Customer Reviews

Plants of Western Oregon, Washington & British Columbia

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For over 30 years the regional flora for the Pacific Northwest was Hitchcock et al., Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. For people on the wet side of the mountains, Kozloff provides a new standard guide. He gives us a wealth of fine photographs (over 700 in color) and illustrations, with clear descriptions and keys, allowing identification of nearly every species found in western Washington and Oregon (experts have noticed that a few species are missed, though). Non-native species are identified, with reference to their country of origin. As the most recent comprehensive text, it also provides a reasonably current taxonomic picture of the region as well, which is very useful as hundreds of new names have appeared since the days of Hitchcock. In sum, if you want the definitive flora for the region, this is it. If you want something more portable, though, you should look at a field guide - Pojar and MacKinnon's.

I would give this book an A- almost there and ahead of the rest.
needs a little more in the photo section for easy ID but beats the heck out of the Hitchcock that I have carried for years. I now have 2 copies..one at home and one in my pack

Honestly I was afraid to use a dicot key other than Hitchcock and Cronquist. I was able to identify a lupine with little stress and hair pulling, so I didn't have much confidence with it. This text was extremely easy to use. I just had to trust a different author.

I was even more comforted after I saw the book on the shelf in my professor's office!! If it was good enough for her (a fairly hard core botanist/taxonomist), it was good enough for me!!! Don't be afraid to venture beyond Hitchcock and Cronquist, but I do think that H&C is the only way to introduce someone into vascular plant identification.

This is a well done book by the authors and illustrators. It simply is not what I was looking for. The book is a cross between the highly detailed Hitchcock classification key system and off-the-rack plant picture ID books. I did not want so much classification key work. Looking inside online was okay but did not give me the essence of the what the book was really like. Anyone wanting to go plant anal retentive would love this book. I would not buy this book again especially for the cost of the book.

I have been frustrated by many field guides and their incomplete listing of plants. This book, although a little large and heavy for being easily carried on a hike, is none the less, the best guide for plants of the west, from Canada to Southern Oregon (where I live) Found many listings that I had no idea what the plants were till I got this book. Highly recommended for any one looking to identify what they see on any type of nature walk, hike, or trip...

I'm going to Oregon and HAVE to know what plants are there so this book is great.

This book may be the most comprehensive, definitive book on NW flora, but it's not very helpful to me. It's like reading a technical manual. I realize there are people who enjoy reading technical manuals, but most people don't. (That's not to say there's anything wrong with technical manuals, they just don't interest most people.) So my assumption is this book isn't written for most people.

I'd love for someone to take the information in this book and make it more engaging and accessible. Now there's a book that a wider audience would value and enjoy.