How to Know the Ferns and Fern Allies (The Pictured Key Nature Series) [Spiral-bound]

John T Mickel (Author), John Bamrick (Editor), Edward T Cawley (Editor), Wm. G Jaques (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0697047717 | ISBN-13: 978-0697047717 | Publication Date: March 1, 1979 | Edition: 1st

How to Know the Ferns and Fern Allies is the first such manual to cover all of North America. The book is noted for its helpful keys, accurate line drawings, minimal jargon and range maps.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 229 pages
• Publisher: Wm. C. Brown; 1st edition (March 1, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0697047717
• ISBN-13: 978-0697047717
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #658,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive fern guide, August 18, 2001

By 

picky reader "Elizabeth" (St. Paul, Minnesota USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Know the Ferns and Fern Allies (The Pictured Key Nature Series) (Spiral-bound)

When a friend urged me to buy John Mickels' "How to Know the Ferns and Fern Allies" I was skeptical. I didn't think it could top Boughton Cobb's guide in the Peterson series. I was genuinely surprised by what I found. Mickel's book is superior in several ways. The drawings of fern anatomy are cleaner, letting the neophyte focus on the important features of fern identification. Range maps (missing from Cobb's book) let you eliminate species not in your area. And being a more recent publication, Mickel's taxonomic treatment is more up-to-date. However, I miss Boughton Cobb's outline drawings of fern blades, which are really neat for developing a general search image for species. That's why I keep both guides handy. You can never own enough field guides.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive fern field guide, August 18, 2001

By 

picky reader "Elizabeth" (St. Paul, Minnesota USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Know the Ferns and Fern Allies (The Pictured Key Nature Series) (Spiral-bound)

When a friend first introduced me to John Mickel's "How to know the ferns and fern allies" I was skeptical that Boughton Cobb's book (in the Peterson's series) could be bested. I was pleasantly surprised. Not only is Mickel's book more up-to-date, but the drawings are all more cleanly rendered, allowing the beginner to focus on the most important features of fern identification. Range maps (which the Peterson guide lacks) let you eliminate many species not in your area. The price is a bit daunting, but for the serious field botanist this book is a must!