Reviews for A field guide to medicinal plants and herbs of eastern and central North America
Choice
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
In this new edition of Foster's Field Guide to Medicinal Plants (1990), Foster and Duke, both writers, make available information and understanding of 500 medicinal plants growing in the eastern US as natives or introductions. The book is divided into wild flowers (herbs), shrubs, trees, and woody vines. The wild flowers are divided into sections based on flower color; a plant having a range of color may be found in more than one section. The shrubs, trees, and woody vines are separated primarily on leaf characters. Most of the plants are illustrated with color photographs, and included for each plant are one or two common names, the scientific name, the common name of the plant family, a notation of the part of the plant used, a brief description, where the plant is found, and warnings regarding its use. This book is designed to be used by the lay public, though this reviewer has certain reservations. If the identification is to be based on pictures, several were found where the photograph is so small and dark that it is difficult to see the plant. Readers should be cautious. General readers. C. T. Mason Jr. emeritus, University of Arizona
