Synopses & Reviews
Weeds threaten the safe, efficient, and sustainable production of food, feed, fiber, and biofuel throughout the world. Featuring more than fourteen hundred full-color photographs, this handy guide provides essential information on more than 350 of the most troublesome weedy and invasive plants found in the midwestern United States and central Canada.
Drawing on the expertise of more than forty weed scientists and botanists, the guide identifies each plant at various stages of its life and offers useful details about its origin, habitat, morphology, biology, distribution, and toxic properties. The book also includes illustrations of the most common characteristics of plants and terms used to describe them, a key to plant families included in the book, a glossary of frequently used terms, a bibliography, and indexes of scientific and common plant names.
This is an essential guide for agronomists, crop and soil scientists, horticulturists, botanists, Cooperative Extension Service agents, farmers, gardeners, students in agriculture and biology, lawn care professionals, green industry professionals, nursery owners, government quarantine workers, and land preservationists.
Each species account includes:
- Up to four full-color photographs showing seed, seedling, plant, flower, and other unique plant features
- Distribution map
- For grasses, a line drawing of the collar, where the leaf joins the stem, an important identifying characteristic
- Scientific names, common names, and local synonyms of common names
- Vegetative characteristics for seedlings and leaves
- Special identifying characteristics
- Reproductive characteristics
- Toxic properties
States and provinces covered:
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas (northeastern)
- Kentucky (northern)
- Manitoba (southern half)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri (upper half)
- Nebraska (eastern)
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Ontario (southern half)
- Quebec (southwestern corner)
- Saskatchewan (southeastern)
- South Dakota (eastern half)
- Wisconsin
Review
"Weeds of North America offers excellent narratives and fantastic pictures of all growing stages of each weed assisting in identifying various species through numerous means.and#160;It is a very handy, easy-to-use guide with Quick identifications, descriptions, and color photos which will benefit field staff in accomplishing weed management programs."
Review
"The encyclopedic Weeds of North America,and#160;by Richard Dickinson and France Royer, is going to have pride of place on my bedside table for years to come. It covers more than 600 species from 69 plant families at every stage of growth. Royerand#8217;s photographs are almost perversely alluring. . . .and#160;How can you not be ensnared by a book populated by prostrate pigweed, tansy ragwort and dog-strangling vine?"
Review
"Encyclopedic in scope, Dickinson and Royerand#8217;s Weeds of North America is the first to cover North American weeds at every stage of growth. Five hundred species are included, making this an essential reference for all who wish to understand the science of the all-powerful weed."
Review
andldquo;Beautiful color images. . . . This comprehensive identification guide will aid in weed ecology and control.andrdquo;
Review
andquot;An ambitious identification guide laid out in the clearest possible terms.andquot;
Review
andquot;This work by plant taxonomist Dickinson and photographer Royer will be useful for botanists, range scientists, and other professionals; gardeners; and also concerned citizens, who play an increasingly active role in weed identification and control. The key to species is elegantly brief with thumbnail photos and a few words for demarcation; it is suitable for use by dedicated amateurs.andquot;
Review
2015 Winner
Synopsis
Many a gardener has cursed the vitality and versatility of weeds. But for every extra few hours of toiling they may cause the individual gardener, they reap millions of costs upon industriesand#151;from agriculture to landscape architecture to golf courses. In each of these settings, weeds compete for resources, often triumphantly; they provide new vectors for plant pathogens, and are also known for their natural irritation in the form of toxins, thorns, prickles, etc. In the state of California alone, it is estimated that weeds cause nearly $82 million dollars in damage a year.
This new version includes more species (275 primary species with an additional 225 species in the main text), additional common names, and new information such as seed viability, germination requirements, and Other Species of Concern. The guide includes identification keys that use thumbnail photos. Plant families are arranged by scientific name, and each family has a short description and image characteristic of the family. Within each family, the species are arranged alphabetically by scientific name. Each species treatment covers two facing pages, and will include text and 3and#150;5 images
Synopsis
and#8220;What is a
weed,and#8221; opined Emerson, and#8220;but a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered?and#8221; While that may be a worthy notion in theory, these plants of undiscovered virtue cause endless hours of toil for backyard gardeners. Wherever they take root, weeds compete for resources, and most often win. They also wreak havoc on industryand#8212;from agriculture to golf courses to civic landscape projects, vast amounts of money are spent to eradicate these virile and versatile invaders. With so much at stake, reliable information on weeds and their characteristics is crucial. Richard Dickinson and France Royer shed light on this complex world with
Weeds of North America, the essential reference for all who wish to understand the science of the all-powerful weed.
