Field Manual of Michigan Flora

by Edward G. Voss, Anton A. Reznicek, U-M U-M Herbarium

Field Manual of Michigan Flora is the most up-to-date guide available for all seed plants growing wild in Michigan. Significantly expanding and updating the three-volume Michigan Flora , the book incorporates the discoveries of numerous additional species, recent systematic research, and a vast trove of new information on the shifting distributions of Michigan species. It presents concise identification keys, information about habitats, and completely updated distribution maps for all the seed plants, native or naturalized, that have been recorded from the state, fully treating over 2,700 species. All non-native species are included with notes on their first discovery in the state and comments on invasive tendencies. Rare native species that appear to be declining or to have shrinking ranges are also noted. This book is an essential reference for anyone interested in appreciating Michigan's natural heritage and understanding our ever-changing environment.

Genres: Gardening

1008 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 2011

About the author

Eminent Michigan botanist, Edward G. Voss, was born in Delaware, Ohio. Ed spent his entire professional career, including a productive retirement that began in 1996, at the University of Michigan, studying the plants and Lepidoptera of his adopted state.

Dr. Voss received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Michigan in 1954. He is a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, served as Rapporteur-general for botanical nomenclature at the XIII International Botanical Congress (Sydney, 1981) and was editor of The Michigan Botanist vols. 1-15 (1962-1976). The first volume of his Michigan Flora was honored by a Resolution of the Michigan Senate in 1972; the second volume received the H.A. Gleason Award of the New York Botanical Garden; the third and final volume was published late in 1996. Dr. Voss was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, by Denison University, his undergraduate alma mater, in 2003.

He is best known among botanists for his three volume Michigan Flora, plus his work on botanical history, especially his "Botanical Beachcombers," and for his long service to the International Association of Plant Taxonomy, serving as secretary of the editorial committee of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature from 1969 to 1981 and chairman from 1981 to 1987. Ed also had a strong interest in Lepidoptera, publishing a number of papers on the butterflies and moths of northern Michigan. He was a highly skilled field botanist and collector, a dedicated teacher who was very focused on showing students the living plants in their natural settings, especially during his many summers teaching at the University of Michigan Biological Station, and a strong advocate for plants and their environments.

Reviews

[Miles Vorkosigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you really want to get ALL of the relevant information about a plant (or a genus, family, etc.) - what you really need is a regional flora. While Gray's Manual of Botany, etc. are wonderful resources, these older references are so very very outdated, and the taxonomy has changed so dramatically that there are extremely difficult to use.

We have found Michigan Flora reference invaluable. Michigan is close enough to Ontario with similar enough climate and habitats that the book is very useful here. NOT a field guide - you will certainly want to take notes and/or photos and/or pressed leaves in the field so that you can consult Voss when you get home.

[mosstime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m finally marking this as “read” after countless hours of utilizing this text in school, work, and recreation over the years. It’s an incredible resource for botanists of the Great Lakes area. Preparing to move to a new region and trying to source reliable keys for the local botany has made me appreciate the quality of Michigan Flora even more. This book (or the new edition that succeeds it) will live on my shelf forever.

[tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is very hard to ID plants w it at first unless u know 1000 different vocabulary words in botany. as long as u have google at hand and some time to go through the lengthy descriptions, it's definitely worth it! prob the most useful field manual I will ever have

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the best keys I have ever used. Fantastic book.

[Russ Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live in Ontario so I'm thankful that this book is so relevent to my area. This is an exceptional piece of work and by my estimation is about the best value of any book I have EVER bought. For just over $20 you get 1000 pages of the most up to date information, exceptionally detailed and concise text and keys, excellent range maps and here's the best part... you can tap into an online version that is loaded with colour photos of just about everything covered in the book! I have nothing negative to say about this book, I use it all the time. I have a copy that stays in my car trunk and one that I keep on my bookshelf at home. I couldn't imagine scoring this book anything other than 5.