Flowering Plants of the Galapagos (Comstock Book)

Book Description

The Galpagos are home to a wide-ranging assortment of unusual plants and animals. The islands became famous as the site of Charles Darwin's research leading to his theory of evolution by natural selection, and their magnificent flora and fauna continue to draw visitors from around the world. Based on the author's sixteen years of fieldwork and featuring his exceptional photography, Flowering Plants of the Galpagos is the first accessible, in-depth yet compact guide to the plant life of the area. An invaluable resource for tourists, natural history enthusiasts, and professionals, the book: introduces the botanical history of the islands and their varied ecological zones allows easy identification of 436 flowering plants (77 families, 192 genera, and 390 species) covers endemic plants found exclusively on the islands; native plants, which grow on the Galpagos and elsewhere; and exotic plants present as a result of human actions offers thorough accounts of the plants which give the scientific, common, and family names; range; islands inhabited; habitat; description; and additional notes of interest is richly illustrated with 266 color photographs of flowering plants and 117 of plant pollinators, vegetation zones, non-flowering plants, and the islands themselves organizes species by form, leaf arrangement, and flower color and includes descriptive plant drawings to aid in identification provides a map of the Galpagos and a list of plants likely to be seen at popular tourist sites

Customer Reviews:

User friendly guide........2001-03-03

I found the "Flowering Plants of the Galapagos" to be a very useful and user-friendly flower guide. The discussion on how to use the guide was thorough yet simple enough for the botanical novice to understand the information. The "Introduction" section was helpful in acquanting the user with the general characterists of the archipelago and the vegetation zones of the islands. This section not only assists the reader in knowing where specific plants may be located, but also gives some insight into the ecology of the plants. I found the key to be one of the most straight-forward and user-friendly that I have used. Even the most botanically challenged individual could easily work through the logical progression of choices offered in the key. The amount of information given with each plant is also a positive attribute to this guide book. The author clearly outlines the range of the plants and lists the islands in which the plants inhabit, which is a very useful piece of information. The habitat is given along with a thorough description of the plant. Lastly, the additional comments offer a nice touch of the plants natural history, use, or some other piece of interesting trivia. I thought the author did a superb job of presenting the amazing flora of the Galapagos in a simple, easy to understand fashion that any visitor could appreciate. Lastly, the quality of the photos truly add to the attractiveness and effectiveness of the book.

Recommended.......2000-05-26

A wonderful book for botanists or any traveler heading to the Galapagos. It covers 436 flowering plants and provides photos of more than half. It also introduces the botanical history of the islands and their varied ecological zones. Its boasts clear text and some exceptional pictures.

A Must for Flower Lovers Everywhere.......2000-05-15

I have been intrigued for years by the plants, animals and birds of the Galapagos. Not only have I found the perfect field guide for flowering plants written by Dr. McMullen but, in addition, this book will serve a dual purpose as a guide for my own visit and that visitors to my home will find it on display among my favorite and frequent references. The pictures are beautiful with detail and clarity. Keep up the great work Dr. McMullen and I hope your obvious hard work and labor continue to bear fruit.

A book long overdue.......1999-12-02

This is a GREAT book! The descriptions are concise and accurate, and the photographs are excellent as well. This guide is clearly head and shoulders above all other existing literature in terms of utility. If you can only buy one book about the islands, this is it.

A must for any visitor, naturalist, or fan of flora!.......1999-11-16

It would have been a lot easier to have been a naturalist guide in the Galapagos if we had only had this book. This is a treat and a treasure! The plant life of these incredible islands has been overshadowed by the antics of the wildlife and threats of El Nino. They can now take front stage with this useful guide that even a novice will find easy to use. The pictures are beautiful and the descriptions accurate. For those that use this book, they will introduced to a special world that has been ignored. Conley - you have made all Galapagos Guides very happy!

New Flowering Plants From the Galapagos Islands

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New Flowering Plants From the Galapagos Islands
John Thomas Howell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VZOX7A

Product Description

The Study was Part of the Templeton Crocker Expediation of the Calif. Acad. Of Sciences, 1932. Botanical Studies

Flowering plants collected on the Presidential cruise of 1938, (Smithsonian miscellaneous collections)

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Flowering plants collected on the Presidential cruise of 1938, (Smithsonian miscellaneous collections)
Ellsworth Paine Killip
Manufacturer: The Smithsonian Institution
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Customer Reviews:

Very Helpful.......2007-07-05

This book is very helpful & definatley somthing I would recomend. Not only does it have the words & translation it has a pronunciation as well. It comes in handy when I look up phrases & need a quick review. Definatley a good buy

Just Enough Serbo-Croat.......2006-08-19

This book is designed to help you get around a Serbo-Croat speaking environment with ease. I think the book is capable of providing the basics needed to get around. I would recommend this book for foregin travelers.

