A Field Guide to Plants of Costa Rica

by Gargiullo, Margaret; Magnuson, Barbara; Kimball, Larry

• ISBN13: 9780195188257
• ISBN10: 019518825X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-03-07
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

At the biological crossroads of the Americas, Costa Rica hosts one of thewidest varieties of plants in the wold, with habitats ranging from tidalmangrove swamps, and lowland rainforests, to dry tropical evergreen anddeciduous forests. Field Guide to Plants of Costa Rica is a must-have reference guide for beginnerand expert naturalists alike. It provides a thorough survey of more than 850plant species, each entry accompanied by color photos and a concise yet detailednarrative description. Plants are conveniently grouped by the different types ofvegetation: palms, tall trees, shrubs, woody vines, herbaceous vines, herbs,grasses and ferns. Along with 1400 color photographs, the guide also includes anillustrated glossary of plant parts, five maps of Costa Rica, and laminatedcovers for durability in the field. With so much readily accessible information,this book is essential for exploring Costa Rica's common and conspicuous florafrom the plants growing along the roadside to the best natural parks.

Author Biography

Margaret B. Gargiullo is a plant ecologist formerly affiliated with the Natural Resources Group of the New York City Parks and Recreation Department

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Introduction	p. xvii
Geography	p. xviii
Climate	p. xix
Notes for Photographers	p. xix
A Little Tropical Plant Ecology	p. xxi
Methods and Justifications	p. xxxi
Distribution and "Commonness" of Plants	p. xxxv
Limitations of this Guide	p. xxxvii
How to Use This Book	p. xxxix
Illustrated Plant Terms	p. xli
Palms and Palmlike Plants	p. 1
Tall Trees	p. 21
Shrubs and Small Trees	p. 85
Woody Vines (Lianas)	p. 229
Herbaceous Vines	p. 247
Herbs	p. 277
Grasses and Sedges	p. 419
Ferns and Other Seedless Plants	p. 435
Glossary	p. 463
References	p. 469
Index	p. 479
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