A Pictorial Field Guide to the Woody Plants of the VOL. I - Fruit

In this review of Volume I of A Pictorial Field Guide to the Woody Plants of the, the bottom line is straightforward: this is a specialist reference built for botanists, field ecologists, and serious naturalists who need a comprehensive visual catalogue of fruit morphology. The reviewer found the book most valuable for its exhaustive coverage of Guianan woody plants and the inclusion of key edible-fruit families from the wider basin. For anyone working with identification in the field or preparing herbarium comparisons, the single biggest reason to buy is the scope and clarity of the 208 fruit drawing plates.

Key Features

• Comprehensive coverage: Covers fruits of roughly 100 families, 546 genera, and over 2,000 species, offering broad taxonomic reach for reference use.
• Focused subject matter: Restricted to woody plants including trees, shrubs, lianas, vines and (hemi)-epiphytes, which keeps the content highly relevant for forest botanists.
• High plate count: Includes 208 dedicated fruit drawing plates that make morphological comparison straightforward without relying on photographs.
• Includes major edible-fruit families: Adds useful coverage of Anacardiaceae, Annonaceae, Lecythidaceae, Myristicaceae and Sapotaceae that occur beyond the Guianas, aiding broader identification needs.
• Useful for herbarium work: The line-drawing style of plates assists in isolating diagnostic features for taxonomic or collection-based study.

Who It's For

This volume is aimed at professional botanists, field ecologists, graduate students, and experienced naturalists who require authoritative visual references for fruit morphology of woody plants in the Guianas and adjacent basin regions. It is especially useful during field trips and for museum or herbarium comparisons where detailed drawings clarify structural characters.

Casual readers or beginners seeking a general plant guide with common names and range maps should look elsewhere; the book is technical in scope and best used by readers comfortable with taxonomic terminology and specimen-based study.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Extensive taxonomic breadth, covering about 100 families and thousands of species for deep reference use.
• High-quality fruit drawings across 208 plates that emphasize diagnostic characters rather than photographic variation.
• Targeted inclusion of major edible-fruit families expands utility beyond the Guianas for broader basin work.

Cons

• The focus on line drawings and taxonomic breadth means the book is not a field guide for casual users who prefer photographs and common names.

Specifications

Title	A Pictorial Field Guide to the Woody Plants of the VOL. I: 208 FRUIT DRAWING PLATES
Author	Marc G.M. van Roosmalen PhD
Subject focus	Fruits of woody plants (trees, shrubs, lianas, vines, epiphytes)
Geographic scope	Guianan plants with selected families from the larger basin region
Families covered	About 100 families
Genera and species	Approximately 546 genera and over 2,000 species
Illustrations	208 fruit drawing plates

Our Verdict

This volume is a valuable, well-focused resource for professionals and serious students who need precise visual reference for fruit morphology of woody plants. Its depth and 208 plates make it good value for research and herbarium work, though casual field users seeking photographs or common-name guides should consider different titles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this volume include non-woody plants?
Answer. No, the catalogue is restricted to woody plants such as trees, shrubs, lianas, vines, and (hemi)-epiphytic climbers.

Are photographs included or only drawings?
Answer. The work emphasizes 208 fruit drawing plates rather than photographic plates, focusing on diagnostic line drawings.

Will this help identify edible fruits beyond the Guianas?
Answer. Yes, several major edible-fruit families that occur in the larger basin are included, increasing its utility outside the Guianas.