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Aquatic, Wetland and Invasive Plant Manuals, Field Guides and Textbooks: Manuals and Field Guides

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    Ahmad, N., Younus, M. 1979. Aquatic Plants of Lahore. Pakistan Association for the Advancement of Science, Lahore. 41 pp.

      Basically written to assist fish culturists. Simple black and white line drawings.

    Anonymous. 1971. Aquatic Weed Identification and Control Manual. Bureau of Aquatic Plant Research and Control, Florida Department of Natural Resources, Tallahassee, 100 pp.

    Anonymous. Date Unknown. Common Aquatic Flora and Fauna of the Tennessee Valley. Booklet 4, Water Quality Series, Tennessee Valley Authority. 83 pp.

      A nicely illustrated, easy to read booklet prepared for use with TVA’s Teacher/Student and Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Network. It depicts common aquatic animals and plants found in lakes, rivers and streams in the Tennessee Valley. Not intended as a comprehensive guide.

    Anonymous. 1987. Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waterways Experiment Station, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, MS, Tech. Report Y-87-1, 165 pp.

    Anonymous. 2001. Minnesota Non-Native Terrestrial Plants -- An Identification Guide for Resource Managers, Trails and Waterways Natural Communities Management Program, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. WWW: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us 75 pp.

      This small-format, laminated, spiral-bound and colorful field guide is designed to guide natural resource managers in the identification of the most invasive non-native terrestrial plants in Minnesota. Thirty-five plants are treated with excellent color photos, clean descriptions of their appearance and parts, and the ecological threats they pose. Mechanical and chemical control methods are suggested for each.

    Anonymous. 2007.  Noxious Weed Identification and Control Handbook.  Inland Empire Cooperative Weed Management  Area, Idaho, 68 pp.

    Anonymous. 1988. A Guide to Selected Florida Wetland Plants and Communities U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, Regulatory Division. 319 pp.

      "The purpose of this field guide is to provide botanical, soils and habitat information to aid in the identification of the major wetland communities of Florida as depicted on National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) maps." NWI mapping symbology is used to correlate NWI products for the state of Florida. Approximately 130 species are described with color photographs, common names, descriptions, habitats, soils, wetland specificity, community types, special notes and diagnostic features.

    Anonymous. 1970. Selected Weeds of the United States. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Agriculture Handbook 366. 31 pp.

    Arber, A. 1920. Water Plants - A Study of Aquatic Angiosperms. Reprint 1972. J. Cramer, Lehre. 436 pp.

      “A standard compendium of information on aquatics” originally published by Cambridge University Press. Reviewed in 1920 as “a pioneer work which will prove indispensable to the botanical student, as it may be also stimulating to a wide range of nature-students.” (Journal of Botany 58:298.) Line drawings.

    Aston, H.I. 1973. Aquatic Plants of Australia. Melbourne University Press, Victoria. 368 pp.

      A guide to the identification of the aquatic ferns and flowering plants of Australia, both native and naturalized. A taxonomic guide beautifully illustrated by the author.

    Aulbach-Smith, C.A., S.J. de Kozlowski, L.A. Dyck. 1996. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of South Carolina, Second Edition.  South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Columbia. 128 pp.

      A “user friendly” reference with common-language botanical descriptions and exceptional photographs (averaging 3 photos per species) useful for scientists and the general public alike. Many species covered are found outside of South Carolina as well.

    Bargeron, C.T., C.W. Evans, D.J. Moorhead, K. Douce, et al, Technical Coordinators. 2007.  Invasive Plants of the United States: Identification, Biology and Control.  USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, WV, FHTET-07-03, DVD-rom.

    Bargeron, C.T., Moorhead, G.K.Douce, R.C. Reardon, et al. 2003. Invasive Plants of the Eastern United States – Identification and Control. USDA Forest Service, Morgantown, WV, FHTET-2003-08, CD-rom.

    Beckwith McCloskey, L. Hudson River Field Guide to Plants of Freshwater Tidal Wetlands. 1998. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, 50 pp.

