American Forests

Trees are one of humanity's most constant and most varied companions. From India's sacred banyan tree to the fragrant cedar of Lebanon, they offer us sanctuary and inspiration—not to mention the raw materials for everything from aspirin to maple syrup. In Around the World in 80 Trees, expert Jonathan Drori uses plant science to illuminate how trees play a role in every part of human life, from the romantic to the regrettable. Stops on the trip include the lime trees of Berlin's Unter den Linden boulevard, which intoxicate amorous Germans and hungry bees alike, the swankiest streets in nineteenth-century London, which were paved with Australian eucalyptus wood, and the redwood forests of California, where the secret to the trees' soaring heights can be found in the properties of the tiniest drops of water. Each of these strange and true tales—populated by self-mummifying monks, tree-climbing goats and ever-so-slightly radioactive nuts—is illustrated by Lucille Clerc, taking the reader on a journey that is as informative as it is beautiful.

"American Forests is an interdisciplinary collection of essays that explore the impact of forestry on natural and human landscapes since the mid-nineteenth century. It has two main goals: to present some of the most compelling arguments that have guided our understanding of the complex and evolving relationship between trees and people in the United States, and to point out those aspects of this tangled interaction that we have yet fully to understand or to articulate."--Preface, ix.

The North American Forests: Geography, Ecology, and Silviculture describes where, why, and how the many kinds of trees found on this continent grow in silvical associations - called forest cover types. Thirteen chapters describe more than 100 forest cover types, involving several times that many species. Diverse woodlands discussed include: o The Arctic tundra o Florida's tropics o The Atlantic's coastal pond pines o The Pacific's Monterey pines o The summits of Englemann spruce o Sea-Level swamps of baldcypress The text acts as a singular guidebook for specialists and students in natural resource disciplines examining the geography, ecology, and silvicultural practices for sustaining North American forests; students in curriculum's involving regional silviculture; and persons examining the goods and services from this varied, fascinating renewable resource. Benefiting from the author's five decades of practicing forestry, the reader will trek into virtually every "neck of the woods" - perusing exceptional field notes and photographs of the continent's forests. Features o Offers a summary of forests in North America, ecological positions, and best management approaches for the benefit of mankind o Contains a readable language for both college students and professionals o Provides information covering the forests of Canada and the US o Lists "Further Readings" and "Subjects for Discussion and Essay" at the end of each chapter o Includes more than 100 photographs Audience o Foresters o Ecologists o Natural Resource Managers o Forestry Students

Thorough, detailed dendrological coverage of North American trees, shrubs, and vines This comprehensive field guide/procedural handbook provides extraordinarily detailed descriptions of trees, shrubs, and vines of North American forests. Written at a more detailed level than most field guides, it introduces basic taxonomic concepts and methods and explains the rationale behind taxonomic classification systems. Entries include Latin and common names for each species as well as physical descriptions at various levels of maturity and for different seasons. Also noted are regional and state distributions, soil conditions, cover types, shade tolerances, and common diseases and pests. This remarkably thorough and reliable reference includes: * Detailed descriptions of more than 800 species * Hundreds of additional varieties and cultivars * 550 exquisitely detailed line drawings of leaves, bark, fruit, and seeds * Broad coverage of commercial and noncommercial species * An emphasis on the silvical features of each species * A unique section on forest community ecology and cover types * The new North American Classification System Well-organized and practical, this authoritative guide is an immensely useful resource for foresters, wildlife and field biologists, naturalists, environmental scientists, and land managers.