Product Description

Collins Tree Guide is a definitive, fully-illustrated guide to the trees of Britain and non-Mediterranean Europe. Species description include details of shape, height, the appearance of leaves, bark, buds and flowers, as well as similar trees and variants. Containing some of the finest original tree illustrations ever produced, each species is described and pictures on the same page for easy reference.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3866 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-03
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

Synopsis
The definitive, fully-illustrated guide to the trees of Britain and non-Mediterranean Europe. This brand-new field guide to the trees of northern Europe contains some of the finest original tree illustrations ever produced. The introduction contains illustrations of the main leaves, buds, and firs you are likely to find, and these provide the starting point for identification by leading you to a 'key' species. Within each tree family there is a list of key species and a guide to the most important features to look for when identifying a particular tree from that family. Then individual species are clearly described and a detailed illustration is given on the same page. Covering all the tree species found outside the major arboretums, from the olive tree to the eucalyptus, this is one of the most important tree guides to have appeared in the last 20 years. The illustrations are annotated with essential identification features, and the text highlights the most important things to look for to aid fast and accurate identification. There is also coverage of all the species native to Southern Europe.

About the Author
Owen Johnson is Assistant Registrar to the Tree Register, and has spent the last ten years studying and recording trees at many hundreds of estates around Britain; he also manages a nature reserve for Sussex wildlife Trust. He is author of The Sussex Tree Book (1998) and The Kent Tree Book.

David More has been a botanical illustrator for many years. His previous books include Collins Gem Trees.

Customer Reviews

Really impressive
Unequivocally superb. Brilliant aid to identification, which really works. The illustrations are clear, the information is comprehensive. My own tree knowledge is basic; but I would imagine this working for those far more knowledgeable as well. A real labour of love from the author and illustrator, which is a real pleasure to consult and browse through.

Great for enthusiasts, helpful for beginners
Like many Collins guides, this is the one you want if you want to know pretty much everything. The range of species is vast and covers many of the unusual trees you'll find in aboreta, too. No other portable guide comes close. Oxford University Press's recent Trees: A field guide to the trees of Britain and Northern Europe is the only photographic contender, which has the additional benefit of distribution maps of the natural range of many species. My favourite tree guide, however, remains Cassell's Trees of Britain and Northern Europe - monster publication which lacks the illustrative detail of the Collins guide but helps guide you through the hardiness and suitability of trees for gardens, parks, etc. So whilst Collins is very much a naturalist's guide, Cassells is more geared towards tree planters and admirers.

Great Text Book
I use this book in my Woody Plant classes at Temple University, in the US because the drawings are amazingly accurate. At the beginning of the book there is an entire section devoted to twig drawings that few books have. It makes twig comparisons much easier for winter ID.

In addition, the book also has wonderful leaf drawings that are also invaluable for helping with ID and comparisons.