Grasses, Sedges, Rushes: An Identification Guide

A portable, practical, and expertly illustrated field guide to more than a hundred grasses, rushes, and sedges: winner of the 2020 Library Journal Best Reference Award in Science and Technology.

"No one will be able to claim that identifying grasses, rushes, and sedges... is just 'too difficult' after learning to use this excellent guide." —Peter Raven, President Emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden

This elegant and easy-to-use guide is an updated and modified revision of Grasses: An Identification Guide, the seminal work by Lauren Brown, first published in 1979. While it retains the spirit and goals of the original edition (a portable, simple, and easy-to-use guide for naturalists and plant enthusiasts), the new edition features over a hundred grasses, rushes, and sedges presented with line drawings and color photographs, concise descriptions, and details about the uses of various plants throughout history.

Additionally, the authors make a point of highlighting the subtle differences between similar species to avoid confusion and provide relevant notes on plant survival strategies, invasiveness, and how different plants fit into the broader ecological landscape. This volume, free of technical jargon, is an indispensable tool for those curious about the often-overlooked grasses, rushes, and sedges that surround us.