Buy used: $48.00

$3.99 delivery January 24 - 26. Details

Or fastest delivery January 23 - 24. Details

Select delivery location

Used: Good | Details

Sold by Singing Saw Books

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Have one to sell?

Sell on Amazon

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See all 2 images

Follow the Author

Ron Russo

Field Guide to Plant Galls of California and Other Western States (California Natural History Guides) Paperback – February 8, 2007

by Ronald A. Russo (Author)

9 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Paperback

"Please retry"

$48.00

—

$48.00

Paperback
$48.00

6 Used from $48.00

Oak apples, honeydew and ambrosia galls, witches’ brooms, and fasciations—all are types of plant galls, a commonly observed, yet little-understood botanical phenomenon. Often beautiful and bizarre, galls are growths of various shapes, sizes, and colors produced by host plants in response to invading organisms. This guide, a trove of natural history lore, explores this hidden realm, taking a fascinating look at the world of plant galls, the organisms that initiate them, their host plants, and their intricate behaviors. Focusing on native trees and shrubs, but also discussing several galls that occur on herbaceous and ornamental plants, it illuminates the complex interrelationship between botany and entomology and magnifies our awareness of plant communities in the West.

* Identifies more than 300 species of galls—95 on oaks, 22 on members of the rose family, 60 desert species, and 35 species that are new to science

* Describes plant galls from coastal dunes, the high Sierra, the Great Basin, forests throughout the western states, and the Mojave and Sonoran deserts

* Includes information on host selection, growth and development, predator and parasite defense, and animal and human uses of galls

Print length

400 pages
Language

English
Publisher

University of California Press
Publication date

February 8, 2007
Dimensions

4.5 x 1.13 x 7.25 inches
ISBN-10

0520248864
ISBN-13

978-0520248861
See all details

Ronald A. Russo
18
Flexibound
25 offers from $17.98
Ronald A Russo
1
Paperback
2 offers from $8.95

Editorial Reviews

Review

“You will be thrilled, because Ron Russo is an extremely inspiring naturalist able to propel you into wanting to learn more.” (Oroville Mercury-Register 2008-07-14)

“It will amaze you.” (Placerville Mountain Democrat 2010-07-14)

From the Inside Flap

"This exciting book belongs on every naturalist's bookshelf. The excellent color photos and clear text will endear it to the amateur while the accurate identifications will please the professional. This book is an ideal gift for anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors."—Katherine Schick, Essig Museum of Entomology, University of California, Berkeley

"This identification guide, with its summaries of the science and lore of galls and their causative organisms, engagingly draws one into another barely explored world, one presently known only to a few. With the publication of this book, many more can now appreciate these fascinating plant growths."—Raymond J. Gagné, Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USDA

"This comprehensive, descriptive, and beautifully illustrated guide to plant galls of the West will appeal to both professional and amateur."—Diane M. Erwin, Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley

"A great book for entomologists, plant pathologists, and would-be naturalists who are curious about the amazing insect-plant relationships illustrated by plant galls."—Charles Dailey, Sierra College

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of California Press; 1st edition (February 8, 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0520248864
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0520248861
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.5 x 1.13 x 7.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #849,575 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #307 in Entomology (Books)
- #593 in Natural History (Books)
- #1,017 in Botany (Books)

Customer Reviews:
9 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Ron Russo

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Ron was a naturalist with the East Bay Regional Park District for 37 years with 17 years as Chief Naturalist before retiring in 2003 to work full time at his passions of plant galls and shark biology. He is the recipient of the distinguished Fellow Award from the National Association for Interpretation in 1989 and served as an Instructor for California State Park Rangers for 25 years at the William Penn Mott Training Center at Asilomar, California. Ron also served as wilderness guide for Cloud Ridge Naturalists aboard the MV Catalyst in Southeast Alaska for 18 years guiding trips to observe and study Alaska's rich array of plants and animals including humpback whales and grizzly bears. He is known for his broad knowledge and enthusiastic teaching. Ron is the author of 45 articles in various magazines and journals including a feature article in Natural History Magazine in 2010 and five technical papers on leopard shark biology.

Customer reviews

5 out of 5

9 global ratings

5 star		100%
4 star 0% (0%)		0%
3 star 0% (0%)		0%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

yosemiteexplorer

Amazing book.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 18, 2018

Verified Purchase

Kind of insane that there is a 450 page book on galls of California, but if you are naturalist, knowing a bit about galls will transform your forest walks. Amazing book.

Helpful

rebugging

Amazing facts about plant galls

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 17, 2010

Verified Purchase

I bought this book because I owned and loved Russo's out of print first guide to plant galls. This is so much more. We are introduced to galls not only caused by cynipid wasps, but galls induced by aphids, moths, beetles, flies, and mites, plus galls that represent plant's responses to bacteria, fungi, and even mistletoe. The variety of these structures is amazing, and obviously much more is waiting to be discovered. If you are curious about the natural world, this beautifully illustrated book will be a good addition to your library.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Rob

Great book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 25, 2012

Verified Purchase

Have used the book extensively now and identified every gall I have encountered on field trips in California, Arizona and Nevada. If you have an interest or want something else to look for when out walking in the woods then get this book.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 27, 2008

Verified Purchase

I have seen the galls on plants and this book answers what made the galls. So many different kinds. A really interesting reference filled with information on the plants and insects

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Barry A. Grivett

Everything you want in a field guide

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 29, 2007

Perfect size, organization, filled with photos, descriptions (size, host plants, scientific names, lifecycle and illustrations), glossary, comprehensive index and 70 pages of essential Introduction. Besides, there is nothing else like it. I've used this guide for seven months in California and Arizona. If you want to identify and become familiar with plant galls of the western states, this is the book you need.

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

NevadaJay

An Excellent Text on Western Galls

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 10, 2008

Ronald Russo's new handbook of galls of the western United States is a first-rate publication for individuals studying this fascinating topic.

One person found this helpful

Helpful