Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers [Paperback]

Doug Ladd (Author), Frank Oberle (Photographer)

Book Description

Series: Wildflower Series | Publication Date: 1995

Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers is the ultimate field guide to wildflowers of the midwestern tallgrass prairie. This valuable reference enables all prairie enthusiasts to quickly and accurately identify hundreds of tallgrass prairie plants. More than 320 color photographs Precise descriptions of 295 species Habitat/range information Historical and cultural notes Educational glossary Complete index of scientific and common names Directory of tallgrass prairies in 13 states

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A useful tool for both the novice and the expert, this guide identifies over 250 flowers and grasses.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Falcon/Globe Pequot Press; 1st edition (1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560442999
• ISBN-13: 978-1560442998
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #341,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #94 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Plants > Flowers

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These are all native plants, September 7, 2002

By 

astersia "astersia" (midwest United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers (Paperback)

I felt I should comment on one part of Rissa's review. She mentions that Queen Anne's lace is not in this book, and feels this is a detriment. On the contrary, this is one of the best features of the book: it contains only NATIVE plants, and not many of the invasive, non-native weeds, like Queen Anne's lace, which are very difficult to control in prairies.
If you don't see a common plant in this book, it's likely because it is an imported weed.
There are many, many "wildflower" identification books that include everything-and-the-kitchen-sink, adding to the common confusion about what a 'wildflower' is. (For instance, Dame's Rocket should be on the 'weed' list, but it's in most of the 'wildflower' mixes.)
If you are looking for an all-inclusive book, the Golden Press,"A Guide to Field Identification of Wildflowers of North America", ISBN 0-307-13664-7 is helpful because it includes the weeds, but tells where they came from and how far they have spread across North America. Of course the USDA's PLANTS website (plants.usda.gov) is the best internet source for this technical information.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "the iridescent glow was beautiful and wondrous", March 26, 2002

By 

Patricia O'Tuama "rissa" (Illinois) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers (Paperback)

I really like the fact that this book is laid out according to flower color, it makes it so much easier to find the plant I'm trying to identify. I also liked the clear, beautiful photographs as well as the detailed text that provides common and Latin names, family, description and habitat or range for each plant. The book seems very complete with 295 species listed, but I was surprised to find that Queen Anne's Lace isn't in it, which, although it may not be native, is certainly ubiquitious here in the tallgrass prairie where I live.

There is a ten-page chapter on how to use the book, a sort of Botany 101, which is very helpful in explaining how to identify prairie plants via what the author calls their "diagnostic features" -- leaves, flowers, overall shape, scent and, in some cases, the sap. The book's cover is sturdy and water-resistant which is nice if you need to set it down on the ground while you take pictures. Also included is a very useful directory of many of America's remaining tallgrass prairie preserves and parks with descriptions plus phone numbers of the government agencies, universities and organizations that oversee them (I was pleasantly surprised at how many times The Nature Conservancy is listed). The book ends with a short bibliography and a very complete index.

I bought this book as a companion to "Birding Illinois," by Sheryl De Vore (from the same publisher). De Vore's book covers various Illinois parks and wildlife areas, many of which are prairies and woodlands. I figure I can take both books and look for birds as well as beautiful prairie flowers.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent guide to the wildflowers of the eastern prairie, June 24, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers (Paperback)

This guide covers the wildflowers of the tallgrass prairie, which stretches from western Indiana to eastern Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, etc. Each entry is arranged in its section by color, making it easy to find. Each is accompanied by a photograph as well as decriptive text, including the common habitat and range of the flower.

I found it easy to use and a necessary addition to my personal library.