I second Ed¹s comment that the most useful feature of an ID guide is to
provide distinguishing characteristics between similar species.
--
Carolyn Summers
63 Ferndale Drive
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706
914-478-5712
From: Edward Frank <[email protected]>
Reply-To: <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:27:11 -0500
To: <[email protected]>
Cc: "Leverett, Robert" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [ENTS] Sibley's new tree guide
Bob,
I do not have a copy of the Sibley Guide. In general I want a tree field
guide that enables me to distinguish one tree from similar tree species.
Many guides are so focused on maintaining the same format so strictly that
that useful distinguishing information is often buried among the small text
and hidden among trivial detail and nuance. The question of the accuracy of
heights - and ages - of different tree species is something I would lie to
see corrected, but that won't be accomplished until they are corrected in
the common source material for many of the guides- the government
publications such as the Silvics of North America and the USDA Plants
Database. We need to make inroads there, and we need to continue to make
inroads into popular information sources like Wikipedia. I might mention
it in a review of a guidebook, but it is not something to really slam them
about. Photographs and drawing both have their strengths and weaknesses
when used as illustrations, the key really is to have good examples in your
book. Ideally there should be some consideration given to variation of leaf
size and shape, bark patterns, and regional variations and trends within a
species. Good luck with your review.
Ed
"Beauty is a summation of the parts working together in such a way that
nothing is needed to be added, taken away or altered." Elio Caretti
--
Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org
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--
Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org
Send email to [email protected]
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en
To unsubscribe send email to [email protected]
