Provides drawings and descriptions of two hundred and twenty-four types of weed while providing maps of their distribution throughout the U.S

American Horticultural Society Book Award Winner: “An essential reference for all who wish to understand the science of the all-powerful weed.” —Better Homes and Gardens “What is a weed,” opined Emerson, “but a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered?” While that may be a worthy notion in theory, these plants of undiscovered virtue cause endless hours of toil for backyard gardeners. Wherever they take root, weeds compete for resources, and most often win. They also wreak havoc on industry—from agriculture to golf courses to civic landscape projects, vast amounts of money are spent to eradicate these virile and versatile invaders. With so much at stake, reliable information on weeds and their characteristics is crucial. Richard Dickinson and France Royer shed light on this complex world with Weeds of North America. Organized by plant family, this encyclopedic volume features over five hundred species in two-page spreads with images and text identification keys. Species are arranged within family alphabetically by scientific name, and entries include vital information on seed viability and germination requirements. No matter what your philosophy on weeds, this guide provides much-needed background on these intrusive organisms. In the battle with weeds, knowledge truly is power, and Weeds of North America is perfect for gardeners, botanists, nature lovers, or anyone working in the business of weed ecology and control. “Royer’s photographs are almost perversely alluring. . . . How can you not be ensnared by a book populated by prostrate pigweed, tansy ragwort and dog-strangling vine?” —New York Times Book Review

"Featuring more than fifteen hundred full-color photographs, this handy guide provides essential information on four hundred of the most troublesome weedy and invasive plants found in the southern United States"--P. [2] of cover.

There are countless manuals and reference works available that identity wildflowers, trees, shrubs, mushrooms, herbs, and other plants. Yet, if you want to identify one of the plants that you see most often and find everywhere -- those classified as weeds -- you will experience great difficulty, for remarkably little has been published to help you. This volume, is almost unique -- the most useful non-technical identification guide and source of information ever compiled on weeds of the continental United States. Almost any common weed you are likely to encounter can be identified from its pages, in which you will also find much other data about it. Prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture, it is a painstaking, up-to-date survey of more than 220 important species. At least two pages are devoted to each species. One contains a clear, accurate drawing of the plant in habit, flower, fruit, seeds, capsules, etc. Facing it is a full descriptive text that includes botanical notice, habitat, area, peculiarities, origin, etc., with a map in each case showing distribution throughout the United States. The species are arranged botanically, following the classificatory order. Both scientific and common names are given. A glossary explains all technical terms used, and a series of drawings shows the various types of leaves, roots, stems, fruits, flowers, and inflorescences for the nonbotanist. The nature lover, collector, and hobbyist will discover here a specialty rich in interest and potential value, for much about the weeds still remains to be learned. For the botanist, this volume represents a useful ready reference. For the gardener, farmer, and livestock owner it can be an important aid. Even the general reader will find it inviting, explaining much about what he sees on virtually every patch of untended ground.

"Revised and expanded to include the mid-Atlantic states."

From the Introduction: "The first step in deciding how to solve a weed problem is to correctly identify the weed species. It is for this purpose that this guide has been prepared, and the intended users are research workers, weed specialists, agricultural extension agents, and others interested in weeds and their control. This book will help to identify some of the nation's more common and important weeds infesting lawns, gardens, crops, pastures, ponds, and other areas." Originally published in 1970, this new edition of the classic Selected Weeds of the United States (Agriculture Handbook 366) has been updated to reflect the many taxonomic changes in both family assignments and in genus and species names. The guide has been completely reformatted for easier use, with plants presented in alphabetical order by plant family. Detailed illustrations by preeminent botanical illustrator Regina Olson Hughes depict the overall plant as well as flowers, fruits, and seeds. County-level distribution maps have been added for each of the more than 200 species treated. The New Common Weeds of the United States will be a valuable reference for anyone wanting to learn more about the country's weed flora and for those working to conserve native plants and their habitats.

This book might be called a Who's Who among Weeds as it covers 102 of the most common weeds found throughout the United States. Weeds of lawn and yard, weeds that are sometimes used for food, weeds that are the bane of hayfever sufferers, weeds that can ruin cow's milk, poisonous weeds, and even the real desperadoes that can totally overtake a field in one season are all covered. The author, Edwin R. Spencer, was a farmer and biology professor; his text is both a practical and an authoritative guide to weeds, able to speak to nature lovers, farmers, and scientists alike. Pigweed … Dogbane … Carpet Weed … Crab Grass … Wild Garlic … Spiderwort … Chicory … Ragweed … Poison Ivy … Yellow Dock … each weed is listed under its most common name, but since one man's Moneywort is another man's Creeping Jenny, its scientific and alternative common names are also given. Then follows a delightful description of each weed, full of information and good humor as well. Details for controlling the weed are given in this section. To aid in identification each weed is multiply keyed at the front of the text as to its place and season of growth, the type of soil it prefers, and physical characteristics. Even if you know nothing about botany, you will most likely be able to identify your find through these keys or just by flipping through the 102 first-rate illustrations. To the gardener and farmer weeds are something to be hoed out and plowed under, but weeds are also a fascinating group of plants, as this thoroughly readable book will point out. They are the plants you are most likely to come upon in nature jaunts and the ones you are going to have to come to terms with if you do any gardening of your own. "A most fascinating book." — Garden Club of America.