Common Marsh, Underwater and Floating-leaved Plants of the United States and Canada (Dover Books on Nature)

What is that plant you've seen in a marshy ditch alongside the road? What is that strange-looking vegetation that you see over the side of your canoe, or along the shore? Without this book, you may have difficulty in finding answers to such questions, for although arrowheads and cattails are known by most sportsmen, birdwatchers, wild-food buffs and biologists on their trips to the marshes of America, guides for other common plants are not easily available. In this unique collection, 295 illustrated marsh, underwater and floating-leaved plants are compiled in an up-to-date guide for accurate and quick identification.The guide contains two publications prepared by Neil Hotchkiss, Wildlife Biologist of the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, for the Department of the Interior: Common Marsh Plants of the United States and Canada, with 164 illustrated species, and Underwater and Floating-leaved Plants of the United States and Canada, with 156. Twenty-five plants which take on new forms according to environment appear in both publications.Plants are arranged in groups to appearance; illustrations within the general groupings make quick identification possible. At least one scale drawing at life, 1/2, 1/4, or 1/16 size is given for each plant; most plants are illustrated by three separate drawings showing full view, seed pods or flowers, and other distinguishing marks. Common name, scientific name, synonyms, habitat, distribution, size, and identifying characteristics such as stem, leaves, seeds, scales, spikelets, flowers, and growing pattern are given for each species with resemblances between species clarified. Wide borders allow ample space for notes made either in the field or at home. This book will increase the pleasure of a walk through the marsh and will give a closer look at the plants that grow in the marshes, float on the water or grow underneath it.