"[A]ttractively produced and scientifically accurate. . . . A broad spectrum of beautiful plants of ecological
importance, including weeds, is included here."
--Choice
"This impressive factual Weed Identification Manual, the first ever compiled of the Northeast, is thorough
and well designed. . . . This is a distinctive book and reference guide on weeds, one that will be welcomed in
a library, school, garden club, a gift for friends, and definitely a copy for yourself."
--The News of the Federated Garden Clubs of New York State Inc.
"This detailed and user-friendly guide identifies nearly 300 weedy plant species commonly found from southeastern
Canada south to Virginia and west to Wisconsin. Sharp color photographs illustrate each plant in seed, seedling,
and mature stages. In addition, plants can be readily distinguished using an identification key based on vegetative
characteristics such as leaf orientation, leaf shaped, and presence or absence of hairs. A handy fold-out chart
helps with identification of those tricky grasses. Weeds that can be identified easily by characteristics such
as thorns or milky sap are listed in a series of 'shortcut' tables."
--The American Gardener
"The appeal of Weeds of the Northeast is broad, ranging from home gardeners to professional gold course managers
to farmers. The book deserves a slot in the reference library."
--American Reference Books Annual
"Weeds of the Northeast is the first comprehensive weed identification manual available for the northeastern
region of the U.S. . . . The manual will facilitate appropriate weed management strategies in horticultural or
agronomic cropping systems and will also serve home gardeners, landscape managers, pest management specialists,
and allergist."
--Weed Technology
"Lavishly illustrated and exceptionally well-done. . . . Here is a model to be emulated for California and
other weedy areas of the United States and Canada."
--Taxon 47
"[A]n outstanding identification and information guide. . . . The book provides a substantial amount of useful
information for each of the species covered in detail. . . . This will be a useful book for agriculturists, horticulturists,
land managers, and amateur and professional botanists who seek an easy and thorough guide to the ruderal flora
of the Northeast. The keys, descriptions, and photographs emphasize common names rather than scientific . . . and
are presented simply and clearly. The comparative tables are straightforward and nontechnical. The photos . . .
provide information not found in other plant identification guides and will be useful to field ecologists."
--Rhodora
"This is what a picture identification manual should be, with 3-4 photos of each of the 300 plants to show
both close-up and complete view, the seeds, and other important ID aspects."
--The American Herb Association
"This is a thorough and well-designed book that's been needed for a long time. The system of having both drawings
and photographs accompanying the description of each plant will be of great help to amateur gardeners as well as
to professional growers and horticulturists. The identification tables are also very useful."
--Elisabeth Sheldon, author of A Proper Garden: On Perennials in the Border
"Knowing your opponents is the first step in weed prevention. Weeds of the Northeast is businesslike and well
photographed--a useful tool for the conscientious gardener."
--Barbara Damrosch, author of The Garden Primer
Cornell University Press Services Web Site
March, 2000
Summary
Here, at last, is a lavishly illustrated manual for ready identification of 299 common and economically important
weeds in the region south to Virginia, north to Maine and southern Canada, and west to Wisconsin. Based on vegetative
rather than floral characteristics, this practical guide gives anyone who works with plants the ability to identify
weeds before they flower.
A dichotomous key to all the species described in the book is designed to narrow the choices to a few possible
species. Identification can then be confirmed by reading the descriptions of the species and comparing a specimen
with the drawings and photographs.
A fold-out grass identification table provides diagnostic information for weedy grasses in an easy-to-use tabular
key.
Specimens with unusual vegetative characteristics, such as thorns, square stems, whorled leaves, or milky sap,
can be rapidly identified using the shortcut identification table.
The first comprehensive weed identification manual available for the Northeast, this book will facilitate appropriate
weed management strategy in any horticultural or agronomic cropping system and will also serve home gardeners and
landscape managers, as well as pest management specialists and allergists.
Winner of the Educational Materials Award from the American Society for Horticultural Science
