Can you recommend a good reference book on ferns and grasses?

[Ludd]

Hallo!

After had great fun identifying the wild flowers in our woods I would like to tackle the many ferns and grasses we have here in our biodiversity project. (west coast of Scotland)

I find it difficult to decide which book is a good one.

Requirements:
for the purpose of easily identifying species. I am new in ferns and grasses but have some experience in reference books.
complete ( or near complete ) list of species
good drawings or pictures
some more information is good, but not necessary.

Which one do you think I should get?

Ludd

[RobSutton]

Colour Identification Guide to the Grasses, Sedges, Rushes and Ferns of the British Isles and north-western Europe by Francis Rose Published by Viking Books ISBN 0-670-80688-9 - but it is expensive at £50.

For ferns try The Fern Guide by James Merryweather and Michael Hill published by the Field Studies Council.

Even better for grasses I'd suggest is going on one of the FSC's Grass Identification courses that they hold at various Field Centres.

[aeshna5]

Agree the Rose guide mentioned above by Rob is excellent, but in addition to being on the pricy side, is fairly large format so not so good for taking in the field- certainly not fitting in a pocket.

There is a good Collins Pocket Guide to Grasses, Sedges, Rushes + Ferns of Britain + Northern Europe by Fitter, Fitter + Farrer, which is more field friendly. Not sure if it's generally available but I'm sure you could track down a second hand copy on the web.