Newcomb's Wildflower Guide (Paperback)

by Lawrence Newcomb (Author)
Key Phrases: Composite Family, Lily Family, Pea Family (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
An ingenious new key system for quick, positive field identification of wildflowers, flowering shrubs and vines in paperback for the first time. 1,075 drawings, 175 in color.

Product Details

• Paperback: 490 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (April 13, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316604429
• ISBN-13: 978-0316604420
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,204 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #2 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Plants > Flowers
  #25 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Reference
  #27 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Ecology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple System Eases Wildflower Identification, October 8, 2002

By	Craig L. Howe "The Pointed Pundit" (Darien, CT United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The author's system allows even amateurs like me to quickly and accurately identify wildflowers.

It is as simple as answering five questions which point the user to the appropriate page in the book where the flower is described and pictured. The text is great. The first sentence of each description distinguishes that plant from all others in that group.

If you are looking for a wildflower guide, they do not get better than this one.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wildflowers made easy: an indispensable reference., May 18, 1998

By	Morrie Gasser ([e-mail]) (Hopkinton, Mass.) - See all my reviews

If you're going to buy just one book on wildflower identification, this is it. While not foolproof, this system is the best I've seen. It beats by far other methods using color and shape of flower, as used in the Audubon and Peterson field guides (though both the latter have their place, and you should get both if you're really serious).

A most unique aspect of this book is that it includes shrubs as well as plants normally considered wildflowers, adding greatly to its utility for the amateur observer.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent source for the student botanist, January 12, 2000

By	[e-mail] (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

The Newcomb's Guide is not the first field guide that I have ever used, but it is the one that I use most for identification of flowering plants in the Northeast. I found the key very easy to use, which results in rapid identifications. Eventhough it is not totally complete, it is an excellent guide for student botanists who want to learn about N.E. flowers with only this guide as instruction. More guides should be written in this style!