Collins Tree Guide

by Owen Johnson

The definitive, fully-illustrated guide to the trees of Britain and non-Mediterranean Europe. This brand-new field guide to the trees of northern Europe contains some of the finest original tree illustrations ever produced. The introduction contains illustrations of the main leaves, buds, and firs you are likely to find, and these provide the starting point for identification by leading you to a 'key' species. Within each tree family there is a list of key species and a guide to the most important features to look for when identifying a particular tree from that family. Then individual species are clearly described and a detailed illustration is given on the same page. Covering all the tree species found outside the major arboretums, from the olive tree to the eucalyptus, this is one of the most important tree guides to have appeared in the last 20 years. The illustrations are annotated with essential identification features, and the text highlights the most important things to look for to aid fast and accurate identification. There is also coverage of all the species native to Southern Europe.

Genres: Reference, Nature, Nonfiction, Science, Plants, Field Guides, Biology

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[.*•. ☾ sephia ☾ .•*. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book with all the trees you would need to identify in the UK! I can’t wait to go out and start identifying trees from the leaves, branches, or rather the whole tree itself! The illustrations are well done so you can clearly see what you need to identify, and the book is simple to look back and forth if needed. I’m exited to use this book. 🌲🍃

[Benjamin Redwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheating slightly, as I haven't read it cover to cover (although that would be a feat in itself): I have however gone out several times with it over the past two weeks, and gained a much stronger sense of the overall genera of the trees I keep seeing, if not always the exact species. The pictures are great, and there are several helpful tables in the front for use in-field, such as leaf diagrams and stem/bud diagrams. Perfect for beginners, but there's enough detail here for experts too. Had a couple of exciting finds - identified a blue atlas cedar in the Vienna Central Cemetery, while also realising that the enormous, peculiar, pungent seed/fruit that I used to find in Carol Park in Bucharest belong to the osage orange tree, which are a notably rare tree in the British Isles (but incredibly easy to access within Bucharest!) In conclusion, I can safely say tree-spotting is significantly easier than birdwatching; the targets are much larger and noticeably slower.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This books had more accurate and more reliable descriptions about each trees species than other books on this subject. There was also a bigger selection of species described than other books. the only problem was the key at the front of the book was not very clear with weird drawings of leaaves and no desciptions. keying a tree out with this book was not easy and I would reccoment that anybody seriously interested in keying out trees should look for a differnt book to this one as it will only do your head in....

[Lore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most incredible guide to British Trees that I have found!

I am on a mission to learn about our native trees and have pocket guides and online resources that I am using while out and about, to help me recognise and learn about these magnificent beings, but this book is akin to the Oxford Dictionary for trees…incredibly detailed, with beautiful and accurate illustrations and descriptions.

It is hefty (so not something for taking on a long hike) but for an amble to go and meet trees and try to identify them during all seasons of the year, this is the most brilliant resource!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very useful identification guide, the desciptions can be used by both amateurs and professionals and the image plates clear and easy to use, I particularly like the leaf guide at the front of the book which provides a quick reference guide when in the field. Although a bulky for field use it is useful to have and makes tree id much easier than some other guides I've looked at.

[Steve Halton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finest tree field guide currently in print. Stunning artworks. . .

[miha · Rating 4 out of 5]

in sem jo vrnu v knjižnco

zlo mi je bla všeč

mogoče si jo kupim

mogoče

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very solid day-to-day reference book, for both amateur and professional use.