Which Flower ID Books Do You Use ?

[Lancashire Lad]

Which wildflower ID book(s) do you find most useful?

I use: -

Complete British Wild Flowers (Paul Sterry)
Wild Flowers of Britain & Ireland (Rae Spencer Jones / Sarah Cutter)
Wild Flowers of Britain (Richard Fitter, Alasdair Fitter, Marjorie Blamey)
McMillan Field Guide To British Wildflowers (Franklyn Perring / Max Walters)
Wild Flowers of Britain (Roger Phillips)

Plus a few others

Regards
Mike

[aeshna5]

The New Flora/Field Flora of BI- Stace- the "bible"
Wild flower Key- Rose
Wild Flowers of Britain + Ireland- Blamey, Fitter + Fitter

These are my 1st points of call, but have many other reference books, including specialist BSBI books on individual groups such as sedges, roses, crucifers, etc. You can never have too many books- just not enough space for them!

[Gypsy Orchid]

Wild flower key F Rose
Collins pocket guide to wild flowers D McClintock & R Fitter

I have two very old books that my parents used but lots of Latin names have changed.
Flowers of the field by the Rev Johns
Illustrations of the British flora by Bentham & Hooker.

The later only has black and white line drawing. Each time we found a new flower we would enter the date and location above the illustration and I would colour them in. Quite interesting looking back through these old records .

[KeenTeen17]

yeah. fitter and fitter and blamey is very good. I also use the collins one and I have one that has pictures of lots of species pressed.

[Jennie]

My "Bible" is Wild Flowers of Britain by Roger Phillips.

I also have a delightful book of hand painted wild flowers, called A Victorian Flower Album, by Henry Terry.

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Gypsy Orchid

Illustrations of the British flora by Bentham & Hooker.

The later only has black and white line drawing. Each time we found a new flower we would enter the date and location above the illustration and I would colour them in. Quite interesting looking back through these old records .

That made me turn to the bookshelf, only to find that my book of B&W illustrations is "Illustrations of the British flora" by W H Fitch, 1916, but advertised is "Handbook of the British flora" by George Bentham. The book has a "to" bit on the inside of the cover, to THS, my Grandfather. My room has his bookcases, his telescope and binoculars and Prismatic compass. I wish I had known him better, he could be quite distant.

I use any and every book I can find, but first call is always to Rose.

[KeenTeen17]

Originally Posted by Jennie

My "Bible" is Wild Flowers of Britain by Roger Phillips.

I also have a delightful book of hand painted wild flowers, called A Victorian Flower Album, by Henry Terry.

thats the one! roger philips! I have that as well! he presses the flowers and photographs them doesn't he?

[diggleken]

I was brainwashed in A level biology (many years ago!) and use Clapham, Tutin and Warburg for all minute details, when needed, but also loads of up to date modern books - John Fisher is good for rarities and Collins guides are always pretty good.
You can never have enough for reference though.
(same for birds and no doubt others!)
Ken

[KeenTeen17]

you did a level biology? me too! did you have the opportunity to do some nature stuff for your course? eg flowers

[svenrufus]

Rose and Stace have done me proud throughout my career, both professional and amateur.
However, I have also had to 'resort' to coming to WAB for on at least one occassion - I was completely stumped, but the knowledge here did not let me down. Pickerelweed was the mystery plant as I recall.