Vegetative Key to the British Flora

[John Poland]

Hi all,

just a quick message to say thank you to all the members who helped with this project. The Vegetative Key to the British Flora is now published and I would welcome any future feedback on the keys by users (either on the forum or by PM). I hope to continually improve the keys so any comments/corrections from members would be very much appreciated.

Hope to see some of you around this year!

Best wishes,

John Poland

[IanS]

hi
Is this published on-line somewhere? or in a book?

[wild flower]

The Vegetative Key to the British Flora is a book ISBN 13:978-0-9560144-0-5 I got mine from the Botanical Society of the British Isles, its very good.

[leifus]

see:

The Vegetative Key to the British Flora: Amazon.co.uk: J. Poland, E.J. Clement: Books

[Hedge Witch]

This is definitely going on my wish list

[poschiavanus]

I've only had mine just over a week and have already learnt a couple of useful things: for example looking at the shape of the ligule to split the two Pond Sedges. Lots of coverage of trees, shrubs and aliens which I was not expecting (for instance extensive coverage of Cotoneaster).

Although I'm not a fan of indented keys the rationale for choosing this method of presentation, and more particularly sedulously keeping to short keys (usually no more than 2 pages) compensates for not having both leads together.

The coding of keys by one, two and more alphabetic codes works well. It's easy to guess which genera are likely to have keys of their own in the last third of the book, and in time I'm sure I'll jump to section S for plants with 1-pinnate leaves.

My only complaint (rather a wish) is that a 'thumb index' would have made finding each section easier. I'm sure those who use this regularly in the field will add something of this sort (a neat idea I've seen recently is to colour the open end of the book with different fluorescent pens).

posch

[Jonny]

Looks great, but how does it differ from Francis Rose's Wildflower Key..? (and others such like it).

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by poschiavanus

My only complaint (rather a wish) is that a 'thumb index' would have made finding each section easier. I'm sure those who use this regularly in the field will add something of this sort

I think that adds masively to the cost of printing.

Asked for this for my recent birthday from kids - just
sent them a reminder !!!!!!

[John Poland]

Originally Posted by Jonny

Looks great, but how does it differ from Francis Rose's Wildflower Key..? (and others such like it).

Hi Jonny,

the key is radically different from other plant guides. It enables the user to easily identify 3,000 native and alien plants without flowers or fruit, with nothing more than a basic hand lens (usually identified correctly within three turns of a page and often in under 30 seconds!!). The vegetative keys in the Wild Flower Key cover very few species (although it was pioneering work).

There are some sample pages of the Veg Key on the NHBS Environmental Bookstore website if you want a closer look.

Glad members are finding it useful!

Best wishes,

John

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by John Poland

Hi Jonny,

the key is radically different from other plant guides. It enables the user to easily identify 3,000 native and alien plants without flowers or fruit, with nothing more than a basic hand lens (usually identified correctly within three turns of a page and often in under 30 seconds!!). The vegetative keys in the Wild Flower Key cover very few species (although it was pioneering work).

There are some sample pages of the Veg Key on the NHBS Environmental Bookstore website if you want a closer look.

Glad members are finding it useful!

Best wishes,

John

OK, I am getting excited... But that is quite a claim, a plant id in under 30 seconds (usually) using just vegetation keys.
Are you assuming the user to be a complete novice, an intermediate or an advanced plant hunter..?
I am looking forward to buying the book and trying it out..