BOOK REVIEW

1 Pages·1998·0.36 MB·English

by  Review By: John J Pipoly

492 SiDA18(2)
BOOKREVIEW
Ric;har[^ Uva,Josei'II NhalandJosi^pii Diiomaso. 1997.Weedsofthe
Northeast.(ISBN0-8014-3391-6(hbk);ISBN0-8014-8334-4(pbk).
CornellUniversityPress,SageHouse,512EStateStreet,Ithaca,NY
14850.$29.95,397pp,colorphotographs.
Thishookcontainspracticalkeys,sht)itciitidentificationtables,anddesci'i|ilionstor299
commonagriculturalweedsintheareaboimdedbysoutheastern(Canada,Virginia,and
Wisconsin.Foreachspecies,thedescriptionconsistsotcommonname,scientidcname,
importantcommonnamesynonymsort;ixonomicsynonyms,ageneraldescription,propagation/
phenology,seedlingdescription,matureplantdescription(verybrief),rootsandimder-
groundstructines,Howersandtruit(whenapplicable),postsenescencecharacteristics,
habitat,distributionandsimilarspecies.Onthefacingpagefireachofthesedescriptions
arelovelycolorphotographsofthehabit,alinedrawingofadrawingand/orphotoofthe
inflorescenceorflower(oi-otherreproductivestructtirefornon-angiospcrmousplants),
seemortrunk,andseeds. Therearealsoseveralcomparisonrabiesinthebackofthebook
withsalientfeaturesofcloselyrelatedorsimilai-lookingspecies,;uiclafold-outgrassidentification
table.Avegetativekeyrunsfrompage9topage17,andwhilenotdichotomous,seems
fairlyeasytouse.
Whilenotexhaustive,andmissingoneofmyfavoriteroadsideweeds,Antennaria(Asteraceae),
itisawonderfulpocketguidefortheamateurnatureenthusiast,gardeners,farmers,and
othersinterestedinweeds.IalsothoughtitstrangeAndrewF.Senesacisanauthoronthe
insidehackcover,butnotontheIronicover,noronthetitlepage,'['hehighquaHtvof
thephotosandillustrations,up-to-datenomenclature,glossary,indexandotherfeatures
makethisbookattractive,user-friendlyandworthbuying.Icertainlyrecommenditto
anyoneasasupiilementalbook,especiallyforuseinpoisoncontrolcentersandother
placeswherepeoplebringinweedsthateithertheirchildrenorpetshaveeaten.-/«/^///.
Pilwlylll
SiDA18(2):492. 1998