United States
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This authoritative reference on native and non-native trees of North America, by Smithsonian veteran W. John Kress, provides an unprecedented appraisal of more than 325 common species. More than a field guide, it includes:
- over 300 range maps and 3,000 photographs of leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, and bark (though not whole trees);
- an in-depth introduction to the biology of trees, their value, structure, evolution, classification, ecology, and conservation;
- descriptions of each species, organized by genus and family;
- a reflection on the consequences of environmental change on the health of trees, now and in the future;
- a presentation, based on the latest technologies, of North American trees in a planetary and evolutionary perspective.
Smithsonian Trees of North America, ten years in the making, marries science and art to provide an insightful and compassionate exploration of the diversity, structure, form, and beauty of trees.
- Welcome from Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution vii
- Foreword by Margaret D. Lowman viii
- Preface x
The Essence of Trees 1
- Chapter One: What Is a Tree? 2
- Chapter Two: Value of Trees 9
- Chapter Three: Structure and Reproduction 14
- Chapter Four: Ecology and Conservation 29
- Chapter Five: Names and Identification 41
- Chapter Six: Evolutionary Relationships of Trees: A Natural Classification 45
The Diversity of Trees 51
- Gymnosperms: Trees with Cones 53
- Angiosperms: Trees with Flowers 201
- Magnoliids: Trees Related to Magnolias and Avocados 203
- Monocots: Trees Related to Palms 230
- Early Diverging Eudicots: Trees Related to Poppies, Proteas, and Plane Trees 248
- Rosids: Trees Related to Maples, Apples, and Oaks 255
-Asterids: Trees Related to Dogwoods, Ashes, and Hollies 643
- Leaf Shapes of Select Genera 742
- Species List 752
- Glossary 760
- Notes 768
- Works Cited 770
- Further Reading 775
- Acknowledgements 776
- Credits 778
- Species Index 780
- About the Author 787
W. John Kress is a Distinguished Scientist and Curator Emeritus at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, where he served as Curator of Botany. His research has taken him to over forty-five countries to study the evolution and ecology of tropical plants. He developed the Leafsnap plant identification app and helped to develop the tool for DNA barcoding of plants. He lives in Dorset, VT.
Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He lives in the District of Columbia.
Margaret D. Lowman is executive director of TREE Foundation and a National Geographic Explorer. Her books include The Arbornaut: Discovering the Eighth Continent in the Trees Above Us. She lives in Sarasota, FL.
"Stunning. The photographs, silhouetted against a rich, black background, elevate tree fruits and flowers, buds and branches, leaves and seeds to an art form that rivals any other. Together with the detailed descriptions of each species, they aid in the identification of the common trees of the North American continent."
– Jonathan Shaw, Harvard Magazine
"An essential guide for all who seek to know trees better. Beautiful, erudite, and welcoming, these pages invite us into friendship with the various personalities of trees and to understand the role of each tree species in life's community."
– David George Haskell, award-winning author of Sounds Wild and Broken, The Songs of Trees, and The Forest Unseen
"This is a beautifully crafted tome, encompassing the diversity of trees in North America. Superbly detailed photographs complement the text, making this a reference with substance, purpose, and inspiration for future generations."
– Michael A. Dirr, author of Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs and Manual of Woody Landscape Plants
"This impressive, lavishly illustrated volume will be irresistible for those who love trees and want to know more about them. In particular, the 'best in class' color photos, including more than 300 spectacular two-page illustrated spreads, set this book apart."
– Peter Crane, author of Ginkgo: The Tree That Time Forgot
"A beautifully illustrated guide to the commonest trees of the United States and Canada – a 'must have' for any nature lover who wants to expand their horizons!"
– Peter H. Raven, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
"John Kress has brought trees within close reach of every reader with this magnificent book. The text and illustrations are sure to capture anyone's sense of awe about the woody green giants with whom we share our planet."
– From the Foreword by Margaret D. Lowman, author of Life in the Treetops: Adventures of a Woman in Field Biology and The Arbornaut: A Life Discovering the Eighth Continent in the Trees Above Us
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