Publications available from WEED INFORMATION

The long dry: bush colours of summer and autumn in south-western Australia By Alex George ISBN 0958034109, published in 2002 by Four Gables Press, colour, soft cover, 92 pages Price $25.00 plus $A10 postage within Australia or $A30 overseas airmail

The year 2002 was opportune timing for this first book from Four Gables Press. 'The long dry' examines the effect of drought on the visual appearance of foliage. It is a wildflower book with a difference. Instead of flowers, this one concentrates on the foliage, in particular what it does in a very dry summer and how the foliage can recover when rains come. This small book presents a new approach to the Australian landscape illustrating plants under good and bad conditions showing a new way of seeing and understanding our landscapes.

In many plants the leaves or stems turn shades of yellow, red or brown under drought but do not die - when the first winter rain falls they regreen and resume their normal functions. This is Western Australia's version of autumn colours. Apart from a few species that change during a normal summer, most of this colour is seen only in a very dry season such as occurred in 2000-01 and has never been recorded so widely before.

This book illustrates 60 of these plants, showing them in both their 'coloured' and regreened states. There are also photographs of patches of bush showing general autumn colour, and of other drought survival strategies. Paradoxically, some plants flower during this season, and a selection of these is shown. The book is illustrated with 180 colour plates.

About the author

Alex George, the author, was a botanist with the Western Australian Herbarium for 21 years, then for 12 years executive editor of the Flora of Australia based in Canberra. He has botanised throughout Western Australia in all seasons, collecting and photographing wildflowers and observing how they live. His special interests include Banksia, Dryandra and Verticordia, as well as botanical history and bibliography. He is now a freelance botanist, editor and indexer.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Autumn colour (pages 1-72)
• Other survival strategies
• Summer and autumn flowers
• Further reading
• Index

Marine plants of Australia By John M. Huisman ISBN 1876268336, published in 2000 by University of Western Australia Press in association with Australian Biological Resources Study, colour, hard cover, 300 pages Price $A82.50 plus $A10 postage within Australia or $A30 overseas airmail

Marine Plants of Australia illustrates over 300 species of Australia's underwater plant life, mostly using underwater photographs that reveal the amazing colours and intricate patterns found in this largely unknown realm of life. The book is fully referenced and will be an invaluable identification guide for scientists, teachers and anyone interested in the natural world.

About the author

John Huisman graduated with a Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne in 1985 and has spent many years since then photographing and studying the marine plants of his adopted home, Western Australia. He has published numerous scientific papers and has served for several years as President of the Australasian Society for Phycology and Aquatic Botany. At present he is a research fellow at Murdoch University. Marine plants of Australia has been his labour of love for many years, combining his enthusiasm for phycology (the study of algae) and for underwater photography.

Table of contents

• Acknowledgments
• Preface
• Introduction
• How to use this book
• History of marine botany in Western Australia
• Uses of marine plants
• Collecting and displaying
• Synopsis of divisions, classes, orders, families and genera
• Systematic section (pages 23-283)
• Appendix: descriptions of new species
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Taxonomic index

Medicinal plants in folk tradition: an ethnobotany of Britain and Ireland By David E. Allen and Gabrielle Hatfield ISBN 0881926388, published in 2004 by Timber Press, b&w illustrations and colour plates, hard cover, 431 pages Price $A49.95 plus $A10 postage within Australia or $A30 overseas airmail

The first comprehensive account of medicinal uses of wild plants that chronicles the fascinating uses of more than 400 plant species. A marvellous collection of plant lore from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. A well illustrated book that combines the most admirable scholarly thoroughness with a charming and engaging prose style.

Contents

• Preface
• Chapter 1: Herbs without the herbals: retracing a lost tradition
• Chapter 2: Introduction to the compendium of uses
• Chapters 3–16: Plant species and uses...
• Chapter 17: Distribution patterns of folk medicinal uses
• Appendix: Veterinary remedies
• Reference sources
• Index of folk uses
• Index of scientific names
• Index of vernacular names

More crop weeds By M.R. Moerkerk and A.G. Barnett ISBN 0958743924, published in 1998 by R.G. and F.J. Richardson, colour, soft cover, 124 pages Price $A60.00 plus $10 postage within Australia or $A30 overseas airmail

See also CROP WEEDS

As cropping areas have expanded and rotations have become more diverse in southern Australia many new weeds and crops are being encountered by growers. More crop weeds has been produced as an aid to the identification of these new weeds. More crop weeds comprehensively describes 90 weeds species, not previously covered by the earlier book Crop weeds. Where appropriate, descriptions are included for life cycle, cotyledons, the first leaves through to the mature plant. Illustrations follow the plant from the seed through the seedling stage to the mature plant and also highlight key diagnostic features. More than 300 colour and 90 black and white photographs, and 300 line drawings are included making accurate identification of these plants easy.

