Field Guide to Tidal Wetland Plants of the Northeastern United States and Neighboring Canada: Vegetation of Beaches, Tidal Flats, Rocky Shores, Marshes, Swamps, and Coastal Ponds / Edition 2

by Ralph W. Tiner, Abigail Rorer

Overview

First published in 1987, Ralph W. Tiner's A Field Guide to Coastal Wetland Plants of the Northeastern United States soon established itself as the definitive work on its subject. Now Tiner has prepared a revised and expanded edition, broadening the coverage both botanically and geographically. It emphasizes plant identification and includes descriptions of over 700 species and illustrations of approximately 550 species. More tidal wetland types are covered (beaches, rocky shores, and tidal swamps) and the geographic scope extends as far north as Canada's Maritime Provinces.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781558496675
Publisher:	University of Massachusetts Press
Publication date:	02/04/2009
Edition description:	revised and expanded edition
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.80(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Ralph W. Tiner is a nationally recognized wetland ecologist with more than 40 years of experience mapping tidal marshes an other wetlands. He has directed the federal government's National Wetlands Inventory in 13 states for over 35 years and , as an adjunct professor has taught courses in wetland plant identification / ecology and wetland delineation/classification at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is currently treasurer for the U.S. National Ramsar Committee and also serves as the editor of Wetland Science and Practice (a journal of the Society of Wetland Scientists). To date, he has written over two hundred d publications including two field guides published by the University of Massachusetts Press.

Table of Contents

List of Figures, Tables, and Maps ix

Preface xi

Note of Caution xv

Acknowledgments xvii

Introduction 1

Tidal Wetland Types 3

Marine Wetlands 4

Estuarine Wetlands 6

Tidal Freshwater Wetlands 9

Coastal Aquatic Beds 11

Overview of Plant Characteristics 13

Life Form 13

Leaf Types 13

Leaf Arrangements 14

Unique or Uncommon Vegetative Properties 16

Flower Types 19

Arrangement of Flowers 21

Distinguishing among Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes 37

Grasses 37

Sedges 39

Rushes 40

How to Identify Plants Using This Book 41

Introduction to the Keys 41

How to Use the Keys 42

Keys for Tidal Wetland and Aquatic Plant Identification 45

A Key to Aquatic Plants of Salt and Brackish Waters 45

B Key to Aquatic Plants of Tidal Fresh Waters 46

C Key to Tidal Flat Plants 48

D Key to Rocky Shore Plants 49

E Key to Beach Plants 52

F Key to Salt and Brackish Marsh Flowering Herbs and Herbaceous Vines (excluding Graminoids) 54

G Key to Salt and Brackish Marsh Graminoids 57

H Key to Salt and Brackish Marsh Shrubs and Woody Vines 59

I Key to Tidal Freshwater Flowering Herbs (excluding Graminoids and Vines) 60

J Key to Tidal Freshwater Graminoids 64

K Key to Tidal Freshwater Shrubs 66

L Key to Tidal Freshwater Trees 68

M Key to Tidal Freshwater Vines and Trailing Plants 70

Plant Descriptions and Illustrations 73

Plants of Salt and Brackish Tidal Waters 77

Plants of Fresh Tidal Waters 85

Plants of Tidal Mudflats 105

Plants of Coastal Beaches 119

Plants of Salt and Brackish Marshes 145

Plants of Tidal Freshwater Wetlands 233

Illustration Credits 419

Appendix: Places to Explore Tidal Wetlands 423

Glossary 439

References443

Index 447

What People are Saying About This

Wildlife Review

The only text of its kind.... Recommended for all coastal enthusiasts and will be an excellent guide for visits to any coastal site in the area of coverage.

Quarterly Review of Biology

A useful reference for non-technical laypeople and specialists alike.

Choice

Tiner has assembled descriptions and line drawings of 150 vascular plants common in coastal habitats, including rocky shores, tidal flats, salt marshes, brackish marshes, tidal swamps, and coastal aquatic beds. An additional 130 species are referred to briefly.... The book is very suitable for its intended audience of 'nontechnical' persons interested in coastal habitats such as conservation commissioners, environmental consultants, and students in botany, ecology, and environmental science. Inclusion of maps and descriptions of places with good public access to observe coastal wetlands is very valuable.

Science Books and Films

A delight to read and a pleasure to use.... Whether you are a botanist, a wetland ecologist, or someone with an interest in wetland plants, this useful and attractive book should be on your bookshelf.

Editorial Reviews

The Field Guide to Tidal Wetland Plants of Northeastern United States and Neighboring Canada is a much needed update and expansion of his 1987 work- the Field Guide To Coastal Wetland Plants of Northeastern United States.

Plant Science Bulletin

Beyond simply containing more plants, the new guide includes a rather comprehensive update to the species descriptions, most of which gained considerable breadth following recent advances in the science.... True to the original, this revised and expanded edition remains in many ways the only text of its kind, providing a rich and detailed guide of the often-underappreciated plants of coastal and tidal wetlands.

Rhodora

"A delight to read and a pleasure to use. . . . Whether you are a botanist, a wetland ecologist, or someone with an interest in wetland plants, this useful and attractive book should be on your bookshelf."—Science Books and Films

"A useful reference for non-technical laypeople and specialists alike."—Quarterly Review of Biology

"Tiner has assembled descriptions and line drawings of 150 vascular plants common in coastal habitats, including rocky shores, tidal flats, salt marshes, brackish marshes, tidal swamps, and coastal aquatic beds. An additional 130 species are referred to briefly. . . . The book is very suitable for its intended audience of 'nontechnical' persons interested in coastal habitats such as conservation commissioners, environmental consultants, and students in botany, ecology, and environmental science. Inclusion of maps and descriptions of places with good public access to observe coastal wetlands is very valuable."—Choice

"The only text of its kind. . . . Recommended for all coastal enthusiasts and will be an excellent guide for visits to any coastal site in the area of coverage."—Wildlife Review

"The Field Guide to Tidal Wetland Plants of Northeastern United States and Neighboring Canada is a much needed update and expansion of his 1987 work- the Field Guide To Coastal Wetland Plants of Northeastern United States."—Plant Science Bulletin

"Beyond simply containing more plants, the new guide includes a rather comprehensive update to the species descriptions, most of which gained considerable breadth following recent advances in the science. . . . True to the original, this revised and expanded edition remains in many ways the only text of its kind, providing a rich and detailed guide of the often-underappreciated plants of coastal and tidal wetlands."—Rhodora

From the Publisher