    Beal, E.O., P.H. Monson. 1954. Marsh and Aquatic Angiosperms of Iowa. Monocotyledons. Dicotyledons. State University of Iowa, Studies in Natural History, No. 429, Vol 19(5). 95 pp.

      Keys, annotated check-list, and distribution maps by county. No plant illustrations or photographs.

    Beal, E.O. 1977. A Manual of Marsh and Aquatic Vascular Plants of North Carolina with Habitat Data. North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, NCSU, Raleigh. 298 pp.

      A beautifully illustrated manual with keys, descriptive flora, and general comments on distribution in North Carolina and the contiguous United States. Habitat data is presented, using bar graphs, in terms of pH, chloride content, organic matter content and specific conductance of the water.

    Beal, E.O., J.W. Thieret. 1986. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Kentucky. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, Scientific and Technical Series Number 5. 314 pp.

      Keys, descriptive flora, distribution maps, notes on habitat, overall range and biology and fine line drawings are included in this identification guide.

    Biswas, K., C.C. Colder. 1936. Handbook of Common Water and Marsh Plants of India and Burma. Government Press, Delhi, India, 216 pp.

    Bonilla-Barbosa, J.R., A. Novelo Retana. 1995. Manual de Identificacion de Plantas Acuaticas del Parque Nacional Lagunas de Zempoala, Mexico. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. 169 pp. (in Spanish)

      This volume contains descriptions of the morphology and vegetation of seven Mexican lakes, including descriptions of 66 aquatic plant species. Approximately 50 color photographs.

    Borman, S., Korth, R., Temte, J. 1997. Through the Looking Glass... A Field Guide to Aquatic Plants. North American Lake Management Society (NALMS), Madison, WI. 248 pp.

      Covers about 90 plants using plant drawings for identification, produced by the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership and the University of Wisconsin Extension Service. Written for the benefit of the interested layperson, the plants are arranged in sections: emergent, free-floating, floating-leaf and submersed plants, and native, exotic and rare plants are identified.

    Brayshaw, T.C. 1989. Buttercups, Waterlilies and Their Relatives in British Columbia. Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, B.C. 253 pp.

      98 plant species are described and beautifully illustrated. Distribution maps and diagnostic keys are included.

    Brayshaw, T.C. 1985. Pondweeds and Bur-reeds, and Their Relatives, of British Columbia. British Columbia Provincial Museum, Victoria, B.C. 166 pp.

      Distribution maps, very nice line drawings, and keys accompany plant descriptions. Includes an interesting section on evolution in aquatic plants. Highly technical terminology has been avoided.

    Brooks, R.E., L.A. Hauser. 1981. Aquatic Vascular Plants of Kansas I: Submersed and Floating Leaved Plants. Technical Publication No. 7 of the State Biological Survey of Kansas, the University of Kansas. 71 pp.

      Keys and detailed descriptive treatments of the aquatic plants of Kansas, with black and white photographs and distribution maps by county.

    Brown, P.M.. 2003. The Wild Orchids of North America, North of Mexico. University Press of  Florida, Gainesville, 236 pp.

    Burch, D., D.B. Ward, and D.W. Hall. 1988. Checklist of the Woody Cultivated Plants of Florida. University of Florida, IFAS Publications, Gainesville. 80 pp.

      This checklist could serve as an historical account of cultivated exotic plants in Florida at some point in time because every woody plant on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council's (http://www. fleppc.org/) Category 1 list is listed as a cultivated plant in this book. The authors state, "By the industrious efforts of plant enthusiasts and importers, and the appropriate niches awaiting suitably selected species, the abundance of the world's flora is well sampled in Florida." (Remember, this was in 1988!)

    Bursche, E.M. 1971. A Handbook of Water Plants. Frederick Warne & Co., Ltd., London. 128 pp.

      Ecological importance, keys and descriptions, importance to fishing and economic value, with fine line drawings.

