The Wild Flower Key : A Guide to Plant Identification in the Field, With and Without Flowers

by Francis Rose

A guide to the wild flowers of the British Isles and North West Europe, describing 1400 species.

Genres: Nature, Reference, Natural History, Nonfiction

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Francis Rose was, until his retirement in 1981, Reader in Biogeography at King's college, University of London. He is a lifelong botanist whose specialist studies have included the history and distribution of the British and adjacent continental flora, mosses, the effects of air pollution on vegetation and the ecology and distribution of epiphytic lichens. He is author of many scientific papers, and of several books, with D. L. Hawksworth.
In 2000 Dr Rose was awarded the MBE for services to botany and in 2001 the Cadbury Medal for conservation.

Reviews

[Alex Brightsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serious botanists may tell you that nothing will do except Stace.
For the rest of us mere mortals, Rose is the best wild flower guide I've ever seen, beautifully illustrated, with a set of user friendly keys and a helpful glossary
If you do find a copy, grab it, is my advice.

[Tawny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the field guide I use the most when out walking. The illustrations are good enough to identify most things fairly quickly and the descriptions are technical enough to provide confirmation. I don't tend to use the keys at the start of the book as perhaps my technical knowledge isn't good enough. I'll probably get the updated one soon. As with a lot of books I use a lot, I'm rather attached to it.

[Robbie Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to meet Mr Rose before he passed away. I was working as Countryside/Costal ranger and surveyor at the time. I had been doing a lot of work on a rare Welsh Orchid named "Fen Orchid" and had the honour of Being this great botanists guide for the day. I already had his book and he was gracious enough to sign it for me. The keys are what make this work such a valuable tool for conservationists and plant lovers in general.

[Michael Wombat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply brilliant.