| Autor | Ben Averis |
| Sprache | Englisch |
| ISBN | 9780957608115 |
| Verlag | Ben and Alison Averis |
| Seiten | 396 |
| Größe | 210 x 150 mm |
| Format | Taschenbuch |
| Bilder | Farbfotos, s/w-Illustrationen und Tabellen |
| Erscheinungsjahr | 2026, 2. Auflage |
Plants and Habitats combines the species and habitat approaches to plants and vegetation. The second edition describes 793 species: an increase of 88 compared to the first edition, without adding any more pages. Most of the additional species are described with notes about differences from illustrated similar species, but many of them are illustrated too. Some details in the text are improved or clarified, and botanical nomenclature and information about habitat classifications and reference sources are updated.
The selected species are those which are common, conspicuous or useful ecological indicators; species which collectively make up most of the vegetation in Britain and Ireland. There is also a separate habitats section describing the flora, ecology and management of habitats. With this combination of approaches, Plants and Habitats aims to help people understand our vegetation at all scales, from individual plants to whole landscapes. The structure and plain English writing style are designed to help with species identification by non-specialists.
Plants and Habitats is illustrated throughout with colour photos and some line drawings. For those working with habitat classifications, National Vegetation Classification (NVC) codes are incorporated throughout, and there are summary tables cross-referencing various classifications. The book is written for a wide readership, including those working or training in subjects connected with ecology, conservation, land management, and other environmental matters.
Contents
Acknowledgements 1
Introduction 3
Section 1: Woody plants (trees; shrubs; dwarf shrubs etc.) 8
1a: Broadleaved trees & shrubs (leaves not like needles or tiny scales) 9
1b: Conifers (fir trees etc.; leaves like needles or tiny scales) 45
1c: Dwarf shrubs (woody shrubs < 1 m tall; heather, billberry etc.) 50
1d: Climbers & scramblers (bramble, ivy, honeysuckle etc.) 72
Section 2: Grasses and other grass-like plants 79
2a: Grasses 80
2b: Sedges 123
2c: Rushes 142
2d: Woodrushes 146
Section 3: Other Plants 149
3a: Leaves divided into lobes / leaflets along their left & right sides 150
3b: Leaves divided into lobes / leaflets radiating out from centre 191
3c: Leaves undivided: in groups of three or more (whorls) 212
3d: Leaves undivided: in opposite pairs along the stems 221
3e: Leaves undivided: not in groups or opposite pairs 253
3f: Mosses & moss-like plants (liverworts, clubmosses & filmy ferns) 304
Habitats 338
- Definition of upland lowland 339
- Woodland & scrub 340
- Hedgerows, underscrub & tall fern vegetation 351
- Grasslands 352
- Heaths 356
- Wetlands 360
- Mountain habitats 370
- Rocks 373
- Coastal habitats 374
- Habitats disturbed by human activity 377
- Lists of UK habitat classifications (NVC, Phase One, UKBAP, Annex 1, SEPA GWDTE) 378
Further reading and study 384
Index 387
Drawings showing the main parts of a plant 396
Ben Averis worked for some years on woodland vegetation and bryophyte (moss & liverwort) surveys, but since 1990 has worked in a very wide range of upland and lowland habitats. His MPhil was a study of bryophyte flora and ecology in over 400 woods in the Scottish Highlands and Islands.
Ben and Alison Averis are professionally qualified and highly experienced botanists with an exceptionally detailed and extensive knowledge and understanding of British vegetation. They have been studying vegetation and flora professionally since 1983 and are particularly experienced with the northern and western parts of Britain. They provide a range of services including surveys, monitoring projects, teaching and advisory work. The high quality of their work is recognised by many people and organisations including the statutory conservation agencies, the Forestry Commission, conservation-related non-government organisations, and ecological consultancies.