    Carlton, J.M. 1975. A Guide to Common Florida Salt Marsh and Mangrove Vegetation. Florida Department of Natural Resources, Marine Research Laboratory, Research Publication No. 6, St. Petersburg, 30 pp. Online at http://aquacomm.fcla.edu/767/1/FMRP006.pdf.

    Carter, V., P.T. Gammon, N.C. Bartow. 1983. SUBMERSED AQUATIC PLANTS OF THE TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER. U.S. Geological Survey Bull. 1543, Alexandria, VA. 58 pp.

      Color photographs and distribution maps, as well as a section on Factors affecting distribution and abundance,' make this a useful reference for the tidal Potomac River.

    Catarino, L., I. Moreira, T. Ferreira and M.C. Duarte. 2001. PLANTAS AQUATICA INFESTANTES DE VALAS E CANAIS. (In Portuguese) ISA Press, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Lisboa, PORTUGAL. 161 pp.

      This handbook is about aquatic weeds in canals of Portugal; it is a well-designed tool for new managers. It pictures a number of aquatic weeds in chapters on algae, bryophytes, aquatic ferns, and about 30 higher plants. The plants are well-described, with some good color photos and a number of good line-drawings. The book goes beyond plant identification and thoroughly describes the water transport system in Portugal, aquatic weed problems and their control.

    Chabreck, R.H., R.E. Condrey. 1979. Common Vascular Plants of the Louisiana Marsh. Louisiana State University Center for Wetland Resources, Baton Rouge. 116 pp.

      Line drawings and distribution maps, as well as brief information about wildlife value, are included in this book.

    Chafin, L.G. 2000. Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Florida. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, pages not numbered. 

    This field guide presents detailed descriptions, photographs, drawings, maps, habitat information, and management guidelines for more than 200 rare plant species and 150 rare animal species. Available in hardcopy form as two separate books, one for animals and one for plants, in 3-ring binders convenient for rearranging species accounts. Also available online at http://www.fnai.org/fieldguide/.

    Chadde, S.W. 1998. A Great Lakes Wetland Flora. PocketFlora Press, Calumet, MI. 569 pp.

      "A complete, illustrated guide to the aquatic and wetland plants of the Upper Midwest." Family keys, a section which describes wetland types, an illustrated glossary and a plant list that shows each plant's "wetland indicator status". Includes descriptions of more than 900 species, each illustrated with a line drawing. The drawings are generally good, having been adapted from various other publications, but they are small. There are no photos.

    Child, L.E., P.M. Wade. 2000. The Japanese Knotweed Manual – The Management and Control of an Invasive Alien Weed. Packard Publishing Limited, Chichester, West Sussex, U.K., 123 pp.

    Coffey, B.T., J.S. Clayton. 1988. New Zealand Waterplants--A Guide to Plants Found in New Zealand Freshwaters. Ruakura Agricultural Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand. 65 pp.

      Fine color photographs with information on habit and habitat, description, mode of propagation, distribution, status and management implications for 45 species. Includes keys, glossary and selected bibliography.

    Conard, H. 1991. Facsimile printing of the 1905 edition. THE WATERLILIES: A MONOGRAPH OF THE GENUS NYMPHAEA. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication No. 4. International Water Lily & Water Gardening Society. 279 pp.

      Even today, this important work by the 'Father of Waterlilies' is considered the foundation for serious students of Nymphaea. It includes the history, structure, development, and taxonomy of the genus. It also provides the most detailed waterlily descriptions found in print. This large-format book (8.5 X 11.4 in.) features a number of page-size B/W photographs and colored line drawings of leaves, flowers and seedlings. The hardbound edition comes in a box.

    Cook, C.D.K. 1996. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of India. Oxford University Press, New York, NY. 385 pp.

      This is a much-needed record of the diversity of aquatic and wetland plants in the subcontinent, as well as a much-needed identification manual that was written to be used by students and others having little botanical training. The identification keys for the 660 species are based on easily seen vegetative characteristics, so that taxa may appear several times in the key. Each species is described, its distribution in India is noted, and an "ecological diagnosis" is presented. All species are illustrated by line drawings, but these "are not meant to be plant portraits and are often restricted to diagnostic features."

