This is my all time favourite edible and useful plant field guide for the west. There may be more detailed books, more colour based guides, but for size and useful info while hiking and camping, it provides accurate, and helpful, facts and diagrams; both to identify and use wild plants of the west. Not only does it mention their edible properties, but medical, dye, fiber, tanning, soap, implements, and rubber aspects. The glossary in the back divides all these different attributes. Mr and Mrs Kirk also speak from first hand experience. And if there is a plant they have not tried themselves, they say so. One thing I found a little confusing (it is a minor thing), is that all index numbers are page numbers, while each plant has a listing number as well. For example: Big Tooth Maple is listed on page 268, but its plant listing number is 272. Just always remember to find the "page" number in the index. The Kirks also divide the sections of the west: All the west/ Southwest/Northwest/ Rocky Mountain States, so one doesn't have to go through every page to find only plants from a certain area. It's enjoyable to me to sit down on a hike and browse through this book for simple pleasure reading. Although there isn't a separate listing of poisonous plants, when a plant has a poisonous look-alike (as in the "Camas", or part of an edible plant is poisonous ( as in Pokeweed), it is so stated. I can attest to the fiber quality of Nettles. When in upstate New York I stripped the leaves off of the stem (either wear gloves or, like me, you may have an immunity to its skin toxins), then roll the stem, then separate the fibers. When these fibers are spliced together they make a remarkably strong string. I couldn't break it by pulling each end! Sorry I got off the subject. All in all this work of the Kirks will always be a very appreciated and liked book.
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