More crop weeds is a companion to the popular Crop weeds. It's 25 narrow leaf (monocotyledons) and 65 broad leaf (dicotyledons) weed descriptions brings the total number of weeds covered by both references to 207. More crop weeds includes two keys to assist in identification of seedlings in which all the species in Crop weeds and More crop weeds are covered. The keys allow for quick and simple identification of seedlings that can be confirmed by referring to the listed pages in each book.

Crop weeds and More crop weeds are essential manuals for farmers, agricultural research and extension agencies, universities and colleges, and companies offering services to the rural community.

About the authors

At the time this book was written the authors were employed by Agriculture Victoria, a business of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, located at the Victorian Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Horsham. Michael Moerkerk, a weeds research agronomist, is involved in integrated pest management (weeds) throughout Victoria. He wrote and compiled the text, expanded the narrow leafed key from crop weeds, developed the broad leafed key and produced the excellent photographs of the plants and their seeds. Michael has developed seedling weed identification workshops for farmers based on Crop weeds and More crop weeds. Allan Barnett has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) from Melbourne University Longerenong Campus. He prepared the meticulous drawings in this book. Allan has also co-authored other books on weed identification including Crop weeds by J.L. Wilding, A.G. Barnett and R.L. Amor (updated edition R.G. and F.J. Richardson) and Grasses of temperate Australia by C.A. Lamp, S.J. Forbes and J.W. Cade (2nd edition Bloomings Books).

Table of contents

• Introduction
• Narrow leafed weeds
• Key to vegetative features of narrow leafed weeds
• Broad leafed weeds
• Key to the identification of broad leafed weeds in their early growth stages
• Legumes key
• Narrow leafed weeds - descriptions and illustrations (pages 19-48)
• Broad leafed weeds - descriptions and illustrations (pages 49-119)
• Index

Name that flower: the identification of flowering plants, 2nd edition By Ian Clarke and Helen Lee ISBN 052285060X, published in 2003 by the Melbourne University Press, B&W illustrations and colour plates, 299 pages Price $A34.95 plus $A10 postage within Australia or $A30 overseas airmail

This new edition is extended and updated and includes over 130 detailed line drawings and 12 pages of colour plates. It is an introduction to the arrangement of flowers on plants, reproduction, plant structure and function, and the way plants are grouped and named. Methods for dissecting flowers and observing their structure for identification purposes are clearly described. A comprehensive glossary and up-to-date bibliography provide a welcome guide to further information.

Table of contents

• Introduction
• 1. Getting started
• 2. The structure of flowers
• 3. Inflorescences - the arrangement of flowers on plants
• 4. Reproduction
• 5. Introduction to plant structure and function
• 6. Classification and nomenclature - grouping and naming
• 7. The process of identification
• 8 Plant families
• Appendix
• Bibliography
• Glossary
• Index

Native grasses: an identification handbook for temperate Australia third edition By Meredith Mitchell ISBN 064306656X, published in 2002 by CSIRO Landlink Press, colour plates, wiro bound, 42 pages Price $A24.95 plus $A4 postage within Australia or $A14 overseas airmail

This is an easy-to-use tool for identifying some of the most common native grasses in temperate Australia. The text describes 17 species in detail, covering general features as well as specific distinguishing features. Full colour photographs of the whole plant, as well as close-ups of significant parts of the plants such as the seedhead, leaf blade, seed and ligule, accompany each species description. The handbook provides advice on grassland management as well as providing a greater understanding of the value of native grasses in terms of their benefit to the environment, agriculture, landscaping and upland hydrology.

Table of contents

• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Glossary
• Generalised anatomy of a grass
• Cane Wire Grass, Wallaby Grass, Spear Grass, Red Grass, Windmill Grass, Tall Windmill Grass, Silky Blue Grass, Cotton Panic Grass, Spreading Umbrella Grass, Common Wheat Grass, Nineawn Grass, Curly Windmill Grass, Brown's Lovegrass, Weeping Grass, Tussock Grass, Snow Grass, Kangaroo Grass
• References
• Further reading

Native plants of Melbourne and adjoining areas By David and Barbara Jones ISBN 1876473134, published in 1999 by Bloomings Books, colour, soft cover, 262 pages Price $A29.95 plus $A10 postage within Australia or $A30 overseas airmail

As Melbourne's urban sprawl continues, so the pressure on the remaining patches of bushland increases and the very regional survival of many indigenous plant species becomes threatened.

