What are the best Tree I.D books?

marks887

Ok, there have probably been threads on this before, anyway I want opinions on the best tree identification books. Obviously no one book will cover everything but lets say, a good guide to conifers or deciduous trees and a Key that is simple to use for direction!

I can look at a tree, and have a good idea what it is, for example a Pinus sp. but would like a book that goes into detail such as number of needles, length etc etc etc.

derwoodii

One of my favorite. Trees in Britain, Europe and North America by Sheila Grant Roger Phillips. You nay not be a botanist to use this one
Has easy to find pages of nice big well collated pictures with color plates of leave and bark and then links to the trees description.

Have look around seem to be heaps n cheap

Brent Ferris

I like Michael Dirr's books. One is Manual of Woody Landscape Plants - all accurate hand drawn characteristics, and lots of detail in the text. Another is Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs - good detail and colour plates.

When you're looking at a book, if it has hand drawings they must be accurate enough to be able to identify the plant without knowing anything about it (Botanical artists do it best). It sounds obvious, but I have seen many books where I have thought "I guess that plant looks like that" - and if you think that for something you know, you'll never be able to use the guide for something you don't.

Colour plates are nice, but most books just show what a mature tree looks like, and good identification needs closeups of fruit and foliage, and arrangements etc.

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