The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region [Paperback]

Richard Spellenberg (Author)

Book Description

Nothing is as colorful as a field of wildflowers in full-bloom so what could be more appropriate than a magnificent field guide with beautiful full-color photographs? More than 1,000 species are covered in full detail, with notes on more than 400 others. The 700 identification photographs show wildflowers-including grasses and sedges, and many flowering vines and shrubs-in their natural habitats.

Note: the Western Edition covers the Rocky Mountain range and all the states to the west of it, while the Eastern Edition generally covers states east of the Rocky Mountains.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Covering the vast region from Alaska to California and east to the Great Plains, this well-produced, compact guidebook contains color plates depicting more than 650 wildflower species grouped by flower color to suit the needs of inexperienced enthusiasts. The plates are keyed to texts that offer physical descriptions of the flowers and their leaves and, where applicable, fruit, along with notes on habitat and range and, often, further notes on the flower's name (e.g., "The common name, Clammyweed, refers to the sticky, moist glands on the surface of this plant"). Expertly written and photographed, this guide is just the book to have on hand when traversing western wildflower country. --Gregory McNamee

From the Inside Flap

Nothing is as colorful as a field of wildflowers in full-bloom so what could be more appropriate than a magnificent field guide with beautiful full-color photographs? More than 1,000 species are covered in full detail, with notes on more than 400 others. The 700 identification photographs show wildflowers-including grasses and sedges, and many flowering vines and shrubs-in their natural habitats.

Note: the Western Edition covers the Rocky Mountain range and all the states to the west of it, while the Eastern Edition generally covers states east of the Rocky Mountains.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 872 pages
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf; 1st edition (June 12, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394504313
• ISBN-13: 978-0394504315
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #64 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Plants > Flowers

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent field guide for wildflowers with extensive photos, July 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region (Paperback)

I take this (as well as the Peterson Field Guide to Pacific States Wildflowers) with me on all my wildflower hunting trips. The extensive color photos are extremely helpful for identifying wildflowers. Flowers are organized by color. This has by far more real flower pictures than the Peterson Field Guide.

23 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Kind of Wildflower is This, Dad?, July 11, 2000

By 

M. D. Cummings "Marv" (Kanosh, Utah United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region (Paperback)

"What kind of wildflower is this, Dad?"

"I don't know?"

"Is it poisonous?"

"I don't know."

"It's sure pretty."

"Yes, it is pretty."

The above was always my reply to my children's questions about the wildflowers we saw whenever we took our family journeys into the Great Basin Desert, or high into the Pahvant Mountains. I got tired of saying, "I don't know." Well, because of the "National Audubon Society's Field Guide to Wildflowers" (Wester Edition) I know now, to tell my children to stay away from the (poisonous) Water Hemlock which I always thought previously was wild carrots. Now I can answer their question and impress them with my knowledge at the same time.

I would like to suggest this field guide to any of you family outdoor enthusiasts, especially fathers, so you don't get caught in the I don't know syndrome. The same applies for all the birds you see on your excursions--"What kind of bird is that, Dad?"--sound familiar? Well don't fret, you can click on my name, in this review, and find a field guide to Birds. Then you'll be doubly prepared.

Good luck,

from a father like you.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice book for the trail, March 18, 2002

By 

Thomas Buckner (Redding, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region (Paperback)

All of Audobon's books are great because they will fit in a pocket or day-pack. Nicely organized and includes awesome full color pictures that really help in the identification. The information on the flowers is very extensive. A must for anyone who likes flowers and wants to know what kind they have.