"This lavishly illustrated and expert new reference provides a comprehensive guide to the world of wild flowers and flora - including trees, shrubs, herbs, cacti, grasses, aquatic plants, mosses and weeds. It explains in easy-to-understand language what wild flowers are, and how they are classified. With clear photographs and watercolours it shows how to recognize the different parts of a plant including petals, buds, fruit, seeds, and stigma, and explains the role that each plays in the developing life of the plant. It explains the diversity of leaf and flower form, shape, structure and habit and shows how to use these features as a key to identification. The life cycle of a wild flower is clearly explained, from tiny seed, to bud, open flower, pollination, seedhead and finally seed dispersal."--www.annesspublishing.com