Trees of North America The complete identification reference to trees- with full-color photographs displaying leaf shape, bark, flowers, and fruit; updated range maps; and conservation status

Getting to know North America's lovely, perseverant trees is simple and straightforward with this comprehensive, authoritative, full-color, up-to-date reference guide. Over 540 species are profiled with concise, clearly written explanations accompanied by almost 2,500 crisp, full-color photographs of leaf shape, bark, fruit, and flowers. Trees are sorted by taxonomic orders and grouped by family, so that related species are presented together. Every profile includes a range map, habitat description, uses, conservation status, sensitivity to climate change, toxicity caution, reproduction, and engaging details. For example, the spiny Osage orange tree (Maclura pomifera) is commonly known as bodark, a label derived from the French bois d'arc (bow wood) because Native Americans favored it for archery bows. Prior to the availability of cheap barbed wire, it was planted as fences and windbreaks by farmers on the grassland plains. This is an outstanding guide to North American trees and merits space in any collection serving either robust forest hikers or armchair naturalists.

The first updated edition of the National Audubon Society's tree guidebook since 1980 has a completely revised format. No longer split into eastern and western regions, the new guide covers the entirety of North America. Gone is the division of the guide into photos, separate from descriptions; now information about each tree is found alongside photos (of the tree itself and its leaves, bark, flowers, nuts/berries) and range map. The guide is organized by tree family (cypress, elm, beech, willow, palm, etc.) and includes shrubs and invasive species. Each tree description includes flowers, fruit, habitat, range, uses, similar species, and conservation status, with codes ranging from "least concern" through "critically endangered" and "extinct." The book opens with essays on tree biology topics, a guide to identification, and a discussion of tree conservation; it closes with brief descriptions of each tree family, glossary, and index. The only drawback to the new guide, compared to the slimmer 1980 edition, is that it will no longer fit into a narrow pocket. VERDICT A must-have reference book for plant enthusiasts and anyone who has ever asked, "What kind of tree is that?"--Rachel Owens, Daytona State Coll. Lib., FL