| Britain’s Ferns – A Field Guide to the Clubmosses, Quillworts, Horsetails and Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland | By James Merryweather | WILDGuides | 2020 | Flexibound | 280 pages, 700+ colour photos, colour illustrations, colour distribution maps, colour tables | ISBN: 978069118039 |
The Publisher’s View: This is a comprehensive, lavishly illustrated and user-friendly photographic identification guide to the fifty-seven ferns and seventeen other pteridophytes that occur in Britain. It is the perfect companion for botanists, naturalists, professional ecologists and anyone else with an interest in this fascinating group of non-flowering vascular plants. Designed to appeal to beginners and experts alike, this authoritative book includes novel identification keys and comparison tables that have been carefully devised to present only essential, easily understood technical terms and descriptions, avoiding jargon as far as possible. Cross-referenced throughout to facilitate the comparison of similar species, this definitive field guide is the go-to source for identifying these species with confidence.
The Author: James Merryweather has been studying ferns for more than fifty years, developing a particular interest in their identification and ecology. Having learned so much from generous pteridologists past and present, he now eagerly shares that knowledge and experience with others. He is an enthusiastic member of the British Pteridological Society, which promotes the study of this fascinating group of plants.
Fatbirder View: I absolutely love ferns and their associated fellows. From the ferny brooks of Dartmoor to the New Zealand pungas, ferns along with mosses just transport me to the most tranquil and untrodden paths that are almost fairy-like and fay. I have a few potted ferns in my garden and my dad used to have a ‘shade house’ in his New Zealand garden full of native ferns. They are a delight.
I wish I was better able to identify what I see but I fear I will have to just appreciate them without being able to name their legions of variety. I shall try of course, and WILDGuides have certainly (again) produced an excellent guide to help. My knowledge of ferns is in its infancy and I am most assuredly not, but I’ll give it ago even although I’m reeling in shock to find that ‘horsetail’ is a generic name not just the one species I learned from my dad
WILDGuides simply do not make bad books and there is everything to admire here and I am sure the more agile of mind among you will do more than just look at and love the pages as its as detailed as any birding field guide in pointing pout salient features.
Fatbirder