Teaches a novel way of identifying plants by observing their plant family patterns and characteristics, which often also give clues to their edible or medicinal usage. With helpful tips to group plants by family, in-depth family profiles & handy nicknames and mnemonics, this book unveils the world of classifications behind the plants we see in our everyday environment. While perfectly suited for a beginner, this book will also simplify botanical identification processes even for seasoned plant enthusiasts. With the methods learned in this book plant identification becomes more immediate & intuitive, and one's plant awareness becomes increasingly interconnected. New editions also have full color illustrations, and simple diagrams to help you clearly identify the features you are looking for. A staple for any Herbalist's Bookshelf.
This book is a bit like finding the keys to the castle...not in the sense of gaining control over the plant kingdom, of course, but of gaining a flash of insight into the world of botany that absolutely lights you up. I get jazzed every time I read this book, as it weaves the threads of similarities through what are sometimes seemingly thousands of disparate, individual plants. I take great pleasure in knowing the members of various plant families, and in being able to identify new plants based on what I know about a family's characteristic patterns. In the case of some families, knowing the family also gives really good insight into the herbal actions of plants, as well. This book is insightful, empowering, and (dare I say this about a botany book?) exciting! No wonder it is much loved in the herbal community.
Angela Justis, Student Services Coordinator
This wonderful tome is packed with botanical information all presented in an approachable, easy-to-understand way. The illustrations are clear, helpfully showcasing distinguishing characteristics of the plants thereby aiding the reader in identification. Perhaps my favorite thing about Botany in a Day is the addition of useful herbal information for the plant families. For example in the section on the Rosaceae (Rose) Family, Elpel states, “The fruits of the Rose family are edible but somewhat laxative with the rest of the vegetation is usually astringent, due to the presence of tannic acid” (p. 87). This type of information can help herbalists to organize their understanding of plants and their uses!
