Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The most complete guide ever written on the medicinal plants of western North America. Peterson Field Guide to Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs offers the best information in the world on the current popular and traditional uses of the nearly 500 species covered, much of it available for the first time. More than 530 color photographs illustrate the plants and their flowers, leaves, and fruits. The descriptive text combines scientific, ethnobotanical, and cross-cultural information, making this field guide unique. An index to medical topics is helpful for quickly locating information on specific ailments. Symbols next to the plant descriptions provide quick visual warnings for poisonous and allergenic plants. Organized by flower color for fast identification, this guide is an essential aid to appreciating native plants and the wild areas they inhabit.
For more than 85 years, Peterson Field Guides have set the standard by which other field guides are measured. Comprehensive and authoritative, they are essential additions to any naturalist's bookshelf or backpack.
Synopsis
The most complete work on the medicinal plants of western North America, this guide offers the best information in the world on the nearly 500 species covered, much of it available for the first time. More than 530 color photographs illustrate the plants. An index to medical topics helps locate information on specific ailments. Symbols next to the plant descriptions provide quick visual warnings for poisonous and allergenic plants. Organized by flower color for fast identification, this guide is an essential aid to appreciating native plants and the wild areas they inhabit.
About the Author
Steven Foster has written numerous books and magazine articles on the medicinal use of herbs. He is the coauthor of the Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America.Roger Tory Peterson, one of the world's greatest naturalists, received every major award for ornithology, natural science, and conservation, as well as numerous honorary degrees, medals, and citations, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Peterson Identification System has been called the greatest invention since binoculars, and the Peterson Field Guides®are credited with helping to set the stage for the environmental movement.Christopher Hobbs has written many books on herbal medicine, including Herbs for Dummies and Dietary Supplements for Dummies.
Table of Contents
Preface v Acknowledgments xiii How to Use This Book 1 General Organization 1 Identifying Plants 2 Uses 7 Warnings 10 Conservation and Harvesting 10 A Final Word of Caution 13 White or Whitish Flowers 17 Yellow Flowers 96 Orange Flowers 150 Pink to Red Flowers 154 Violet to Blue Flowers 186 Green to Brown Flowers 222 Shrubs 250 Trees 323 Woody Vines 365 Ferns and Fern Allies 371 Grasses and Grasslike Plants 380 Glossary 389 Photo Credits 396 References 398 Life List 404 Index to Plants 415 Index to Medical Topics 433