This authoritative guide will enable interested people to identify the native plants which may survive in their neighbourhood. It identifies 252 species, mostly common, but also some which are rare. For each species the plant is described, the suburban range and overall distribution given, habitat and related species are discussed and their requirements for cultivation outlined.

About the authors

David Jones, botanist and horticultural author, has written numerous books on Australian plants. Barbara Jones takes a keen interest in Australian plants as a practising craftsperson specializing in embroidery.

Table of contents

• Preface
• Introduction
• About this book
• Acknowledgments
• Alphabetical listing of plants (pages 1-252)
• Glossary
• References and further reading
• Index

Native plants of Northern Australia By John Brock ISBN 1876334673, published in 2001 by Reed New Holland, colour, soft cover, 355 pages Price $A49.95 plus $A10 postage within Australia or $A30 overseas airmail

Native Plants of Northern Australia presents a comprehensive coverage of the trees and shrubs of the region - 450 species are described, with 700 excellent colour photographs and 26 line drawings. Each species is individually presented with photos, extensive descriptive information and distribution maps. Aboriginal plant usage is also recorded, including food, craft and medicinal uses. This book will prove a valuable reference for the native plant enthusiast, the botany student and interested naturalist.

About the author

John Brock was born in Adelaide in 1951 and came to Darwin in 1978. He was employed with the Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory until 1990 and his travels throughout the Top End have given him extensive knowledge of the local flora. He is currently self-employed as a writer, researcher and botanical consultant.

Contents

• List of illustrations and colour plates
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• How to use this book
• Plant Communities: Sandstone habitats, Lowland habitats, Coastal habitats, Monsoon forest
• Plant descriptions A-Z (pages 51-337)
• References
• Bibliography
• Glossary
• Family list
• Appendix - plant name changes
• Index

Native trees and shrubs of south-eastern Australia by Leon Costermans ISBN 1876334649, published in 2000 (reprinted from 1983 revised edition) by Reed New Holland, colour and b&w, soft cover, 424 pages Price $A49.95 plus $A10 postage within Australia or $A30 overseas airmail

South-eastern Australia has a tremendous diversity of plant life as well as many fascinating land features. Native trees and shrubs of south-eastern Australia records such aspects of the land and its vegetation, using a style which is scientifically accurate, but which will be readily understood by the non-specialist. It not only describes virtually all the species of native trees and larger shrubs in this area, but it relates their occurrences to features of their environments - events of the past, geology, landforms, soil and climatic conditions. In a systematic sequence, every species is illustrated and accompanied by a distribution map. Descriptive information is concise and carefully researched. There are more than 300 colour plates, and over 160 black and white photographs.

Some brief descriptions of places of special interest, as well as eight comprehensively illustrated 'Guide-lists', cover the coast, hills and ranges, high mountain country, and various inland areas. These are designed to help anyone exploring such regions to identify trees and shrubs, not only during their flowering periods, but at any time of year. These sections also provide details of ecological settings for the plants.

The wealth of systematically organized information, combined with attractive illustration, makes this book an indispensable aid to any field observer - naturalist, student, or simply interested traveller - who wishes to develop an understanding and appreciation of this part of the Australian continent.

Table of contents

• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• 1. Aims, scope and presentation
• 2. The land and its vegetation
• 3. Some places of special interest
• 4. Regional guide-lists
• 5. Description of species (pages 141- 379)
• 6. Comments on the major families and genera
• Glossary
• Abbreviations
• Index

The natural history of medicinal plants By Judith Sumner ISBN 0881924830, published in 2000 by Timber Press, b&w illustrations and colour plates, hard cover, 235 pages Price $A45.95 plus $A10 postage within Australia or $A30 overseas airmail

Whether you are an avid gardener, a practising herbalist or a physician whose patients want to know more about healing plants, this book belongs on your shelf. Written for the lay reader, it will inspire a greater appreciation of the vast natural pharmacy of plant medicines.

