Grasses, Sedges, Rushes: An Identification Guide

A portable, practical and expertly illustrated field guide to over one hundred grasses, sedges, and rushes—winner of 2020 Library Journal Best Reference Pick of the Year in the Science & Technology category
 
“No one will be able to claim that the identification of grasses, sedges, and rushes . . . are simply ‘too difficult’ after they have learned to use this excellent guide.”—Peter Raven, President Emeritus, Missouri Botanical Garden
 
This elegant and easy‑to‑use guide is an updated and amended revision of Lauren Brown’s seminal Grasses: An Identification Guide, which was first published in 1979. While maintaining the spirit and goals of the original edition—a portable, straightforward, and user‑friendly guide for naturalists and plant enthusiasts—the new edition features more than one hundred grasses, sedges, and rushes that are presented with line drawings and color photographs, concise descriptions, and details on the uses of various plants throughout history.  
 
In addition, the authors are careful to highlight the subtle differences in similar species to avoid confusion, as well as offering relevant notes on plant survival strategies, invasiveness, and how different plants fit within the broader ecological landscape. Devoid of technical jargon, this volume is an indispensable tool for those curious about the often‑overlooked grasses, sedges, and rushes that surround us.

Lauren Brown is a botanist whose previous books include Grasses: An Identification Guide, Weeds in Winter, and Grasslands. Ted Elliman worked for many years for Native Plant Trust (formerly New England Wildflower Society) and is the author of Wildflowers of New England.