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Lichens
of North America, Irwin M. Brodo, Sylvia Duran Sharnoff, Stephen Sharnoff
Lichens are a unique form of plant life, the product of a symbiotic association
between an alga and a fungus. The beauty and importance of lichens have long
been overlooked, despite their abundance and diversity in most parts of North
America and elsewhere in the world. This stunning book--the first accessible and
authoritative guidebook to lichens of the North American continent--fills the
gap, presenting superb color photographs, descriptions, distribution maps, and
keys for identifying the most common, conspicuous, or ecologically significant
species.
The book focuses on 805 foliose, fruticose, and crustose
lichens (the latter rarely included in popular guidebooks) and presents
information on another 700 species in the keys or notes; special attention is
given to species endemic to North America. A comprehensive introduction
discusses the biology, structure, uses, and ecological significance of lichens
and is illustrated with 90 additional color photos and many line drawings.
English names are provided for most species, and the book also includes a
glossary that explains technical terms. This visually rich and informative book
will open the eyes of nature lovers everywhere to the fascinating world of
lichens.
Irwin M. Brodo is emeritus research scientist at the Canadian Museum of Nature,
Ottawa, Ontario, and is considered a world authority on lichens and their
biology. Stephen Sharnoff is and the late Sylvia Duran Sharnoff was research
associate at the Missouri Botanical Garden and research affiliate at the
University and Jepson Herbaria, University of California, Berkeley. The
Sharnoffs are both internationally renowned nature photographers and writers
whose work has appeared in, among other places, National Geographic,
Smithsonian, Discover, and the New York Times.
“This volume is the twenty-first-century lichen equivalent
of Audubon’s Birds of America.” --Thomas E. Lovejoy, Smithsonian Institution
“This is a book to love. It will open a whole new world for
naturalists, professional and amateur, to explore and enjoy.”--E. O. Wilson
“A long-sought triumph, gorgeously illustrated, accurate,
accessible, and comprehensive.” --Lynn Margulis, University of Massachusetts
Hardcover, 828 p., 9 1/2 x 11 inches, 821 b/w, 927 color illustrations.
0-300-08249-5 Lichens
of North America $110.00
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