Smithsonian Handbooks: Herbs - The Clearest Recognition Guides Available

by Lesley Bremness

Book Overview

Published in association with the Smithsonian Institution, this accessible, attractive, and detailed handbook combines 1,500 vivid full-color photos with descriptions of more than 700 species. This... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0756660149
• ISBN13: 9780756660147
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Covent Garden Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A rookie heralist's "must have"

This is a wonderfully compact but complete, easy to use reference book. I bought one for my bookshelf and one to carry in the car for roadside identification of herbs. The color pictures are clear with all the pertinent details to make an accurate identification. Well worth the investment!

best field guide for identification

this book along with "edible wild plants:a north american field guide" by thomas elias and "a field guide to medicinal plants and herbs: of eastern and central north america" by james a. duke will provide all the information necessary for positive identification. cross referencing the various photos and other information leaves no doubt.

The ONE book to own if you're at all interested in herbs

If you are curious about growing herbs, or already grow herbs and are interested in expanding your garden or your knowledge about these plants, this is the ONE book to buy. Gorgeous color photographs identify each herb (dozens upon dozens are listed) in its seed, flowering, and leafy stages -- popular varieties of herbs are included as well. Herbs are also listed accourding to use -- culinary, cosmetic, medicinal, decorative. Also included are step-by-step instructions for infusions, decoctions, and other herbal recipes. This book may not show you how to landscape your garden (try American Horticultural's Herb Gardens book) but aside from this, this will be your herb Bible.

INCREDIBLE BOOK, one flaw

This book is one of the very best field guides to medicinal herbs. A must have for serious herbalists of all levels. The photos are absolutely spectacular! The one flaw: the book is not easy to use as an identifier unless you are pretty sure of what the plants name is already, because the book is organized by name mainly. But, if you know the name of the plant you are looking for then there is no better book. Email the publisher telling them to reorganize this book so that it is more versatile as a field guide. The planet needs this book. I'm serious, it's that good.

Terrific overview of herb descriptions, history, and uses!

From cultivating and harvesting to remedies and recipes, this book has virtually everything you need to know about herbs. The historical background of each herb is given, listing genus, species, and family. Important information is provided with detailed full-color photographs of herb plants and plant parts, listing their decorative, culinary, household, cosmetic, aromatic, and medicinal uses. Indexed by common and botanical names as well as by ailment and other relevant terms, this book is useful and easy to use for novice or expert. Learn to make your own potpourri or beauty products. Grow your own garden with advice from the section on the A-Z of Cultivation. Find out more about cooking with herbs. It's all in "Herbs."