Nearly two-hundred color photographs of state-protected herbaceous and woody species found throughout New York State and the Northeast.

The definitive field guide to the magnificent wildflowers of the Adirondacks. Covering more than six million acres of protected wilderness, the Adirondacks, with their landscape of high peaks, verdant wetlands, majestic trees, and lush carpets of flowers, is a pristine paradise for nature lovers. The only available identification guide to the Adirondack region's wildflowers, this comprehensive resource is packed with more than 300 gorgeous color images, one to represent almost every flower commonly found in this huge range. Revealing the stunning diversity of Adirondack wildflowers, from goldenrod and marsh blue violet to cattails and hellebore, the book includes * detailed botanical species accounts, arranged by flower color * images of each flower that highlight key features for easy ID * information about each species' natural history * descriptions of the region's upland, wetland, and aquatic habitats * a special section on the nearly 40 terrestrial orchid species found in the Adirondacks Written by Donald J. Leopold and Lytton John Musselman, skilled botanists and the foremost authorities on these plants, this superior quality guide will appeal to residents of and visitors to the Adirondacks and northeastern mountains, including wildlife professionals, citizen scientists, backpackers, campers, photographers, bird watchers, artists, and wild food foragers.

The diversity of woody plants in the Southeast is unparalleled in North America. "Native Trees of the Southeast" is a practical, compact field guide for the identification of the more than 225 trees native to the region, from the Carolinas and eastern Tennessee south through Georgia into northern Florida and west through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas into eastern Texas. For confident identification, nearly 600 photographs, close to 500 of them in color, illustrate leaves, flowers and fruits or cones, bark, and twigs with buds. Full descriptions are accompanied by keys for plants in both summer and winter condition, as well as over 200 range maps. Crucial differences between plants that may be mistaken for each other are discussed and notes on the uses of the trees in horticulture, forestry, and for wildlife are included.

No other single volume on native plants has such comprehensive horticultural coverage as "Native Plants of the Northeast: A Guide for Gardening and Conservation. Nearly seven hundred species of native trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, grasses, and wildflowers from the northeastern quarter of the United States and all of eastern Canada are included. Of course, the natural ranges of many of the plants extend beyond this area, and the book is an essential resource for everyone interested in gardening with native plants of all kinds, as well as those who need the information provided here for habitat restoration and enhancement of biodiversity for the sake of conservation.

Natural plant communities of eastern North America are described, providing a foundation for the choice of plants for different areas and climates---or a variety of sites in the garden---as well as for restoration of native plant habitats. Illustrated throughout with color photographs, the encyclopedic portion of the book includes practical advice on cultivation and propagation in addition to descriptions, ranges, and information on hardiness. An appendix recommends particular plants for difficult situations and for attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife. Written from the unique perspective of an author who has professional credentials in horticulture, botany, forestry, and ecology as well as hands-on practical experience, this book is the most trustworthy single source for all who wish to cultivate native plants.

The maritime holly forest is a unique assemblage of species dominated by the broadleaf evergreen, Ilex opaca (American holly). Due to the highly restricted occurrence of this forest community to only two locations on barrier islands in New York and New Jersey, it has been classified as a critically imperiled community (global conservation status rank of G1; NatureServe 2004) because of extreme rarity or very few remaining acres. The only two examples known of the maritime holly forest include: the Sunken Forest (SF; 16 ha) occurring on Fire Island National Seashore, a barrier island protecting Long Island, NY; and the Sandy Hook (SH) holly forest (30 ha) occurring on a barrier spit on the NJ shore that is a unit of Gateway National Recreation Area (GNRA). This project was born from the uncertainty surrounding key conservation issues, and in 2004 was listed as the primary research priority for Fire Island National Seashore due to the uniqueness of the SF among maritime forests of the Atlantic coast, its prominence in the park's enabling legislation and Resource Stewardship Plan, and its interpretive value to the visiting public. An important objective of the research was to assist the park in developing reasonable conservation goals for sustaining the essential characteristics of the SF. This research investigated whether canopy constituents of this maritime holly forest are maintaining themselves under the current levels of herbivory and other disturbances. The authors present this report in executive summary format through a series of questions that probe different aspects of vegetation dynamics of the SF. The authors do this for two reasons. First, the scope of the work is broad and includes research approaches and methods that are somewhat disparate and unrelated, making the presentation of the full work awkward. Second, the research on which the report is based already appears in the peer-reviewed scientific literature as discrete units with specific objectives and methodologies. We refer the reader directly to those published accounts for the methodological details.

Leopold's botanical descriptions for each species include a summary of its key identification characteristics and extensive information on its leaves, flowers, fruit, winter characteristics, and bark. Additional material is provided on each tree's habit, habitat and range, and uses, including wood properties and value, landscaping, and restoration projects. Also provided are summer keys to each genus and numerous other aids to identifying these species. Line drawings depict the many fine diagnostic characteristics of each species. Of the 350 color photographs, those of bark should readily facilitate field identification of mature specimens of most tree species. Color photos show the beautiful ornamental attributes that make so many native species excellent landscape choices. This book offers much to both the tree novice and the expert, casual and accomplished outdoor enthusiasts alike.