Thomas J. Elpel's Botany in a Day: A Comprehensive Guide to the Patterns Method of Plant Identification

Brian B.: Any plant lover should own a copy

Canada on Jan 07, 2024

TRF: There are lots to learn from this book!

United States on Dec 12, 2023

Karen A: Love the pictures

United States on Oct 30, 2023

Josh: However it appears that the author seems to believe that PDF copies of books only exist for illegal distribution.

I sure wish there was a legal way to get a companion copy of the book to keep on my iPad

United States on Aug 22, 2023

Chuck: "Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification" is a comprehensive and user-friendly guide to identifying plants using the "patterns method," which is a unique and effective way of organizing and understanding plant families. Written by Thomas J. Elpel, an experienced botanist and naturalist, the book is designed to make botany accessible to anyone, regardless of their level of experience or expertise.

One of the best features of the book is its organization. The book covers over 200 plant families, and it groups them into patterns based on their physical characteristics, such as leaf shape, flower structure, and seed dispersal. This makes it easy for readers to quickly find and identify the plants they encounter in the field. The book also includes a detailed introduction to botany, providing readers with the knowledge and understanding they need to use the patterns method effectively.

Another great feature of the book is its use of illustrations, photographs, and descriptions. The book is richly illustrated with detailed drawings and photographs of plants and their parts, making it easy for readers to understand and recognize the key features of each...

United States on Jan 27, 2023

jose ignacio: Falta de traducción

Spain on Jun 14, 2022

Carlos Garcia: Es un libro excelente sobre todo para principiantes, me ha ayudado a identificar plantas.

Mexico on Jun 21, 2021

BIANCA CANESTRARO: Um ótimo livro pra quem tem um pouco de noção de botânica e quem já é experiente na área.

Brazil on Apr 23, 2021

GabijaGabija: Overall good book but came slightly damaged, the pages have been slightly stuck to each other with some pink unknown substance.

Germany on Apr 19, 2021

Michael J: For the past decade or so I have been trying to give myself a proper eduction in botany and plant identification, and to that end I've purchased a lot of books on the subject, ranging from Audubon and Peterson field guides to introductory college texts. The field guides are great for matching pictures to names- If you've found a plant that's common enough to make it into the guide. The textbooks are great for understanding the biology of plants, but go into far more detail than I need as an amateur naturalist; I'm not particularly interested in getting a second BA in Botany. What I really wanted was a way to identify plants by their structure, and this book is exactly what I was looking for.

Elpel's approach is to key various plant families to their physical structure, and to teach you how to recognize those elements that determine family. Doesn't matter if it's one of the more obscure plants that doesn't show up in the field guides; you know the family, and from there you can go to a reference work and narrow it down. I found an unusual volunteer in my back yard, and using Elpel's systems, I was able to immediately identify it: Square, hairy stem, opposite leaves,...

United States on Aug 30, 2014