Contents

• Foreword by Mark Plotkin
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Chapter 1: A brief history of medicinal botany
• Chapter 2: Acquiring knowledge
• Chapter 3: Medicinal plants in nature
• Chapter 4: Toxins and cures- a cabinet of plant chemicals
• Chapter 5: Defensive strategies and plant chemistry
• Chapter 6: Significant discoveries
• Chapter 7: Zoopharmacognosy and botanical toxins
• Chapter 8: Chemical prospecting and new plant medicines
• Chapter 9: Protecting medicinal biodiversity and knowledge
• Chapter 10: Herbal histories, considerations and caveats
• Glossary
• Further reading
• Index

The new nature: winners and losers in wild Australia By Tim Low ISBN 0670884669, published in 2002 by Penguin, large-sized soft cover, 378 pages Price $29.95 plus $A10 postage within Australia or $A30 overseas airmail

Forget about wilderness, Tim Low says - nature lives here in our cities and gardens, exploiting everything we do, forging new connections with us. Endangered species are turning up in industrial zones. In our forests, native pests, including lyrebirds and rainforest trees, are now a force to reckon with. Sheep are being kept in some national parks to save rare birds and plants. We need to know why.

From the author of Feral Future comes a meticulously researched, accessible, entertaining and ground-breaking new book that will change your view of nature. He shows that wilderness is a myth, wildlife welcomes our sewage, rare animals need weeds and wildlife-friendly gardening is not so friendly!

Table of contents

• Preface
• Introduction
• Part 1 Nature and us - Exploited by nature/nature using us, Endangered weeds/rarities lurk among us, Away from wilderness/questioning an unhelpful idea, Ecosystem engineers/animals alter landscapes, The ecology of sewage/wildlife wants our wastes, Structure for nature/animals exploit our structures, Nature needs weeds/weeds and crops suit wildlife
• Urban ecology/life in cities and farms
• Part II Changing Places - On the move/animals expand ranges, Foreign exchange/international spread, Hidden hitchhikers/dispersal by vehicle, Tales of transportation/relocating wildlife, Noble arks/stocking National Parks, Fun with fish/fish stockers run amok, Pardon my garden/ native gardens spawn weeds.
• Part III Conflicts -Bad birds/native birds as eco-threats, What kangaroos do/overgrazing in reserves, To kill a tree/koalas and other tree-killers, Vegetation wars/habitats in turmoil, Gene scene/mixing gene pools.
• Part IV Resolutions - Wild strife in the garden/urban conservation myths, Grazing and culling for conservation/ironies of modern management, Forward to nature/living with wildness.
• Appendices - Errant native plants around cities, Australian animals as conservation threats.
• Source notes
• Bibliography
• Index

Noxious weeds of Australia, 2nd edition By W.T. Parsons and E.G. Cuthbertson ISBN 0643065148, published in 2001 by CSIRO Publishing, colour, hard cover, 712 pages Price $A195.00 plus $A10 postage within Australia or $A30 overseas airmail

Previously published in 1992, this book has been the prime reference for noxious weed species throughout Australia.

It provides a comprehensive description of those plants declared as a noxious weed, proclaimed pest or pest plant under legislation anywhere in Australia. This new edition updates the legal requirement for control information for each State and Territory, lists the additions and deletions of proclaimed weeds since 1992 and has revised the list of herbicides and their properties.

About the authors

Bill Parsons and Eric Cuthbertson have had long and distinguished careers associated with weeds and their control. Eric Cuthbertson was a Weeds Research Officer at the Agricultural Research Institute at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, for many years, and Bill Parsons was Officer-in-charge at the Keith Turnbull Research Institute and later Chairman of the Vermin and Noxious Weeds Destruction Board in Victoria. Both are widely known and respected throughout Australia and overseas for their contributions to weed science.

Table of contents

• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• Noxious weed legislation in Australia
• Pteridophytes (pages 13-22)
• Spermatophytes (pages 23-643)
• Cycads and gymnosperms
• Angiosperms
• Monocotelydons
• Dicotyledons
• Addendum
• Appendix: properties of herbicides mentioned in the text
• Glossary
• Index

Orchids of Australia By John J. Riley and David P. Banks ISBN 0868405019, published in 2002 by UNSW Press, colour, hard cover, 308 pages Price $A110.00 plus $A10 postage within Australia [for overseas airmail please ask for a quote]

This work showcases both the diversity and beauty of Australia's unique orchid flora, and the rare talent of illustrator John J. Riley. One hundred and fifty species are covered, including many well-known and widespread species as well as many that are extremely rare, and some of which have only recently been discovered and described. A benchmark in Australian botanical and artistic circles.