    Cook, C.D.K. 1990. Aquatic Plant Book. SPB Academic Publishing, The Hague, The Netherlands. 228 pp.

      This book essentially replaces Cook’s Water Plants of the World written in 1974. A comprehensive guide to the aquatic plants of the world, it describes and illustrates 407 genera of vascular aquatic plants, including seagrasses.

    Cook, C.D.K. 1974. Water Plants of the World – A Manual for the Identification of the Genera of Freshwater Macrophytes. Dr. W. Junk, Publisher, The Hague, Netherlands, 561 pp.

    Correll, D.S., H.B. Correll. 1975. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Southwestern United States. Stanford University Press, California. Volume 1 and 2. 1,792 pp.

      “Excellent illustrations of about 800 species, the keys, and the descriptions (of about 2,100 species) all facilitate accurate identification.”--Rolla Tryon, Rhodora.

    Correll, D.S., M.C. Johnston. 1979. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas. University of Texas, Richardson. 1881 pp.

    Craig, R.M. 1991. Plants for Coastal Dunes of the Gulf and South Atlantic Coast and Puerto Rico. U.S. Dept. Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Agriculture Informaiton Bulletin 460. 41 pp.

      A "great little book!!" that covers habitat, zonation, identification, revegetation, and propagation of over 40 herbaceous plants, trees and shrubs for coastal dunes. Very good photographs.

    G.E. Crow, C.B. Hellquist. 2000. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America. Vol. 1: Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, and Angiosperms: Dicotyledons, 480 pp.; Vol. 2: Angiosperms: Monocotyledons, 400 pp. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison.

      Described by the authors as “A Revised and Enlarged Edition of Norman C. Fassett’s A Manual of Aquatic Plants.” Covers 1,139 plants species, 1,186 taxa, 295 genera and 109 families. Contains more than 600 pages of illustrations covering 90% of the taxa, geographic range, synonymy, etc. Fully indexed; large format.

    Crow, G.E., C.B. Hellquist. Aquatic Plants of New England:
    1981. Part 2. Typhaceae and Sparganiaceae. 21 pp.
    1982. Part 4. Juncaginaceae, Scheuchzeriaceae, Butomaceae, Hydrocharitaceae. 21 pp.
    1983. Part 6. Trapaceae, Haloragaceae, Hippuridaceae. 26 pp.
    1985. Part 8. Lentibulariaceae. 22 pp.

      Aquatic and wetland flora of New England including keys, habitat, water chemistry data, illustrations and distribution maps. (See Hellquist for Parts 1, 3, 5, 7.)

    Crow, G.E. 2002. Aquatic Plants of Palo Verde National Park and the Tempisque River Valley. Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Inbio, Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica, 296 pp. (In Spanish and English), illustrations and distribution maps. (See Hellquist for Parts 1, 3, 5, 7.)

    Curtis, L. 1998. Aquatic Plants of Northeastern Illinois. Curtis to the Third Productions, Lake Villa, IL. 64 pp.

      This 3-ring-notebook-bound book contains information on 37 aquatic plants. They are arranged in the book according to flower color. The written descriptions are easily understood by the non-botanist.

    Curtis, L. 2006. Woodland Carex of the Upper Midwest. Curtis to the Third Productions, Lake Villa, Illinois. 171 pp.

    Den Hartog, C. 1970. The Seagrasses of the World. Verh. Kon. Ned. Akad. Wetensch. Afd. Natuurk. Ser. II. 59, 1:1-275.

      Not on file in APIRS.

    Dignard, N., L. Couillard, J. Labrecque, P. Petitclerc, et. al. 2008. Guide de Reconnaissance des Habitats Forestiers des Plantes Menacees ou Vulnerables. Capitale-Nationale, Centre-du-Quebec, Chaudiere-Appalaches et Mauricie. Ministere des Ressouces Naturelles et de la Faune et Ministere du Developpement Durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs. 234 pp. (In French; no English summary). Online at http://www.cdpnq.gouv.qc.ca/publication.htm.

