This volume is about the higher plants that grow wild and which are commonly naturalized or otherwise encountered in Ireland. It is designed to facilitate their identification and provide background information on their morphology, distribution and rarity.

The wild plants of Ireland have been bound up in our culture and folkore from the earliest times. They appear in the ancient Irish brehon laws and early nature poetry for which Ireland is famous. As with its companion 'Irish Trees', this book is illustrated with specially commissioned watercolours by Grania Langrishe.

Where did the humble daisy orginate? Is it true dandelions and nettles were here before us? What should you do if you come face to face with a giant hogweed? What are the plants that make our forty shades of green? Where do they grow? This title aims to answer these and many more questions.

Wendy Walsh, following in the traditions of botanical artists from previous ages, has put her exceptional skills to marvellous effect in this beautiful collection of watercolour drawings. She has painted here a selection of the native and cultivated flora of Ireland, where she lives, chosen not only for their botanical interest or attractiveness but also because they happen to have an interesting history: Ireland has produced a surprising number of devoted and intrepid plant-hunters who played a significant part in the introduction into Europe of plants from remote places. Ruth Isabel Ross recounts the history of plant collecting and horticulture by the Irish since earliest times, and Dr Charles Nelson has written extensive notes on the individual plants. The main attraction of this book, however, remains the delicate and subtle watercolour drawings of Wendy Walsh, who works only from nature, painting the actual plants which are her subjects.

The first ever fully-illustrated, fully-mapped guide to the British and Irish flora. Its restriction to the British Isles alone allows far more detail and more local information, and identification which is made easier with the inclusion of extensive maps. Includes specific details about plants appearing in certain areas and coloured maps designed to make location and identification easy, this book also includes details of local specialities for the Isles of Scilly. Also featured is an illustrated survey of recently disappeared British and Irish plants, some of which may return. With over 2000 detailed colour paintings and more than 800 maps, this is the most extensively illustrated wild flower guide to Britain and Ireland yet. Coloured, boxed keys to plants in complex or difficult groups are provided to assist ID. The Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland features information about grasses, which are often omitted in other, shorter books, along with sedges, rushes, horsetails and clubmosses. Ferns, though not strictly speaking flowering plants, are also included too.