Lichens of North America

“Nothing comparable with this gorgeously illustrated work exists… . This spectacular tome will serve as standard in the worldwide field of lichenology for the next two centuries, or until the final demise of all books… . [A] beautiful book… . A gift of world-class scholarship… . At its current artificially low price, all libraries, private and public, with even a remote interest in natural history, should obtain it now.“—Times Higher Education Supplement

“A fascinating journey into the Lilliputian world of [lichens]… . Photographs by Stephen Sharnoff and Sylvia Duran Sharnoff capture the distinctive forms, brilliant colors or delicate hues of 804 species (out of 1050 discussed in the book). The Sharnoffs and Irwin M. Brodo have created a stunning guide for nature lovers.“—Wall Street Journal (Gift Guide)

“A fascinating journey into the Lilliputian world of [lichens] … a stunning guide for nature lovers.“—Wall Street Journal, Gift Guide

”[I]ncludes detailed entries on [over] 800 … lichens; essays on [their] biology, structure, uses, and ecological significance … hundreds of color photographs.“—Natural History

“This tome includes detailed entries on more than 800 foliose, fruticose, and crustose lichens; essays on the biology, structure, uses, and ecological significance of these plants; and hundreds of color photographs.“—Natural History

Winner of the New England Book Show, in the category of Reference books, sponsored by the Bookbuilders of Boston

Winner of the 2002 Henry Allan Gleason Award given by The New York Botanical Garden

Winner of the 2002 Council on Botanical & Horticultural Libraries Award

Winner of the 2002 National Outdoor Book Award for Nature Guidebooks

Selected as an Outstanding book for 2002 by University Press Books for Public and Secondary School Libraries

”Lichens of North America isone of the great natural history books of this or any age—a work in which art and science are perfectly united in tribute to one of the most beautiful, important, and least described parts of nature.“—David Ehrenfeld, Rutgers University

“It is a delight to have this book to show the astonishing array, distribution, and role of this unprepossessing group of organisms. There is wonder and mystery aplenty in this magnificent compilation.“—David Suzuki, University of British Columbia

“This is a book to love. It will open a whole new world for naturalists, professional and amateur, to explore and enjoy.“—E. O. Wilson

“A long-sought triumph, gorgeously illustrated, accurate, accessible, and comprehensive.“—Lynn Margulis, University of Massachusetts

“A goldmine of information. The book has superb photos, excellent keys and range maps, and is packed with information. It will be the ‘lichen reference bible’ for a long time.“—Noble S. Proctor, Southern Connecticut State University

Irwin M. Brodo is emeritus research scientist at the Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, and is considered a world authority on lichens and their biology.

Stephen Sharnoff and the late Sylvia Duran Sharnoff were research associates at the Missouri Botanical Garden and research affiliates at the University and Jepson Herbaria, University of California, Berkeley. The Sharnoffs are both internationally renowned nature photographers and writers whose work has appeared in, among other places, National Geographic, Smithsonian, Discover, and the New York Times.

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