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Post by faith on Jul 26, 2015 9:22:37 GMT
My particular concern is for people who want to do more than just be told the name of a plant, but haven't yet got microscopes or much technical knowledge. In my experience, it is at this stage that so many would-be botanists give up, which is a shame. I am so pleased that this website has come into existence, and hope that more botanists (and others, of course, but botany is my thing) will be as helpful as you are in your blog, John. (I will recommend my own book for beginners when I have been here a bit longer!)
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Post by John Pappus on Jul 26, 2015 13:59:39 GMT
My particular concern is for people who want to do more than just be told the name of a plant, but haven't yet got microscopes or much technical knowledge. In my experience, it is at this stage that so many would-be botanists give up, which is a shame. I am so pleased that this website has come into existence, and hope that more botanists (and others, of course, but botany is my thing) will be as helpful as you are in your blog, John. (I will recommend my own book for beginners when I have been here a bit longer!) I couldn't agree more - I started with nothing but an avid interest. The more I study botany the more I enjoy it - wildflowers especially being perfect - they're everywhere and accessible to everyone! It's amazing just what can be learned with the use of a simple magnifying-glass, a small guide, a notepad and if possible some form of camera. There's nothing more delightful & fascinating as putting a leaf over a light and seeing the amazing patterns of the veins etc - pure wonder!
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Post by ChrisJB on Jul 26, 2015 21:57:18 GMT
On a recent trip to Upper Teesdale, a lady showed me her copy of Poland's vegetative book. It was too high brow for me, but she gave me a most informative demonstration and I was highly impressed. She also had an amazing hand lens called a Lichen Candelaris, made by Erich Zimmerman. What a piece of kit that was, but that's another story!
Regards, Chris
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Post by faith on Jul 27, 2015 13:57:37 GMT
Poland is terrific, I sometimes use it even when I do have flowers, as it is very accurate and easy to work through – but only, I would say, if you already have quite a lot of experience with keys. There is also quite a lot of new vocabulary to be learnt, but luckily the glossary is very good at explaining terms like ' anastomosing', 'domatia' and 'plagiotropic' . . . It has heaps of photos and helpful diagrams too.
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Post by John Pappus on Jul 28, 2015 15:12:28 GMT
Poland is terrific, I sometimes use it even when I do have flowers, as it is very accurate and easy to work through – but only, I would say, if you already have quite a lot of experience with keys. There is also quite a lot of new vocabulary to be learnt, but luckily the glossary is very good at explaining terms like ' anastomosing', 'domatia' and 'plagiotropic' . . . It has heaps of photos and helpful diagrams too. Agree wholeheartedly with you re Poland - I've just IDd a Stachys sylvatica using it, what great and interesting fun! Given the info needed, the Poland keys are amazingly fast and accurate, considering no flower is needed for the ID! An astonishingly good book.
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Post by faith on Oct 5, 2015 17:40:26 GMT
Do have a look at meteorquake's post in Flora on this topic.
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