Wild Orchids of the Northeastern United States: A Field and Study Guide to the Orchids Growing Wild in New England, New York, and Adjacent Pennsylvania and New Jersey (Comstock Books) [Paperback]

Paul Martin Brown (Author), Stan Folsom (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Comstock Books | Publication Date: April 1997

Wild orchids evoke a particular and sometimes addictive fascination among naturalists, botanists, and wildflower enthusiasts. With few exceptions, these singular plants cannot be moved and propagated successfully, and so, to ensure their survival, they must be protected and sought out in their native habitats. This definitive guide facilitates their discovery and enjoyment. Covers all orchids growing wild in New England, New York, and adjacent areas of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Includes illustrated keys to the genera and species and a checklist of northeastern orchids. Describes in alphabetical order 71 orchid species and varieties, with a drawing of each, and full information on more than 50 forms and hybrids. Features 192 full-color photographs of the orchids in their native habitats, along with 71 distribution maps. Suggests where to find the orchids. Provides a bibliography and a glossary. Bound with a durable cover for use in the field.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Brown (founder of the North American Native Orchid Journal) provides a guide to 71 orchid species and varieties found growing wild in New England, New York, and adjacent areas of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with an emphasis on distribution and tips for locating flowering colonies. He describes several orchid "hotspots"?e.g., The Northeast Kingdom (Vermont) and the Route 128 arc around Boston?including such unusual habitats as bogs and sand/gravel excavations near roads, which support certain orchid species. This book would be a natural for libraries in the region, but librarians may wish to compare it with William Chapman's Orchids of the Northeast (Syracuse Univ., 1996). Weeds of the Northeast is a more specialized reference to 298 species of weeds in agriculture, nurseries, gardens, turf areas, landscapes, and roadways. Entries detail the appearance of seedling and mature plants, flowers and fruits, habitat, distribution, and similar species. Special features include identification keys based on characteristics such as thorns, milky sap, and type of leaf; a dichotomous key to all described species; a grass identification table; and comparison tables for easily confused species. This book would certainly be valuable for identifying weeds in the region defined as Maine south to Virginia and west to Ohio and Wisconsin, but it does not provide guidance for controlling or eliminating them. Recommended for comprehensive gardening collections or botanical/agricultural libraries.?Beth Clewis Crim, Prince William P.L., Va.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Brown, who is now at work on a field guide to the orchids of the Northwest, begins this definitive guide to orchids of the Northeast with a chapter on where and when to find these captivating flowers. He continues with information on identifying the various genera and follows with a list--in alphabetical order--of 71 orchid species and varieties, with a drawing of each, along with data on 50 hybrids. Each listing contains a detailed description of the orchid, its habitat, blooming dates, measurements, and abundance (rare to frequent), and a map showing where the species can be found. There are 192 lavish color photographs, 94 black-and-white drawings by Stan Folsom, a state-by-state checklist, and a glossary. George Cohen

Product Details

• Paperback: 236 pages
• Publisher: Comstock Pub Assoc; Rev Sub edition (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801483417
• ISBN-13: 978-0801483417
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,225,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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