The tropics with their lush rainforests are extremely rich in plant life but are still comparatively unknown. Botanists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have a long tradition of exploring and plant collecting in the tropics, accumulating an unsurpassed practical knowledge of the tropical plants they encounter.This second edition of The Kew Tropical Plant Families Identification Handbook brings together this knowledge in a guide to the commonly encountered and ecologically important plants of the tropics. Written by Kew's experts, this handbook is based on Kew's Tropical Plant Identification course, which uses classical morphology, as well as more simple 'spot' characters, to teach plant identification.

A guide to the commonly encountered and ecologically important plant families of the tropics, written by Kew's experts who teach the Kew Tropical Plant Identification course.

The Kew Temperate Plant Families Identification Handbook brings together the combined knowledge of Kew experts in a guide to the commonly encountered plants of temperate regions. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a centre of expertise for cultivating a range of plants from around the world, especially temperate plants which are grown in the Arboretum, Alpine House and Temperate House, as well as at Wakehurst. In this book, Kew's experts have accumulated an unsurpassed practical knowledge of the plants they encounter, both scientific and horticultural.100 plant families are described in detail and richly illustrated with photographs showing the important identification characters, along with distribution maps, line drawings and herbarium sheets. This book is the primary resource for plant identification for those working in temperate regions around the world.

Practical Plant Identification is an essential guide to identifying flowering plant families (wild or cultivated) in the northern hemisphere. Details of plant structure and terminology accompany practical keys to identify 318 families into which flowering plants are divided. Specifically designed for practical use, the keys can easily be worked backwards for checking identifications. Containing descriptions of families and listings of the genera within, it also includes a section on further identification to generic and specific levels. A successor to the author's bestselling The Identification of Flowering Plant Families, this guide is updated, and retains the same concise user-friendly approach. Cullen skillfully leads the reader from restrictive disciplines of older taxonomy, into an era of increasing numbers of plant families defined by DNA analysis. Aimed primarily at students of botany and horticulture, this is a perfect introduction to plant identification for anyone interested in plant taxonomy.

This plant glossary includes all descriptive terms used in floras, plant field guides and monographs. This is an essential companion for anyone working with plant descriptions, plant identification keys, floras, monographs and field guides. In this second edition 4,500 botanical terms are described with accompanying illustrations, including a new section on vegetation terms and an updated colour section.'Catnip for the garden geek...this fascinating, authoritative volume may seduce even the most casual browser.'The New York Times, 27 May 2010