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William Carey Grimm's classic Illustrated Book of Trees--the authority in eastern North American tree identification for over 40 years--is now available in a completely updated edition, describing recently-introduced species and incorporating changes in taxonomy, nomenclature, and geographic range.

By observing the leaves, flowers, and fruits of a tree in summer or its twigs, buds, and bark in winter, readers can easily identify a species through Grimm's full-page illustrations, classification keys, and concise species descriptions. Written in straightforward, non-scientific language for beginning botanists of any age. Glossary of terms and a complete index are included.

John Kartesz is a professor of botany and the founder/director of the Biota of North America Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Average Customer Rating:

Very comprehensive	Customer Rating:
This book gives an excellent overview of the trees found in the eastern part of North Amercia. Only way it could be better would be if some of the illustrations were in colour. Great value for money.

the best book by far for identifying trees

Customer Rating:

The instructor I took field biology with in college highly recommended this book. He thought it was by far the best guide for identifying trees. Now, years later and having used (or attempted to use) many different field guides, I know why he was so crazy about this book. Winter or summer, if you are looking at the bark, leaf, or bud, the very clear and detailed pictures and unambiguous text will allow you to identify any tree with certainty.

The Illustrated Book of Trees: A great reference book

Customer Rating:

This is an excellent and comprehensive book with detailed descriptions of trees by their leaves, flowers, fruits, buds,and bark. The trees are described in their summer and winter aspects. It is a fine reference book not a book to be used in the field to identify trees. You should have an idea which general family of tree you are looking at to narrow the search down as the trees are arranged according to family. At the beginning of each tree description is a section listing those characteristics that are most helpful in identifying the tree. There is also a section at the end comparing the tree to those with which it is most likely to be confused. A glossary of terms is given at the back of the book and dichotomous keys to the families are given at the front. At the beginning of each family more detailed dichotomous keys are given to help the reader distinguish one member of the family from another. Leaf shapes and edges as well as types of fruits, flowers, and buds are illustrated to help the reader understand terminology used in the descriptions Although trees of Eastern North America is the subject of the book, it is not devoted only to native trees of the area.

More than identification

Customer Rating:

I bought my 1983 edition when I was active as a park district volunteer. What sold me on this book was that it went beyond the tree's identification, and told you more about the tree itself. For example, looking up the Sycamore it says "The Sycamore is also known as the Buttonwood, Buttonball-tree, and the American Plane Tree. It is one of the most massive of all our native trees, perhaps exceeding all others in the diameter of its trunk... The wood is heavy, hard, tough and coarse-grained; being difficult to work or split. It is used for furniture - both solid and veneer, interior finish, siding, musical instruments, boxes and crates. Practically all butcher's blocks are made from the Sycamore..." and so on.

This Grimm is no fairy-tale

Customer Rating:

Very nice book! The edition I own is the 1983 printing, so I am unfamiliar with recent changes. Book has good drawings of leaves (often several), fruits, twigs, buds and leaf scars. Excellent info on summer and winter identification included in text and step-by-step outlines. The step-by-step outline starts at the front of the book and helps you identify the family in which the tree in question belongs. Then turn to the section on that tree family for help isolating which species you have on your hands. There are good text descriptions throughout to aid identification as well as information on history, growth, and commercial uses of the trees. Not a field guide for the size and weight conscious though. Keep it in your living room or SUV.