Smithsonian Handbooks) (Turtleback)

this book along with "edible wild plants:a north american field guide" by thomas elias and "a field guide to medicinal plants and herbs: of eastern and central north america" by james a. duke will provide all the information necessary for positive identification. cross referencing the various photos and other information leaves no doubt.