Ferns (The Illustrated Flora of Illinois) - Hardcover

Mohlenbrock, Robert H.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0809302519 ISBN 13: 9780809302512

Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press, 1967

Synopsis

Mohlenbrock, Robert H.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

Perhaps no other group of plants attracts more interest among both professional and amateur botanists than ferns. As early as 1846, when one of the first lists of Illinois plants was published, sixteen species of ferns were already known in the state. The longtime interest of a great many people makes the distribution of ferns better known than that of any other group of plants in Illinois.

This detailed account of ferns and fern-allies was first published in 1967 as the first volume in the series The Illustrated Flora of Illinois. Eminent botanist Robert H. Mohlenbrock has now revised Ferns to include twenty-five additional taxa of ferns that have since been discovered in Illinois. In addition, numerous nomenclatural changes have occurred for plants already known in the state.

New illustrations have been provided for all of the additions except for the gametophytic Trichomanes intricatum, the hybrid Huperzia X bartleyi, Ophioglossum pusillum, and Asplenium trichomanes ssp. quadrivalens. Illustrations for these taxa would not have been practical since their recognizable characteristics are subtle.

The introductory information of Ferns includes discussions of the morphology and life history of the ferns and fern-allies, the taxonomic history of the group in Illinois, and the habitats where they can be found. The semitechnical keys and descriptions, familiar to the professional botanist, have been simplified for the novice and are accompanied by a glossary and a profuse use of illustrations. A new key has been included for the additional ferns. Two general keys enable the reader to identify the order and the genus of the fern or fern-ally in question. One of these is designed foruse with specimens that have sporangia; the other is for use with sterile specimens. The keys are composed of a hierarchy of characteristics for determining the order, family, and genus of any given specimen. Once a genus is ascertained, the reader can apply its key to more than one species of the same genus.

Each species has its own description, statement of habitat and range, Illinois distribution, map, discussion, synonymy, and full-page line illustration showing its diagnostic characteristics.

About the Author:

Robert H. Mohlenbrock taught botany at Southern Illinois University Carbondale for thirty-four years. Since his retirement in 1990, he has served as a senior scientist for Biotic Consultants, teaching wetland plant identification classes around the country. Among his more than sixty books are Vascular Flora of Illinois and The Field Guide to U.S. National Forests.

About this edition

• Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press
• Publication date: 1967
• ISBN 10: 0809302519
• ISBN 13: 9780809302512
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208