Guide to identifying native (and some widely introduced) trees of U.S. and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. Organized as a dichotomous key, the book leads the user through a series of simple questions about the shape or appearance of different parts of a tree. Includes 161 species. Illustrated with line drawings. The small (6" by 4") format fits in pocket or pack to take along on a hike.
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Book Description
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From the Publisher
To identify deciduous trees (trees that drop their leaves in the fall) east of the Rockies in winter, use Winter Tree Finder.
This book is one of the "Finders" series of pockets guides to native plants and animals of North America, which includes similar tree keys for the West: Pacific Coast Tree Finder, Rocky Mountain Tree Finder, and Desert Tree Finder.
About the Author
May Theilgaard Watts was well known as a naturalist, teacher, writer, and conservationist in her native Midwest and beyond, through her lectures, classes, books, and newspaper column. She was the first to introduce a broad readership to concepts from ecology.
In her books Reading the Landscape of America and Reading the Landscape of Europe, Watts pioneered the idea of studying natural history at the landscape level, considering the biological and cultural forces that have shaped the world around us. Her books are considered classics in landscape interpretation and field ecology.
Watts created the first Finders keys as mimeographed handouts for her students at the Morton Arboretum in Illinois. She adapted the dichotomous keys used by botanists, creating highly illustrated keys that amateur naturalists would find fun and easy to use.
May Theilgaard Watts led the movement to create the Illinois Prairie Path, the first major rails-to-trials conversion in the United States. She received the Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation Education from National Garden Club of America, the Arthur Hoyt Scott award in Gardening and Horticulture, and was honored by the Dept. of the Interior and the Audubon Society for her conservation work.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
65 of 67 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I took a class about tree identification several years ago at Morton's Arboretum near Chicago and this book was used as part of the class. I really love this little book. I have several of the fancier (and more expensive) books with color plates and photos, but for identifying trees this one is the best. Based on the tree's leaves it very clearly walks you through the identifation process step by step.
If you want to read more about the tree once you have identified it, the other guides are great. But for purposes of tree identification, this is the best I have seen.
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is about the best I've seen. It is compact for carrying with you and easy to use. It is a logical key that you can follow from the tree down to its identification by its leaves. It covers the eastern US so there is not a lot of extraneous material to wade through. I have been looking for exactly this kind of book since I started being interested in trees.I recommend it very highly especially to the beginner.
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
A great little book to take along on a walk in the woods. The easy step-by-step key really helps you identify trees, and it's fun to use.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
BEST key ever!!!
We use these keys in my Master Naturalist classes. There is also a flower key... they are easy to use, accurate and small and easy to carry and take along anywhere. Read more
Published 3 days ago by robin*armstrong*seeber
2.0 out of 5 stars
bad pictures- cheap book
Not at all what I was expecting. Pictures were lousy and it was more of a long brochure than it was a book. The pamphlet you receive for free from Arborday.org is better than this.
Published 2 months ago by George Finn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Practice makes nearly perfect
The Tree Finder has to be one of the best things you can carry around in the field with you. It's small, lightweight, and is easy to use. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Scot F. Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great little book!
I've been using this little book since I was a boy scout.
I've never found a tree that I couldn't quickly identify
using this simple but foolproof identification... Read more
I've never found a tree that I couldn't quickly identify
using this simple but foolproof identification... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Raymond J. Sephens
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great sorce
What "Bark" does for leafless trees, "Tree Finder" does for trees with leafs. Extremely helpful in the field. Would recommend to others.
Published 4 months ago by Robert J. Basile
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty good for common trees
I think that the book is great for the little book that it is. It has some fractions, e.g. 1/2 , next to the leaf pictures that I haven't figured out what they mean, and there is... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Charlie Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tree Finder
I needed this book for a science class. The book arrived on time and was very helpful in passing my science class.
Published 4 months ago by Terra DuPree
3.0 out of 5 stars
TREE FINDER BOOK
This book was not comprehensive enough for me, and it was not specific enough in detail. The book didn't help me determine the tree species very well.
Published 5 months ago by Chickadee58
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very simple. easy to use
This booklet is very short and perfect for those beginning learning about tree identification. The process of identifying trees is clearly laid out.
Published 5 months ago by J. Knott
5.0 out of 5 stars
Little gem
Basic and easy to use. Good for beginners and tree intermediates. Easy to carry with you on walks. All ages.
Published 5 months ago by Marilyn Witbeck
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