Contents

• Foreword
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• About this book
• Species descriptions (pages 1–300)
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Index of species names

 

Organic control of common weeds, a safe environment guide, 2nd edition By Jackie French ISBN 0947214518, published in 1997 by Aird Books, b&w illustrations, soft cover, 156 pages Price $19.95 plus $A10 postage within Australia or $A30 overseas airmail

Nowadays, in conventional gardening and farming, weed 'control' means herbicides: chemicals have replaced good management for fertility and for pest, disease and weed control. We hate weeds. 'Weed' is the ultimate insult. But weeds can also be seen as soil repairers, an essential part of any farm or garden management.

In this completely revised edition of 'Organic control of common weeds', Jackie French shows that weeds can be controlled using your own home-grown, natural herbicides in addition to mulching, solarisation or applications of urine, steam or boiling water - and a multitude of other cheap, environmentally safe and gentle techniques.

Table of contents

• Introduction
• Natural weed control
• Weed management
• Fighting weeds
• Using weeds
• Common weeds
• Index

The Oxford companion to Australian gardens Edited by Richard Aitken and Michael Looker ISBN 0195536444, published in 2002 by Oxford University Press, 697 pages, hard cover Price $120.00 plus $A10 postage within Australia or $A45 overseas airmail

The first book of its kind to focus exclusively on Australia, includes more than 1500 alphabetically arranged entries covering gardens and garden making broadly viewed to embrace architecture, art, botany, horticulture, landscape architecture, literature and town planning. Many of Australia's leading writers have contributed - elegant distillations of knowledge and wisdom, many of essay length, range from Rupert Hamer on politics and Joan Law-Smith on spirituality to Rodger Elliot on Australian flora and James Broadbent on tyre swans.

It includes more than 750 biographical entries and another 350 entries that trace the history of significant Australian gardens. The entries are complemented by more than 300 carefully chosen illustrations that capture the essence of Australian gardens and flora from the earliest European paintings and engravings to recent interpretation by such artists as Howard Arkley and Fiona Hall. The exquisite engraved alphabetical headpieces, published here for the first time since 1880, were designed by Edward LaTrobe Bateman for the first printed catalogues of the Melbourne Public Library.

About the editors

Richard Aitken is a Melbourne based architect and historian. Since 1978 he has been in private practice and has prepared conservation plans for many of Australia's most significant historic gardens. For a decade he was Gardens Projects Officer with the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and was a founding member of the Australian Garden History Society, serving as a member of its National Management Committee and as editor of the Society's journal, Australian Garden History.

Dr. Michael Looker has been Director of the Trust for Nature (Victoria) since 2000. He trained in horticulture at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew after graduating with a B.Sc. (Biological Sciences) from La Trobe University. He worked at the National Herbarium of Victoria on his return form the UK and was Superintendent of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne from 1986 to 1990. From 1991 he lectured in environmental horticulture at Burnley College, University of Melbourne.

Table of contents

• Foreword
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• List of contributors
• Note to the reader
• A note concerning the illuminated headpieces
• Entries A to Z
• Illustration acknowledgments
• Index of gardens
• Index of names

Pasture management By Rick Bickford ISBN 0750689137, published in 1995 by Inkata Press, soft cover, 184 pages Price $A50.00 plus $A10 postage within Australia or $A30 overseas airmail

Pastures are the most important factor in any grazing operation and their effective management is vital to the health of stock and property alike. This book covers all aspects of pasture management in extensive and informative detail.

About the author

Rick Bickford has had nearly 35 years working in the field of pasture production. After graduating from agricultural college he spent the next 20 years working as an agronomist on pasture, crop and small seed production throughout cereal and high rainfall regions. More recently he has worked with the South Australian Department of TAFE as a rural studies lecturer whilst continuing his extension work in pasture management.

Table of contents

• 1. Preliminary considerations
• 2. Pasture grasses
• 3. Pasture legumes
• 4. Sowing methods
• 5. Invertebrate pest control in pastures
• 6. Weeds in pastures
• 7. Fertilizer requirements and grazing management
• 8. Fodder crops and conservation
• List of species
• Index

This book identifies strategies for pasture development and management which will optimize productivity in the long term. The detailed, technical treatment of pasture resource and management experience provides an extensive overview of Australian pasture systems. The principles derived from this knowledge can be used to develop sustainable pastures.

The book is divided into five main sections:

• Historical perspective
• Pasture production and the environment
• Pasture species
• Pasture management
• Future perspective