Encyclopedic in scope, the book is the first to cover North American weeds at every stage of growth. The book is organized by plant family, and more than five hundred species are featured. Each receives a two-page spread with images and text identification keys. Species are arranged within family alphabetically by scientific name, and entries include vital information on seed viability and germination requirements.
Whether you believe, like Donald Culross Peattie, that and#8220;a weed is a plant out of place,and#8221; or align with Elizabeth Wheeler Wilcoxand#8217;s and#8220;weeds are but unloved flowers,and#8221; Dickinson and Royer provide much-needed background on these intrusive organisms. In the battle with weeds, knowledge truly is power. Weeds of North America is the perfect tool for gardeners, as well as anyone working in the business of weed ecology and control.
About the Author
Charles T. Bryson is a research botanist for the United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) at the Southern Weed Science Research Unit in Stoneville, Mississippi. Michael S. DeFelice is a senior manager at Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Bryson and DeFelice are authors of Weeds of the South. Arlyn W. Evans is a retired research biologist for E. I. duPont de Nemours & Co.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ix
Introduction 1
Common Terminology 5
Keys to Plant Families 13
Plant Fmailies
Nonflowering Plants
Equisetophytes
Equisetaceae (Horsetail) 23
Pteridophytes
Dennstaeditaceae (Fern) 27
Flowering Plants
MAgnoliopsida - Dicots
Aceraceae (Maple) 31
Amaranthaceae (Pigweed) 32
Anacardiaceae (Cashew) 40
Apiaceae (Parsley) 43
Apocynaceae (Dogbane) 47
Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed) 48
Bignoniaceae (Bignonia) 135
Boraginaceae (Borage) 136
Brassicaceae (Mustard) 140
Cactaceae (Cactus) 164
Campanulaceae (Bellflower) 166
Cannabaceae (Hemp) 167
Capparaceae (Caper) 168
Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle) 170
Caryophyllaceae (Pink) 173
Chenopodiaceae (goosefoot) 183
Clusiaceae (St. Johnswort) 189
Convolvulaceae (Morningglory) 190
Cucurbitaceae (Cucumber) 196
Cuscutaceae (Dodder) 199
Dipsacaceae (Teasel) 201
Elaeagnaceae (Olive) 203
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge) 205
Fabaceae (Bean) 216
Geraniaceae (Geranium) 228
Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf) 229
Lamiaceae (Mint) 230
Lythraceae (Loosestrife) 238
Malvaceae (Mallow) 239
Molluginaceae (Carpetweed) 245
Moraceae (Mulberry) 246
Nyctaginaceae (Four o'clock) 247
Onagraceae (Evening primrose) 248
Oxalidaceae (Wood sorrel) 248
Pedaliaceae (Unicorn-plant) 252
Phytolaccaceae (Pokeweed) 253
Plantaginaceae (Plantain) 254
Polugonaceae (Buckwheat) 259
Portulacaceae (Purslane) 269
Primulaceae (Primrose) 270
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) 271
Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn) 274
Rosaceae (Rose) 275
Rubiaceae (Madder) 279
Saururaceae (Lizardtail) 283
Scrophulariaceae (Figwort)
Simaroubaceae (Quassia) 293
Solanaceae (Nightshade) 294
Urticaceae (Nettle) 303
Verbenaceae (Vervain) 304
Violaceae (Violet) 307
Vitaceae (Grape) 311
Zygophyllaceae (Caltrop) 312
Liliopsidea-Monocots
Alismataceae (Water plantain) 315
Commelinaceae (Spiderwort) 316
Cyperaceae (Sedge) 317
Juncaceae (Rush) 325
Lemnaceae (Duckweed) 326
Liliaceae (Lily) 327
Poaceae (Grass) 330
Pontederiaceae (Pickerel-weed) 386
Typhaceae (Cattail) 387
Glossary 389
Bibliography 403
Contributors 409
Photo Credits 413
Index 415