Rating: 
Summary: A Very Fine Reference, but...
Review: ...marred by the separate sections for photos and text, leading to very inconvenient page flipping in order to see what is being described.
Otherwise, this book constitutes a fine achievement.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Reference
Review: A nice addition to the various encyclopedias on cultivated palm trees. The authors went to a lot of trouble photographing the many species illustrated as well as the undertaking to provide information on each species but not perfect considering the magnitude of the task. If you are a collector of palms or enjoy palm trees this book is a must in your library. I use this volume as a reference regularly and could not imagine my library without it. Also a nice companion to Betrocks Cultivated Palms of the World.
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of Pretty Pictures but ........
Review: Lots of Pretty Pictures but ........almost all these palms cant survive in 80% of the USA .
Its a good reference book . Coming upon some of these specimens in nature is another thing .
Rating: 
Summary: Best Palm Reference on the Market
Review: There is no other comparable book on the market. It treats ALL 192 genera of palms currently known to science. The photos are excellent and are comparable to those of Riffle's award-winning first book, THE TROPICAL LOOK. The text is even better than the photos and includes observations and experiences from many long-time growers worldwide. I don't understand the Canadian review which seems to fault the book because some of the palm species cannot be grown in much of the continental USA. Go far enough north and NONE of them can be grown! This is simply a fact of nature, not a fault of the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Not A Coffee Table Book
Review: this book is not beautiful. The pictures are poorly taken: they are snap shots that make the palms themselves look like giant weeds. And the pictures are not large - there are 4 or more on every page. The printing quality is poor to average - the printer was just going through the motions when producing this book. To sum up - it may be a good reference if you're good at long latin names and cluttered, muddy photographs... but it is not in any way a beautifully made book.
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: This book is simply the most comprehensive, practical reference to palms in cultivation. No detail has been left out for hardiness, landscape use, and horticultural needs. Most photos are excellent, but many were taken of rare species in the field and are not meant to be coffee table gorgeous--you won't find photos of these species in other books. We can grow a surprising array of palms here in the Northwest, and this book is just as useful to me as it would be on the Gulf Coast. This book also has the invlvement of the International Palm Society vice president, so it comes with the stamp of authority.
Rating:
Summary: 'PALM'TASTIC
Review: THIS ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF PALMS JUST ENTERED MY LIBRARY TODAY...SO,
MY COMMENTS ON THE PUBLICATION ARE ONLY FROM SKIMMING THIS REFERENCE TEXT. HOWEVER, IT IS ENOUGH FOR ME TO GIVE AN OPINION.
ALL THROUGHOUT ARE NUMEROUS BEAUTIFUL COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS REPRESENTATIVE OF EACH SPECIES IDENTIFIED. DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND INFORMATION PERTAINING TO EACH REFERENCED PALM IS PROVIDED...ON HIGH QUALITY GLOSSY PAPER AND BINDING. IT IS COMPREHENSIVE AND BASICALLY ENLIGHTENING.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS ENCYCLOPAEDIA TO BE A PART OF ANY PALM ENTHUSIASTS LIBRARY FOR QUICK REFERENCE, IDENTIFICATION, AND STUDY. HAVING BEEN A 'PALM NUT' FOR SOME 25 + YEARS, ENJOYING, COLLECTING, AND GROWING EXOTIC SPECIES AS A HOBBY. A SELF-TAUGHT NOVICE THAT I AM; I RECOGNIZE A 'GOOD' PALM BOOK WHEN I SEE ONE...AND THIS TRULY IS. SIMPLY 'PALM'TASTIC!
A TRANSPLANT FROM THE NORTH, WHO'S CAUGHT THE PALM 'BUG,'
WILL BENEFIT FROM THE STRAIGHT FORWARD (NON-CLINICAL) PRESENTATION OF THIS BOOK...WRITTEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD BY A LAY PERSON; YET, PROVIDING BASICALLY ENOUGH DETAIL AND INFORMATION FOR THE AVID PALM ENTHUSIAST TO CHERISH.
THOMAS BULLERS, VENICE, FLORIDA
JUST A 'PALM NUT.'!
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: This is one of the most complete reference guides for anyone who has ever wondered about palm trees. The scientific treatment of the subject is kept to a minimum while the use of palms in the landscape is emphasized. Here the enthusiasm of the authors shines through. The numerous color photographs underscore the point that nearly any landscape need can be satisfied with thoughtful use of palms. The photographs are snapshot rendered, but in my opinion, any lapse of quality which results is more than compensated by the adequacy of detail. Though the authors provide notes on seed germination, they avoid a more thorough discussion of propagation. The authors generously supply hints on cultivation of many species covered in the book, but they do not discuss diseases which afflict growing specimens. There is no doubt that the book is worth the price paid.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Photographic Reference for Palm Enthusiasts
Review: This is one of the most complete reference guides for anyone who has ever wondered about palm trees. The scientific treatment of the subject is kept to a minimum while the use of palms in the landscape is emphasized. Here the enthusiasm of the authors shines through. The numerous color photographs underscore the point that nearly any landscape need can be satisfied with thoughtful use of palms. The photographs are snapshot rendered, but in my opinion, any lapse of quality which results is more than compensated by the adequacy of detail. Though the authors provide notes on seed germination, they avoid a more thorough discussion of propagation. The authors generously supply hints on cultivation of many species covered in the book, but they do not discuss diseases which afflict growing specimens. There is no doubt that the book is worth the price paid.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Reference
Review: This is truly a great book for palm enthusiasts. It has detailed descriptions and photos of most, if not all, of the palm species currently cultivated in the U. S., Australia and Europe and is an invaluable reference for the palm-growing hobbyist. It is not intended to be a "how to" book and shouldn't be criticized because for not discussing planting techniques, fertilization, diseases, etc. I've bought four copies: one for myself and three for gifts.
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