Fruit Key and Twig Key to Trees and Shrubs

by William M. Harlow

These handy, accurate, and easily used keys to fruit and twig identification are the only guides of their sort with photographs — over 350 of them, of nearly every twig and fruit described — making them especially valuable to the novice.
The fruit key (dealing with both deciduous trees and evergreens) begins with a concise introduction, explaining simply and lucidly the process of seeding, and identifying the various organs the cones and flowers, and their component parts and variations. Next the various types of fruits are described — drupe, berry, pome, legume, follicle, capsule, achene, samara, nut — and fruiting habits, followed by a synoptic summary of fruit types.
The introduction to the twig key tells in plain language the process of growth and its relation to twig morphology through leaf scars, branch scars, buds, etc. For the benefit of the unwary, poison-ivy, poison-oak and poison-sumac are immediately and fully described.
Identification in both books is easy. There is a pair of alternative descriptions of each aspect of the specimens. Your choice of the fitting one leads you automatically to the next proper pair. At the end of the chain is the name of your specimen and, as a double check, a photograph. More than 120 different fruits and 160 different twigs are distinguished.
This exceptional work, widely used in university courses in botany, biology, forestry, etc., is a valuable tool and instructor to the naturalist, woodsman, or farmer, and to anyone who has wondered about the name of a leafless tree in winter or been intrigued by an interestingly shaped fruit or seed.

Genres: Nature, Field Guides, Reference, Nonfiction, Gardening

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1959

Reviews

[Mila Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crucial for "beginner" field ID in winter and spring. Although useful in challenging times for a field ecologist, the fruit, seed, twig and bud are sometimes the best way to find out for sure what the stick in hand is from. Harlow's book is often used with the Winter Keys for Woody Plants of Maine. The two are a useful cross-reference combo if you want to learn your field dendrology and wild shrubs, and always handy to confirm your field IDs. I keep it on the top shelf at my desk!

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book, with great detail, well described species and the key is very easy to follow and reliably keys out the species. Do not buy this book if you are not living in North America as the species common names are all the american ones and can be very confusing and also there a species here that do not appear in Ireland or Britan or indeed Europe in the wild. There should be different books for the non american fuit and twig identification. If anybody fings one let me know :D

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

small and thin manageable keying book that is easy to use with a decent amount black and white pictures that come in handy