Herb Majik

[Nic Ramirez]

Hey fellas-

I was curious if anyone had a good recommendation for the best field identification guide for plants in Washington state and/or Alaska?

I have another book about the best plants for cordage, medicine, herbs & spices, soaps etc. Just need a manual to positively ID all plants before use.

 

[abo4ster]

Can't help you on a specific book as my area of expertise is the southeast. However, dendrology is my hobby, so I can tell you plan on getting more than one book. One never covers everything and having a second reference can assist with verification. If you are near a National Forest, a good place to start is one of thier Visitor Centers. They seem to always have good selections from whichever University Press is local. If you find a book published by a local university, hit the bibliography. You should be in business after that.

By the way, USFS Visitor Centers sometimes have good ethnobotony information. Good luck.

 

[Kamo]

there is a plant list somewhere for the areas you mention...start with a college or university botany dept for a manual of the flora..some enterprising graduate student has done lots of field work to get an advanced degree in taxonmic botany...prolly no single source will be complete..you may have to use a variety of info...check around for a local wildflower group or club also...there may well be some excellent amateur botanists that will be of great benefit in showing you some of the local plant life..sorry but my experience in plant identification is from the SE US like QuietBear

 

[coyotlviejo]

I have a book at home that is called something like "Mountain Plants of the Pacific Northwest" (I think). It covers the mountains from N. Oregon to S. Alaska and has excellent pictures along with taxonomical descriptions. Do a google search and you should find it easily enough.

Your local national forests should also have plant inventory lists that show every documented species in the forest.

Coyo~