The Botany Bible

"The illustrated flora of Britain and Northern Europe" by Marjorie Blamey and Christopher Grey-Wilson is some kind of botany bible, and arguably even larger (and heavier). It's a beautiful work, but I don't think you can bring it along on a field trip. The illustrations are said to be new, but they resemble those in the more portable "Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe", reviewed by me elsewhere.

The book contains keys to aid identification. As is customary for a modern, savvy identification guide, plates and species presentations are on facing pages. However, there are no range maps. "Northern" Europe means the British Isles, Iceland, Scandinavia, Finland, Spitsbergen, Germany, Benelux and France minus the Riviera and the Pyrenees. All native flowering plants in this area have been included, except grasses, sedges and rushes. Some naturalized and causal aliens have been included. Good, because they always confuse me! Remember that Lilium martagon I told you about three years ago?

All in all, I give this Botany Bible five stars.