"The information presented in this compendium is specifically designed to give a weed risk assessor, or anyone interested in the weed potential of a plant, a condensed report of the status of a species with, most importantly, further avenues for finding more information through the extensive reference listing"--p. ii.
Weeds are plants growing in the wrong place. Here's how to recognize, prevent, eradicate - or learn to live with - your unwelcome guests. Get to the root of any weed problem with Ken Thompson. With his blend of witty, down-to-earth advice and solid scientific practice, Ken explains how weeds populate your pots, paving, beds and borders and shows how to prevent them taking over - or opt for complete eradication. A "rogue's gallery" helps you separate the true thugs from the more benign pests, and reveals how to integrate some weeds into a garden ecosystem. With eco-friendly solutions for environmentally responsible gardeners, this is the practical and achievable guide to winning the war against weeds. Weeds are plants growing in the wrong place. Here's how to recognize, prevent, eradicate - or learn to live with - your unwelcome guests.Get to the root of any weed problem with Ken Thompson. With his blend of witty, down-to-earth advice and solid scientific practice, Ken explains how weeds populate your pots, paving, beds and borders and shows how to prevent them taking over - or opt for complete eradication.A "rogue's gallery" helps you separate the true thugs from the more benign pests, and reveals how to integrate some weeds into a garden ecosystem. With eco-friendly solutions for environmentally responsible gardeners, this is the practical and achievable guide to winning the war against weeds.
Learning to identify unwanted plants around the home, farm, or ranch will be much easier with this comprehensive publication. It will help you identify plants that compete with native plants, horticultural, & agricultural crops as well as those that can poison livestock & people. This easy-to-use guide contains more than 900 full-color photos showing the early growth stages, mature plants, & features for positive identification of each weed discussed. Descriptions, habitats, & characteristics of each plant are also included. Glossary. Key to plant families. References. Index.
"If you can't beat it, eat it." Words of wisdom from the author of this portable guide that emphasizes finding practical uses for weeds rather than waging pesticidal war on them. CRC Handbook of Edible Weeds contains detailed descriptions and illustrations of 100 edible weeds, representing 100 genera of higher plant species. Some of the species are strictly American, but many are cosmopolitan weeds. Each account includes common names recognized by the Weed Science Society of America, standard Latin scientific names, uses, and distribution (geographic and ecological). Cautionary notes are included regarding the potential allergenic or other harmful properties of many of the weeds. CRC Handbook of Edible Weeds is an excellent volume for botanists, plant scientists, horticulturalists, herbalists, and others interested in the edibility and practical uses of weeds.
Lives of Weeds explores the tangled history of weeds and their relationship to humans. Through eight interwoven stories, John Cardina offers a fresh perspective on how these tenacious plants came about, why they are both inevitable and essential, and how their ecological success is ensured by determined efforts to eradicate them. Linking botany, history, ecology, and evolutionary biology to the social dimensions of humanity's ancient struggle with feral flora, Cardina shows how weeds have shaped—and are shaped by—the way we live in the natural world. Weeds and attempts to control them drove nomads toward settled communities, encouraged social stratification, caused environmental disruptions, and have motivated the development of GMO crops. They have snared us in social inequality and economic instability, infested social norms of suburbia, caused rage in the American heartland, and played a part in perpetuating pesticide use worldwide. Lives of Weeds reveals how the technologies directed against weeds underlie ethical questions about agriculture and the environment, and leaves readers with a deeper understanding of how the weeds around us are entangled in our daily choices.
American Horticultural Society Book Award Winner: “An essential reference for all who wish to understand the science of the all-powerful weed.” —Better Homes and Gardens “What is a weed,” opined Emerson, “but a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered?” While that may be a worthy notion in theory, these plants of undiscovered virtue cause endless hours of toil for backyard gardeners. Wherever they take root, weeds compete for resources, and most often win. They also wreak havoc on industry—from agriculture to golf courses to civic landscape projects, vast amounts of money are spent to eradicate these virile and versatile invaders. With so much at stake, reliable information on weeds and their characteristics is crucial. Richard Dickinson and France Royer shed light on this complex world with Weeds of North America. Organized by plant family, this encyclopedic volume features over five hundred species in two-page spreads with images and text identification keys. Species are arranged within family alphabetically by scientific name, and entries include vital information on seed viability and germination requirements. No matter what your philosophy on weeds, this guide provides much-needed background on these intrusive organisms. In the battle with weeds, knowledge truly is power, and Weeds of North America is perfect for gardeners, botanists, nature lovers, or anyone working in the business of weed ecology and control. “Royer’s photographs are almost perversely alluring. . . . How can you not be ensnared by a book populated by prostrate pigweed, tansy ragwort and dog-strangling vine?” —New York Times Book Review
I wrote this book for my love for weeds. I love weeds because they remind me of when I used to walk in the wilderness in my home country. There were many weeds, some were nomadic on my way, and reminded me of St. John’s, who used to walk along the wilderness and see many different weeds, this is why I chose to write a book about weeds, to commemorate St. John Baptist life. Wilderness and the variety of weeds he encountered.
Responsible for a high proportion of the world's crop losses, weedstake away food that the world badly needs. They decrease thequality and quantity of vegetable fibers, wool, and hides, andinterfere with fishing, irrigation, hydroelectric power production,and the movement of shipping vessels. In order to recognize thetrue magnitude of the weed problem, and to be better equipped todesign effective weed control methods, it is vital to identify andlearn as much as possible about the many different species of thisdestructive agricultural predator. The culmination of four decades of global research, World Weedspresents comprehensive and up-to-date information on over 100weeds--addressing recent changes in such areas as crop tillagemethods, herbicide use, and agricultural runoff. This monumentalwork, featuring a wealth of original data from the authors,provides extensive coverage of the known biology of each species.Each entry contains a full botanical description, plus importantdetails on habitat requirements and distribution, seed production,ecology, physiology, crop impact, and more. Generously suppliedwith dozens of unique illustrations and species distribution mapscovering over 100 countries, this definitive resource boasts anextensive multilingual index of common names, and a massivebibliography with over 3,000 references to facilitate furtherreading and research. World Weeds is a truly masterful referencethat will be celebrated by weed and crop scientists, botanists, andothers for years to come.