The plant origin of wood. The gross features of wood of value in identification. The woody plant cell. The minute structure of coniferous woods. The minute structure of porous woods. Variable quality of wood within a tree-species. Defects in wood. Natural durability of wood. The physical properties of wood. The mechanical properties of wood. The chemical properties of wood.

The books and pamphlets in the following list describe in more or less detail the characteristics, occurrence, and uses of various woods. Not included in the list are numerous publications dealing with the characteristics and uses of individual species or small groups of species.

This book is an invaluable compilation of ecological information on 244 species of trees, shrubs, and woody vines found in the northern half of the Florida peninsula and in the Florida Panhandle. It covers the full range of native species in the region as well as common exotic plants, drawing on original experience and field research by ecologist Robert Simons. For each species, Simons describes the plant’s leaves, flowers, and fruit, geographical distribution, size, and lifespan. He also discusses its typical habitats, soil and light requirements, water needs and flooding tolerance, adaptation to fire, economic importance, and the plants, insects, and diseases most often associated with it. Notably, the book focuses on each plant’s relationship with wildlife, including which species eat the fruit or foliage or pollinate the flowers. It also features an introduction to the biological communities of northern Florida and a helpful glossary of botanical terms. The Ecology of the Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of Northern Florida provides gardeners, landscapers, scientists, and students a foundational understanding of how these plants fit into the communities of organisms in which they live and how they have adapted to their place in their physical environment.