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Summary: My most-used field guide!
Review: I have yet to find a flower in the northeast that isn't in this book! It only takes a little practice to learn to use the key. I only wish they made a key like this for plants that aren't in flower. I own a comprehensive plant systematics book, but it's so daunting that I always reach for Newcomb's first. If you want to become a better naturalist, get this book!
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Summary: Perfect Guide for the Southern Appalachians
Review: I've noticed from other reviews that this guide is seen to be specific to the northeast. When I first wanted to learn about wildflowers I took a workshop in the western NC mountains and this was the the required text. Every wildflower that we identified was in the book. It seems that the cooler mountain elevations offer the same climate found in New England and Canada. Also, learning by leaf type makes it a lot easier to identify the plant when it's not blooming. I've had a copy of it in my car for the last 10 years and intend on keeping it there.
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Summary: Wildflowers made easy: an indispensable reference.
Review: If you're going to buy just one book on wildflower identification, this is it. While not foolproof, this system is the best I've seen. It beats by far other methods using color and shape of flower, as used in the Audubon and Peterson field guides (though both the latter have their place, and you should get both if you're really serious).A most unique aspect of this book is that it includes shrubs as well as plants normally considered wildflowers, adding greatly to its utility for the amateur observer.
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Summary: Black & White Is Good
Review: If you're looking for a field guide with pretty pictures of flowers, don't buy this guide. (The Audobon Society's field guide series has wonderful full color plates.) If you're looking for a field guide which will actually help you identify flowering plants, buy this guide! I have used it for both recreational observation and scientific research purposes, and it is user-friendly and accurate. The pictures are printed in black and white for a good reason- flower color is variable in nature, and color pictures could be misleading. Shape and structure (number of petals, etc) are much LESS variable, and thus better represented in black and white. Also, the dichotomous key structure of the guide makes it easy to quickly identify your specimens. Highly recommended (for Eastern United States only.)
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Summary: Only east of the Mississippi
Review: Living in Texas, we didn't find that a guide devoted to wildflowers found east of the Mississippi River to be overly helpful. The line drawings are nice, and telling where the plants are likely to be found is helpful. The publishers might have mentioned the specific locality of this guide.
Rating: 
Summary: A useful book
Review: Newcomb's guide is a great book, once you get past the initial training period. For those of us used to flipping through pictures of flowers and fruit until we think we have the right one, this book can be initially off-putting. My advice...get used to it. Newcomb's system is more efficient and more certain than flower-flipping. A good book.
Rating:
Summary: A useful book
Review: Newcomb's guide is a great book, once you get past the initial training period. For those of us used to flipping through pictures of flowers and fruit until we think we have the right one, this book can be initially off-putting. My advice...get used to it. Newcomb's system is more efficient and more certain than flower-flipping. A good book.
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Summary: Simple System Eases Wildflower Identification
Review: The author's system allows even amateurs like me to quickly and accurately identify wildflowers. It is as simple as answering five questions which point the user to the appropriate page in the book where the flower is described and pictured. The text is great. The first sentence of each description distinguishes that plant from all others in that group. If you are looking for a wildflower guide, they do not get better than this one.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent source for the student botanist
Review: The Newcomb's Guide is not the first field guide that I have ever used, but it is the one that I use most for identification of flowering plants in the Northeast. I found the key very easy to use, which results in rapid identifications. Eventhough it is not totally complete, it is an excellent guide for student botanists who want to learn about N.E. flowers with only this guide as instruction. More guides should be written in this style!
Rating: 
Summary: Nice book, but..
Review: there's no way to tell from the web pages, but this book is only about wildflowers in the Northeast portion of the U.S., didn't do me much good in California.
Was a Christmas gift that will be returned.
Amazon.com should make it plain that it's regional.
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