Plants of Alberta: Trees, Shrubs, Wildflowers, Ferns, Aquatic Plants & Grasses

by Carol
(Edmonton Alberta)

France Royer and Richard Dickinson have co-authored another award winner in this weighty comprehensive field guide.

Richard is a University of Alberta graduate with a BSc in physical geography and France is a self-taught photographer. Together they have written two other award-winning titles: Wild Flowers of Calgary and Southern Alberta and Wild Flowers of Edmonton and Central Alberta.

This guide contains 528 pages of, detailed, well-organized, beautifully illustrated descriptions of almost 1800 species of plants in Alberta. It is divided into the following chapters each beginning with an easy identification key: Trees (10 pages), Shrubs & Woody Vines (55 pages), Wildflowers (274 pages), Aquatic Plants (23 pages), Grasses and Grass-Like Plants (36 pages) and Ferns and Fern Allies (10 pages). The introduction provides a description of the 16 ecoregions of Alberta.

Each plant is thoroughly described. Its habitat, flowering cluster, leaf description, fruit description, similar species, and interesting notes. Range maps have also been included. As in other publications by Lone Pine, the arrangement of the book is excellent making it easy to use even for young budding botanists. Frances’ photography is top notch.

When you go down in the woods today, Plants of Alberta is a definite must for your backpack. This book would make a great mentoring gift for your children or grandchildren. They need to learn what variety and wonders are to be found in the woods of Alberta. What a great game potential this book could be for them to find different species when you take them camping this year.