A delightful illustrated treasury of botanical facts and fancy Florapedia is an eclectic A-Z compendium of botanical lore. With more than 100 enticing entries-on topics ranging from achlorophyllous plants that use a fungus as an intermediary to obtain nutrients from other plants to zygomorphic flowers that admit only the most select pollinators-this collection is a captivating journey into the realm of botany. Writing in her incomparably engaging style, Carol Gracie discusses remarkable plants from around the globe, botanical art and artists, early botanical explorers, ethnobotanical uses of plants, botanical classification and terminology, the role of plants in history, and more. She shares illuminating facts about van Gogh's sunflowers and reveals how a hallucinogenic weed left its enduring mark on the early history of the Jamestown colony. Gracie describes the travels of John and William Bartram-father and son botanists and explorers who roamed widely in early America in search of plants-and delves into the miniature ecosystems entangled in Spanish moss. The book's convenient size allows for it to be tucked into a pocket or bag, making it the perfect companion on your own travels. With charming drawings by Amy Jean Porter, Florapedia is the ideal gift book for the plant enthusiast in your life and a rare pleasure for anyone interested in botanical art, history, medicine, or exploration. Features a real cloth cover with an elaborate foil-stamped design

From the acclaimed author of Spring Wildflowers of the Northeast, a beautifully illustrated follow-up introduction to the summer-blooming wildflowers of the northeastern United States and Canada This exquisitely illustrated volume provides an accessible, in-depth introduction to summer-blooming wildflowers of the northeastern United States and Canada. Featuring more than 700 detailed color photos and a large, beautifully designed format, the book delves into the life histories of more than thirty-five wildflowers and their relatives, from common roadside favorites, such as asters and milkweeds, to interesting, lesser-known species, including Indian pipe and ginseng. Drawing on a wealth of personal experience and the latest scientific research, and presenting it all in terms anyone can understand, acclaimed naturalist and photographer Carol Gracie invites readers to enhance their appreciation of the beauty of these wildflowers by learning not just their names or how many petals they have, but what pollinates them, how their seeds are dispersed, how they interact with other plants and animals, how Native Americans and other people have used them, and other interesting facts. Each species is illustrated with a range of detailed color photos that not only capture its beauty but illustrate the features discussed in the text and show the plant in its environment alongside the pollinators, herbivores, or seed dispersers with which, in many cases, the wildflower has evolved. Other topics covered include the naming of wildflowers; pathogens and pests; related species in other parts of the world; and wildflowers in history, literature, and art. Presenting authoritative information in an inviting style, Summer Wildflowers of the Northeast is an ideal volume for wildflower lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, naturalists, students, and more. Showcases the most spectacular summer-blooming wildflowers of the northeastern United States and Canada Features more than 700 stunning full-color photos Covers the life histories, lore, and uses of more than 35 species and their relatives Combines the latest scientific research with an easy-to-read style Features species accounts for these wildflowers: Alpine Wildflowers American Cranberry American Ginseng American Lotus Asters Beechdrops Blackberry-lily Bog Orchids Broad-leaved Helleborine Buckbean Bunchberry Cardinal Flower Chicory Common Milkweed Common Mullein Evening-Primrose Fringed Gentian Fringed Orchids Goldenrods Grass-of-Parnassus Indian Pipe Jewelweed Jimsonweed Lilies Patridge-berry Passion-flowers Pipsissewa Prickly Pear Purple Pitcher Plant Queen Anne's Lace Showy Lady-slipper Swamp Rose-mallow Wild Leek Wild Lupine Yellow Pond-lily

Many of us have stopped to pick wildflowers or have admired them as they flourished in fields and along hiking trails and roads. Always appreciated, but not always recognized, these beauties can now be identified with Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, the most inclusive field guide available to the wildflowers of the Northeastern United States. Designed for easy use, the book features two-page spreads with descriptive text and range maps on the left page and color photos on the right. The descriptions are concise, but thorough, and the range maps show both where the plant grows and at what time of year it is likely to be in bloom. Plants are grouped by flower color, usually the feature first noticed by the observer. The species are subsequently grouped by leaf arrangement, type of leaves, and number of flower parts as indicated in the "quick characters" box at the top of each page. There is also a simple key in the beginning of the book that allows one to quickly narrow the search to a few pages. In addition to the more common and conspicuous wildflowers, many of the lesser known, and often overlooked, species are depicted. Over 1400 species are described with nearly all of them illustrated with full-color photos. While these photos generally show the flowers of the plant, insets of leaves and occasionally fruits are often included as well. A bar on each photo allows users to accurately judge the actual size of each flower. Both serious botanists and casual nature observers will welcome this beautifully photographed and expertly detailed guide.

An acclaimed, beautifully illustrated introduction to spring-blooming wildflowers of the northeastern United States and Canada This exquisitely illustrated volume provides an accessible, in-depth introduction to spring-blooming wildflowers of the northeastern United States and Canada. Featuring more than 500 detailed color photos and a large, beautifully designed format, the book delves into the life histories of more than thirty-five wildflowers and their relatives, from common favorites, such as bloodroot and Jack-in-the-pulpit, to interesting, lesser-known species, including miterwort and featherfoil. Drawing on a wealth of personal experience and the latest scientific research, and presenting it all in terms anyone can understand, acclaimed naturalist and photographer Carol Gracie invites readers to enhance their appreciation of the beauty of these wildflowers by learning not just their names or how many petals they have, but what pollinates them, how their seeds are dispersed, how they interact with other plants and animals, how Native Americans and other people have used them, and other interesting facts. Each species is illustrated with a range of detailed color photos that not only capture its beauty but illustrate the features discussed in the text and show the plant in its environment alongside the pollinators, herbivores, or seed dispersers with which, in many cases, the wildflower has evolved. Other topics covered include the naming of wildflowers; pathogens and pests; related species in other parts of the world; and wildflowers in history, literature, and art. Presenting authoritative information in an inviting style, Spring Wildflowers of the Northeast is an ideal volume for wildflower lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, naturalists, students, and more. Showcases the most spectacular spring-blooming wildflowers of the northeastern United States and Canada Features more than 500 stunning full-color photos Covers the life histories, lore, and uses of more than 35 species and their relatives Combines the latest scientific research with an easy-to-read style Features species accounts for these wildflowers: Baneberries Bloodroot Blue Cohosh Blue-eyed Mary Celandines Columbine Dutchman's Breeches Early Meadow-rue Early Saxifrage False Hellebore Featherfoil Fire-pink Fringed Polygala Hepaticas Jack-in-the-pulpit Lady-slippers Lesser Celandine Lousewort Mayapple Miterwort One-flowered Cancer-root Skunk Cabbage Spring Beauties Squawroot Trilliums Trout-lily Twinleaf Violets Virgina Bluebells Wild Ginger