Botanical equipment

[leifus]

Hi everyone,

My birthday is fast approaching and my parents have offered to buy me some sort of wildflower-related equipment/books sort of thing. I have a very good camera and lens, a GPS, very good books etc and was wondering what I could ask for.

I had thought about a really decent hand lens, but wondered if anyone here could give me any other ideas.....? books, equipment, anything really. Thanks!

[JennyS]

How about a dissecting microscope?

[stigofthedump]

Originally Posted by JennyS

How about a dissecting microscope?

I would second that. Brunel do a field example, complete with battery LED lighting for 36 quid ex vat.


No matter what you decide on.....Happy Birthday when it comes along

Vince

[Mitty]

Hiya,

I recently got The Vegetative Key to the British Flora by John Poland and Eric Clement and its great! It uses leaves or buds rather than flowers or fruits to key out species so can be used most of the year. Once you read the how to in the introduction you can usually find the species in 3 page turns. But, since I'm a novice, I had to keep checking the glossary to check technical terms like ligule and petiole, easy to learn though.

There was another thread on it Vegetative Key to the British Flora

[Hobjob]

How much are they shelling out?

How about a specialized week-end course? check out Field Studies Centres. though that is far more than a book or hand-lens.

Or a trip to some specialized habitat that you have yet to visit?

[davecatt]

Hi Leifus

Opticron produce a monoculor with macro capability called The Galleryscope which can be used as a 8x magnifier for about £60 and can be converted to a 25x mag field microscpe with the optional adapter about £20 I've used the same one for five years and am quite happy with its versatility in the field.

Dave

[earthdragon64]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

How much are they shelling out?

How about a specialized week-end course? check out Field Studies Centres. though that is far more than a book or hand-lens.

Or a trip to some specialized habitat that you have yet to visit?

Good idea, the BSBI run Field Identification Skills Certificates, and identification courses. If you go to the BSBI website and click on "Training" from the menu, there is more information.

Happy Birthday when it comes.

[leifus]

Originally Posted by Mitty

Hiya,

I recently got The Vegetative Key to the British Flora by John Poland and Eric Clement and its great! It uses leaves or buds rather than flowers or fruits to key out species so can be used most of the year. Once you read the how to in the introduction you can usually find the species in 3 page turns. But, since I'm a novice, I had to keep checking the glossary to check technical terms like ligule and petiole, easy to learn though.

There was another thread on it Vegetative Key to the British Flora

thanks everyone for your suggestions! It's been a real help.

I forgot to mention we do have a microscope (although its my dads), but it was a good idea!

I've decided to go for the vegetative key - as I've met one of the authors and the reviews seem very good.

One other question - would you recommend Francis Rose? I have the latest Collins flower guide by David Streeter which is very good (although the illustrations could be better) but would it compliment this book to have both? It's only £12 on amazon at the moment....

[JennyS]

One other question - would you recommend Francis Rose?

Yes, and maybe consider getting a copy of the 'New Flora of the British Isles' by Clive Stace - very useful though it is heavy going

[Paul mabbott]

Pressed flowers can make an interesting aide-memoire to studies. In the case that you find something really interesting then the material is there for further investigation. Not to be considered for endangered species, of course. However collecting some typical flowers/foliage and pressing them can give you something to do in the darker season of the year - sort and mount your collection!