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The Wild Flower Key (Revised Edition) - How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland | 
 enlarge | Authors: Francis Rose, Clare O'reilly (author Updated Edition)
Publisher: Frederick Warne Publishers Ltd
Category: Book
List Price: £19.99
Buy New: £11.07
You Save: £8.92 (45%)
New (12) Used (2) from £11.07
Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 7175
Media: Paperback
Edition: Revised edition
Pages: 576
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.1 x 1.4
ISBN: 0723251754
EAN: 9780723251750
ASIN: 0723251754
Publication Date: March 30, 2006
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 Close but no cigar! August 15, 2008
F. P. Flanagan (UK)
I'm a huge fan of Francis Rose, and the last wildflower key is a classic that I still use on a daily basis. This revised edition is very clear and concise; the keys are much improved from the last edition, the plastic cover limits water damage in the field and the regional AWI list from Keith Kirby in the back of the book is invaluable.
However, there are two points that make this book a 4 star rather than a 5 star book: Firstly the book to slightly too big for a field guild and is a bit too heavy. Secondly, sadly this revised edition still contains errors with some outdated Latin names; in particular some of the orchid species names are outdated, despite having changed several years before this book was printed, hmm...
Despite these issues it is still a wonderful book, so don't let me put you off!
 Excellent revision July 9, 2008
Jonathan (Staffs, UK)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm sorry, Tony in Edinburgh, but if this book is bigger than the Edinburgh 'phone book; then there can't be too many people who have 'phones!! I have just purchased a copy of the "keys" and put it straight into my backpack. I have been using the original version for many years as a professional botanist (in fact it was my "Bible") and it was literally falling apart. This new version is even easier to use than the last, I would recommend it to anybody interested in British flora.
 Too big for a field guide November 5, 2007
Tony in Edinburgh
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
I hate to spoil the love-in, but at 900g (2lb) this new edition is simply too heavy to be a practical field guide. This book is thicker than the Edinburgh telephone directory and consequently is highly unlikely to find its way into my pocket or backpack when I am off out. This is a pity because there the book has many good features; greater brevity would have made it a hands-down winner. As it is, the old edition is a more realistic prospect if you want pictures, Stace if you don't.
A review from a complete beginner May 27, 2007
Brida (Worcs)
24 out of 24 found this review helpful
The original edition of this book was released when I was only a 1 year-old. As a young girl, growing up near to a forest, surrouded by lovely countryside, I remember taking a passing interest in the wildlife and the flowers. For a time, this interest left me, and I began to forget all the knowledge my mum had passed onto me about the wild plants. Recently, I have longed to get this knowledge back, and to expand on it. Finding this book on Amazon, I felt I could not pass it by.
Although it is not meant as a handy field book - the sheer size of it prevents this - this is a great book both for the beginner (like me) and for those who already have a fair bit of knowledge.
The book is organised well, with lovely drawings of the plants. There is also a good introduction to the book, followed by lots of information about how to use the book, the equipment you may want to get, a guide on flower structure, where to find out more, along with other titbits of info.
For the true beginner, there is also a list of abbreviations, as well as an illustrated glossary at the back of the book.
The general key to plant families is a valuable asset to this book; beginners could not be without it.
This is an excellent edition, of what I understand to be a classic text on wild flowers and their identification. I am very pleased with my choice in beginning with this text to guide me on discovering more about wild flowers, trees and shrubs. Although I have a long way to go, I think this will help me immensely; now, as a beginner, I would not be without it.
How this edition differs from the old edition November 24, 2006
Mrs. C. L. O'reilly (Durham, UK)
41 out of 41 found this review helpful
The second edition of this classsic guide has been long coming: in 25 years since the book was published, many people are surprised to learn that there have been many changes to our knowledge of wild plants.
Many features used in identification have been shown to be inaccurate. Scientific names have changed. Many non-native species have become relatively widespread.
This second edition does differ dramatically from the first, but it's all in the detail:
1. there are over 100 new line drawings of diagnostic parts of plants;
2. there are 150 new colour plant portraits;
3. over a third of the genera keys have been re-written as many did not work!
4. national referees (i.e. top experts) have written keys for difficult groups such as willowherbs and water-starworts;
5. there are completely new keys, which did not appear in the old edition e.g. to fine-leaved mayweeds;
6. the new introduction is twice as long, with much additional information to assist beginners;
7. the new glossary is three times as long, packed with new line illustrations;
8. there are new features to assist those working in conservation, such as marking plants as BAP species and with their protected species and/or red list status;
9. there is a compilation of the lastest research on ancient woodland indicator species;
10. the new edition includes extra identification tips, from the new author's experience and from specialist publications like Plant Crib, not published in any other field guide.
This book is not really a competitor with the Fitter and Blamey books, as suggested by reviews here - it goes beyond just 'picture matching' and is the only book to bridge the gap between picture guides and non-illustrated, academic floras. Plus I have to say, the illustrations in the latest Fitter and Blamey book (2003) are mostly dreadful! There are many errors, sometimes just a bit misleading (e.g. meadow buttercup lower leaf) to unidentifiable blobs (e.g. purslane) to pictures of completely the wrong plant (e.g. narrow-leaved ragwort (it should have linear leaves!!)
In case anyone thinks I am biased as author of the new edition, please note that I revised the book because I got fed up with teaching using the old, out of date edition, and I do not get royalties!
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