Wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a good resource (online, or preferably field book) for tree/plant identification. Northeast (NY) US? Can't seem to find anything that helps identify by leaf, bark, or maybe even what the wood looks like split. Would be great if they also included tips on each species' uses for fire, food, medicine, shelter, etc. Thanks! William
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Trees/Plants identification??
- Thread starter william O
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first step would be an Audobon field guide to the eastern US they are cheap and have full color photo plates.
Also
Edible wild plants (a Northe American Field guide) by Elias&dykeman is good as well
however there are allot of plants that can look similar some are edible and some can be toxic so eating plants by book alone can be a risky proposition..get the books and study them and than consult a local expert...if you are anywhere near the NYC area Steve brill is a good resource.. if you are up north The head instructor at the Wilderness Learning Center is top notch
Also
Edible wild plants (a Northe American Field guide) by Elias&dykeman is good as well
however there are allot of plants that can look similar some are edible and some can be toxic so eating plants by book alone can be a risky proposition..get the books and study them and than consult a local expert...if you are anywhere near the NYC area Steve brill is a good resource.. if you are up north The head instructor at the Wilderness Learning Center is top notch
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The 3 most recommended plant ID books, here in Ontario, are:
A Field Guide to Wildflowers, Roger Tory Peterson/ Margaret McKenny, Houghton Mifflin, 1968, ISBN# 0-395-183251
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers - Eastern, Wm. A. Niering/Nancy C. Olmstead, Alfred A. Knopf, 1995, ISBN#
0-394-50432-1 (this is the one Rescue Riley mentioned)
Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, Lawrence Newcomb, Little Brown & Co., 1977, ISBN# 0-316-60442-9
The last one is probably most often recommended as it has a unique keying system to help identify the plants.
As for trees, the gold standard has been:
Trees in Canada, John Laird Farrar, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1995, ISBN#
1-55041-199-3
But recently, I received a relatively new ID book for trees that looks excellent - tons of colour prints, natural range coverage etc. I haven't used it much, yet, but looking through it suggests if you only buy one, this is probably it:
Identifying Trees, Williams, Stackpole, 2007, ISBN# 13: 978-0-8117-3360-1
If anybody disagrees with this list or has better suggestions, please post.
As for:
Lots of luck with that. Usually, books that identify usage have very poor ID information, if any at all.
Doc
A Field Guide to Wildflowers, Roger Tory Peterson/ Margaret McKenny, Houghton Mifflin, 1968, ISBN# 0-395-183251
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers - Eastern, Wm. A. Niering/Nancy C. Olmstead, Alfred A. Knopf, 1995, ISBN#
0-394-50432-1 (this is the one Rescue Riley mentioned)
Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, Lawrence Newcomb, Little Brown & Co., 1977, ISBN# 0-316-60442-9
The last one is probably most often recommended as it has a unique keying system to help identify the plants.
As for trees, the gold standard has been:
Trees in Canada, John Laird Farrar, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1995, ISBN#
1-55041-199-3
But recently, I received a relatively new ID book for trees that looks excellent - tons of colour prints, natural range coverage etc. I haven't used it much, yet, but looking through it suggests if you only buy one, this is probably it:
Identifying Trees, Williams, Stackpole, 2007, ISBN# 13: 978-0-8117-3360-1
If anybody disagrees with this list or has better suggestions, please post.
As for:
Lots of luck with that. Usually, books that identify usage have very poor ID information, if any at all.
Doc
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Will second Doc's recommendation of Newcomb's for wildflowers. There is not a better key available for wildflowers.
For trees, etc., suggest you look (or ask) someone as a U.S. Forest Service and State Park office near you. They usually will know what is best for the area and/or will be selling what the state's university press offers. Most of my library comes from a state's university press and I have find it more informative than guides that cover a large geography in most cases. And for local, make sure there is a winter tree key in the book.
Not so much for ID, but these are available online in PDF...
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/Spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm
Here is another website for your area...
http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Survival/Pages/home.html
For trees, etc., suggest you look (or ask) someone as a U.S. Forest Service and State Park office near you. They usually will know what is best for the area and/or will be selling what the state's university press offers. Most of my library comes from a state's university press and I have find it more informative than guides that cover a large geography in most cases. And for local, make sure there is a winter tree key in the book.
Not so much for ID, but these are available online in PDF...
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/Spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm
Here is another website for your area...
http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Survival/Pages/home.html
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The SAS survival guide written by John "Lofty" Wiseman has real good info on wild eatables and identification.
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- 9,491
William I reccomend you look into doing a plant walk with Marty Simon. He has a free get together coming up and runs a school in upstate NY called the Wilderness Learning Center.
http://weteachu.com/
He is absolutely phenominal in his teaching and instruction. When it comes to plant and tree identification he is a wizzard as well.
He always does a plant walk at his gatherings. You will get a ton of info as well as an idea of how he runs his school.
Marty as well as Doc Canada here have helped me a great deal and both are extremely knowledgeable in this field.
Quiet Bear appears to be ahead of the game as well!
http://weteachu.com/
He is absolutely phenominal in his teaching and instruction. When it comes to plant and tree identification he is a wizzard as well.
He always does a plant walk at his gatherings. You will get a ton of info as well as an idea of how he runs his school.
Marty as well as Doc Canada here have helped me a great deal and both are extremely knowledgeable in this field.
Quiet Bear appears to be ahead of the game as well!
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- Apr 14, 2006
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- 7,021
William O,
I didn't realize you were in NY. I would second Rescue Riley's suggestion about trying to go on a hike with Steve Brill. I would if I could. Here's his website.
I just ordered a third book from him last night.
I have also heard nothing but great things about Marty Simon's plant walks.
Doc
I didn't realize you were in NY. I would second Rescue Riley's suggestion about trying to go on a hike with Steve Brill. I would if I could. Here's his website.
I just ordered a third book from him last night.
I have also heard nothing but great things about Marty Simon's plant walks.
Doc
Last edited:
Thanks again for all the advice. I just went on amazon and orderd Identifying Trees, and three Audobon field guides (trees, birds, mamals). I guess I got a little carried away! I'm enjoying learning to appreciate the woods around me though. Thanks again!