Author Description

Flowers of Europe describes 2800 of the most common and interesting wild flowers to be found growing in Europe. For over 1900 of these species, the book provides detailed descriptions, their distribution across the continent, and their uses as poisons, dyes, foodstuffs, or medicines. It also includes keys to the families and genera. The book's outstanding feature is its 192 pages of color plates containing roughly 1000 beautiful photographs of flowering plants in their natural settings. Line drawings are used to illustrate a further 280 species. Beginners in plant identification will appreciate the illustrated glossary of botanical terms. Equally useful are the lists of the names of well-known plants in French, German, and Italian. First published in 1969, and familiarly known to plant enthusiasts as "the black book," this classic text by Oleg Polunin--one of the foremost British botanists of his generation--has never been superseded. Ideal as a reference book for field trips, this reissued version will be welcomed by all students and researchers in botany, horticulture, or plant sciences. Conservationists, naturalists, and gardeners seeking a comprehensive guide to the flowering plants of Europe will also find it invaluable.