    Ditomaso, J.M., E.A. Healy. 2003. Aquatic and Riparian Weeds of the West. University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources Publ. 3421, Oakland, and California Weed Science Society, 442 pp.

    Dressler, R.L., D.W. Hall, K.D. Perkins, N.H. Williams. 1987. Identification Manual for Wetland Plant Species of Florida. University of Florida, Gainesville. 297 pp.

      This field guide was developed to facilitate the identification of wetland indicator species in Florida. Fine photographs and line drawings depict algae and mosses, ferns, conifers, monotocyledons and dicotyledons. Descriptions of 285 species are provided in common terms.

    Eleuterius, L.N. 1990. Tidal Marsh Plants. Pelican Publishing Co., Gretna, Louisiana. 168 pp.

      A guide to the tidal marsh plants of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Line drawings and descriptions of over 200 species with some color photographs.

    Entwisle, T.J., J.A. Sonneman, and S.H. Lewis. 1997. Freshwater Algae in Australia--A Guide To Conspicuous Genera. Sainty and Associates Pty. Ltd., Potts Point, NSW 2011, Australia. 242 pp.

      A beautifully organized and illustrated manual about 96 species of algae from Australia. The schematic keys are based on the most readily observable characters, making algae identification relatively easy for anyone with a microscope. The color micrographs and printing are exceptional for such a relatively inexpensive book.

    Eyles, D.E., J.L. Robertson. 1944. A Guide and Key to the Aquatic Plants of the Southeastern United States. Reprint 1963. U.S. Public Health Service, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington. 151 pp.

      Illustrated with rather basic line drawings.

    Fairbrothers, D.E., E.T. Moul. 1965. Aquatic Vegetation of New Jersey. Extension Service, College of Agriculture, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. 107 pp.

      Simple line drawings, key to species, descriptions, habitat, distribution, and wildlife use.

    Fare, A., A. Dutartre, and J.-P. Rebillard. 2001. Les Principaux Vegetaux Aquatiques du Sud-Ouest de la France. (In French) Agence de l'Eau Adour Garonne, Toulouse, FRANCE. 190 pp.

      This spiral-bound ID book, in French, describes 134, and pictures nearly 100, of the aquatic and wetland plants of southwest France. It is in alphabetical order according to species, in 3 parts: les hydrophytes, les amphibies, et les h‚lophytes. Each plant is generally described, and then very briefly treated in terms of habitat, inflorescence, and fruit, as well as special identifying characteristics. The book includes a glossaire. Includes full-page, color photos.

    Fassett, N.C. 1940. A Manual of Aquatic Plants. Reprint 1972. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 405 pp.

      General key, descriptive flora, all very nicely illustrated, with an appendix on use by wildlife.

    Feinsinger, P., M. Minno. 1990. Handbook to Schoolyard Plants and Animals of North Central Florida. Florida Nongame Wildlife Program, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee, 128 pp.

    Fink, D.F. 1994. A Guide to Aquatic Plants - Identification and Management. Ecological Services Section, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul. 52 pp.

      A handbook with line drawings and simple descriptions of 25 aquatic plants you are most likely to find in Minnesota lakes and ponds. Includes a basic introduction to aquatic plants and state regulations on control.

    Fink, D.F. 1997. A Guide to Aquatic Plants – Identification and Management.  Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Ecol. Serv. Sect., St. Paul., 52 pp.

    Fintha, I., ed. 1994. The Vascular Plants of the Northeastern Part of the Hungarian Great Plain--Az Eszak-Alfold Edenyes Floraja. AQUA, Budapest, Hungary. 359 pp.

      This book, in Hungarian, surveys the flora of the Alfold, or Great Hungarian Plain (2,800 sq. km.). More than 1,000 species are listed, including many new plants for Hungary, as well as 200 alien and garden plants.