First published in 2002, Wild Orchids of Florida was the very first field guide for this orchid-rich state, and it inspired many to try their hand at orchid hunting. Because of its overwhelming popularity and in an attempt to provide the latest developments in orchid research, native orchid expert Paul Martin Brown follows up with this newly revised and expanded edition. The guide contains 200 new points of fact, including: · more than 100 new county records established since 2002 · three recently rediscovered species that have not been seen in 100 years · two previously undocumented species, six new hybrids, and several new color forms described and illustrated for the first time · the resurrection and revalidation of the little-used genus of Gymnadeniopsis · 34 revised county distribution maps, 37 new color photos, and three new watercolors by Stan Folsom With its comprehensive yet easy-to-follow treatment, Wild Orchids of Florida remains the essential field companion for professional botanists, native plant enthusiasts, nature lovers, or anyone who wants to learn more about what's growing out in the wilds of Florida.

"In his tenth book covering the wild orchids of North America, botanist Paul Martin Brown turns to the Lone Star State. From the Big Thicket to the Big Bend, from the panhandle to the coastal plains, FIELD GUIDE TO THE WILD ORCHIDS OF TEXAS is the first native orchid field guide to cover all of the state's eco-regions. In addition to the many insider orchid-hunting tips Brown provides, he also recommends trip itineraries offering the fullest viewing of native orchids at their peak seasons. This handy guide covers more than 50 species and varieties, several of which are new to Texas and, in some cases, even brand-new to the orchid world. Brown also covers numerous color and growth forms. FIELD GUIDE TO THE WILD ORCHIDS OF TEXAS includes all the essential tools-field photographs, diagnostic line drawings, and useful reference keys-to quickly and easily identify an orchid discovered in the wild. A checklist of the state's wild orchids and charts listing optimal flowering times and distribution by region make this a user-friendly year-round guide. Though many may not realize it, Texas is home to some of the rarest orchid species in the world. FIELD GUIDE TO THE WILD ORCHIDS OF TEXAS is a valuable and comprehensive resource for the casual hiker and lover of the outdoors."--BOOK JACKET.

With the Rocky Mountains to the west, the Great Plains to the North, the Chihuahan Desert to the south and the Gulf of Mexico to the east, Texas lies at the biological crossroads of North America. More than 5,000 flowering plants, from tiny herbs to towering trees, grow in these vast and diverse habitats. This book describes more than 600 species of the most common Texas wildflowers, trees, shrubs, and cacti in a well-illustrated, easy-to-use format. With over 400 color photographs, drawings, identification keys, and range maps for each species, the book uses a step-by-step process to easily identify major plant features. (Wildflowers, for example, are arranged by color for easy identification.) Essentially three books in one, this handy guide will be invaluable for weekend naturalists, gardeners, and nature lovers in general.

"In the year 1957, my wife and I were fascinated when we saw a flower of Polyrrhiza lindenii. We were greatly impressed when we learned that this amazing leafless orchid, the flower of which resembles the ghoulish ghost of a frog leaping in mid-air, was a native of our own state of Florida. We became excited over plans to find one, which we accomplished without too much trouble except for getting our feet wet. The fun we had in finding this species and the photographs we took home as lasting trophies led us from one orchid to another. This was only the beginning of a hobby which was soon to develop into a gigantic effort to find and photograph every species of orchid known to have occurred naturally in Florida, and eventually to publish this book. As years wore on, horizons widened. A second volume on the native orchids of the United States and Canada, exclusive of those species found only in the southeasternmost states contained in this volume, will follow. Many monographs on local orchid flora have appeared throughout the years. The present work has been designed first of all for orchidophiles like ourselves, be they amateur or professional. With the treatises of Morris and Eames and of Correll as basic guides, each genus is described as a separate chapter. Since the recognition of a plant by a technical description and line drawings may be difficult, especially for an amateur, a series of photographs in color has been assembled, which will provide the reader with a greater feeling of familiarity with each species, something we have always wanted to see ourselves. With very few exceptions each species has been pictured in its native habitat. Close-up portraits of individual flowers and such interesting features as roots, fruit, and unusual variations have been included."--

A comprehensive field guide to the wildflowers of the Lone Star State In Wildflowers of Texas, Michael Eason describes and illustrates more than 1,100 commonly encountered species, both native and introduced. The book is organized by flower color, with helpful color coding along the page edges making it easy to navigate. Each profile is illustrated with a color photograph and includes the plant’s Latin name, family, common name, habitat, bloom time, frequency of occurrence, and a short description of the plant’s morphology.

Hundreds of species of mushrooms flourish in Texas, from the desert and semiarid regions of West Texas to the moist and acid soils of East Texas, where species that can also be found in South America live alongside those that might be spotted in Malaysia and Europe. Texas Mushrooms was the first—and is still the only—guide to all of the state’s mushrooms. This colorful, easy-to-follow book will surprise and delight uninitiated nature enthusiasts while also supplying the experienced mushroom hunter with expert identification information. Excellent color photographs and precise descriptions of over 200 species will enable the mushroom hunter—even the amateur—to make quick, careful, easy distinctions between the edible varieties and the potentially toxic ones. In addition, kitchen-tested recipes are included, along with charts giving spore sizes and a list of recommended further reading. In Texas, mushroom hunting can be a year-round, state-wide activity, and with this enticing field guide, collecting, identifying, and preparing wild mushrooms will become an activity the entire family can enjoy while appreciating the beauty of Texas from a new and fascinating angle.

Best of Show Award, Society for Technical Communication International From the East Texas swamps and forests to the Edwards Plateau canyons and the Trans-Pecos mountains, Texas hosts a surprising number of native orchids. Their exquisite beauty endears them to everyone from wildflower lovers to professional botanists and conservationists. This beautifully illustrated book presents all 54 wild orchids of Texas. The species descriptions that accompany Joe Liggio's lovely color photos discuss the plant's flowers, blooming season, pollinators, typical habitats, and range (also shown by map), including its distribution within and beyond Texas. The species are grouped by genus and also listed by color, county, and habitat for easy reference. In addition to the species accounts, the authors offer a general natural history of Texas orchids that discusses such topics as pollination and reproduction, special growing requirements, and threats to orchids from loss of habitats and careless collecting. They also describe the many orchid habitats in Texas and the species that grow in each. This wide variety of information, which has never before been collected in one volume for a general readership, makes this book the essential guide to Texas' wild orchids.