North American Trees - Paperback

by Richard J. Preston (Author), Richard R. Braham (Author)

Completely updated, this new edition continues the grand tradition of this classic reference covering trees of North America excluding Mexico and tropical Florida.

This handbook has been designed to meet the needs of the general public as well as those of students and scientists. Concise descriptions of botanical and silvical characters have been included for species of trees. Accurate and up-to-date, the new edition of this highly regarded reference incorporates recent changes in scientific and common names of trees, and offers improved distribution maps and more detailed descriptions of individual species.

All of the trees are grouped by family, from pines and redwoods to ashes and elders, with a clearly organized key to identification. Individual entries on hundreds of species offer concise descriptions of habit, leaves, fruit, twig, and bark. Line drawings of leaf, flower, and fruit accompany each entry. A convenient glossary has also been included.

• Accurate and up-to-date, this new edition incorporates recent changes in scientific and common names of North American trees
• Concise descriptions of botanical and silvical characters are included for species of trees
• All of the trees are grouped by family with a clearly organised key to identification

Back Jacket

The fifth edition of North American Trees continues the tradition established by the earlier editions, creating a comprehensive, readable reference designed for the general public and beginning student. The book covers nearly all North American trees (north of Mexico and tropical Florida) in technically useable detail.

This edition features:

• updated nomenclature
• Simplified terminology
• expanded information on natural history
• Additional Keys
• More background information on genera and families

Introductory material discusses the scope and arrangement of the guide, basic characters used in tree identification, highest classification categories of trees, information on identifying unknown trees, and keys to identifying trees. The rest of the manual is devoted to descriptions, natural history, and illustrations.

Within each family, species are listed alphabetically by scientific name. Listings contain the common name, scientific name, nomenclature, form, leaves, flowers, cones or fruits, twigs and buds, bark, wood, natural history, varieties, hybrids, and range, and include line drawings to assist in identification. Technical terms and jargon are used only where accuracy and conciseness would otherwise be compromised. The Introduction and Glossary provide additional information. Foresters, horticulturalists, naturalists, and everyone who loves trees will find North American Trees to be an indispensable reference.

Author Biography

The late Richard J. Preston, Jr., was professor emeritus of forestry at North Carolina State University-Ralgigh.

Richard R. Braham is Associate Professor of Forestry, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University--Raleigh.