Wild Trees of Idaho (Northwest Naturalist Books)

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Summary: A fine tree book for a wide swath of the West
Review: Wild Trees of Idaho is, in completeness and competence, one of the best state tree books available in the U.S. But because Idaho's flora has affinities to the boreal forests to its north, the Pacific Northwest rainforest, the Great Basin, Rocky Mountains, and Great Plains, this book is a must for tree enthusiasts from all of Idaho's neighbor states and Canadian provinces as well. More than an identification guide (though a good example of that genre), Wild Trees opens with a broad account of how Idaho's forests evolved over the last hundred million years; and an ecological essay on its present-day vegetation communities. Idaho's sylvan richness, including its many introduced naturalized species, make for a varied array of broadleaved and coniferous species. Each receives a page of text and one of black/white illustrations. There is an 8-page color insert containing brilliant photos of 78 species. Key identification characters are stressed, as are locations in Idaho where noteworthy specimens of each species can be seen, data on the largest Idaho specimens, and generally very reliable natural history information. The writing style is folksy and accessible, yet technically of a high level. This book has a lot to teach.