Thank god !.......2000-05-02

Some one came out with this book! This is a life saver I have been together with a serbian for 5 years and have not completely learned the language. I am leaving for Bosnia in 4 days to meet my in laws and this book has everything I need to know! It's more that enough to get by, and I have purchased several books in the past for a ton more $$$ and didn't get half of what I got out of this book for $4.00. It's a must if yuou are going to FRYOG !

Learning for my child,my husband and my vacation to Bosnia.......2000-05-02

I think this book is the best book ever for getting to know the basics for this language. I know several words in serbian already but I will be meeting my in laws for the first time and I need to know more than everyday words and enough to get by . I have purchased several learning books for a ton more money than this book for the language and this has been th most helpful. They have the pronunciation in English and it's exactly the way I know it's suppose to sound due to looking at the words I already know !

the best way to start learning serbian.......1999-04-17

a wonderful well written travel book to get you started learning the serbian language. the book works best when you read thrugh it 2-3 times.then ibegan using cassettes for pronunciation. i would also recommend all of the teach yourself serbo- croat series by TY. it worked for me.I recently traveled to serbia and montenegro ( Yugoslavia)a beautiful country with great food and wonderful people. i loved yugoslavia so much i plan to move their this summer when i graduate from high school. i now am practically fluent in serbian because i have taken night school and saturday evening classes. its all because this little book that got me so fascinated about sebian language and serbian people. i love serbia and am counting the days now. (26) DAYS. in the near future my whole immediate family may move to serbia. i hope you read this and if you do you have got to buy this book. i found it at Borders. so as the serbs would say Dobro dosli!

Average customer rating:

Just Enough Serbo-croat
D. L. Ellis
Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 141765516X

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Patterns to Inspire - A Captivating Look into Fractals

Don't buy this book

Great Photos, Poor Content

OK

What an incredibly book!!

Fractals: The Patterns of Chaos: Discovering a New Aesthetic of Art, Science, and Nature (A Touchstone Book)
John Briggs
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

The Fractal Geometry of Nature

The Colours of Infinity: The Beauty, The Power and the Sense of Fractals

Seven Life Lessons of Chaos: Spiritual Wisdom from the Science of Change

Turbulent Mirror: An Illustrated Guide to Chaos Theory and the Science of Wholeness

Introducing Fractal Geometry, 3rd Edition (Introducing)

ASIN: 0671742175

Book Description

Fractals are unique patterns left behind by the unpredictable movements -- the chaos -- of the world at work. The branching patterns of trees, the veins in a hand, water twisting out of a running tap -- all of these are fractals. Learn to recognize them and you will never again see things in quite the same way.

Fractals permeate our lives, appearing in places as tiny as the surface of a virus and as majestic as the Grand Canyon. From ancient tribal peoples to modern painters to the animators of Star Wars, artists have been captivated by fractals and have utilized them in their work. Computer buffs are wild about fractals as well, for they can be generated on ordinary home computers.

In Fractals: The Patterns of Chaos, science writer John Briggs uses over 170 illustrations to clearly explain the significance -- and more importantly, the beauty -- of fractals. He describes how fractals were discovered, how they are formed, and the unique properties different fractals share. Fractals is a breathtaking guided tour of a brand new aesthetic of art, science, and nature. It will revolutionize the way you see the world and your place within it.

* Contains a special bibliography listing fractal generating software for desktop computers

Customer Reviews:

Patterns to Inspire - A Captivating Look into Fractals.......2004-10-31

This book brings a comprehensive and visually intriguing approach to the study of fractal geometry and the chaos theory. Through thought provoking imagery and discernible explanations & comparisons, John Briggs has sparked my curiosity where I now look more closely at the world around me. I believe this book is intended to captivate those with the ability to visualize and appreciate the aesthetics and interconnectedness of the arts, sciences and the natural phenomena that surrounds us. An insightful & visually stimulating read!

Don't buy this book.......2004-06-11

This book says absolutely nothing. It has a few good pictures (the best one is one the cover by the way), but the text is utterly worthless and uninformative. My favorite quote from the book is "Nonlinear means not linear." Really? Don't waste your money. Now I understand why I found it at the used bookstore.

Great Photos, Poor Content.......2003-03-02

This is a fantastic source of images on the subject of fractals, but not a great source of learning. Most books on math and science are difficult for the general reader; few authors (like Isaac Asimov) can make complex things easily understood. But the author of this book is, in my opinion, doing the public a disservice by oversimplifying the subject. The explanations underestimate the public's ability to think, and even include a number of things which are either dead wrong or made-up! The subject of fractals is still new, and there are recently more books available to explain fractals to the general public. Again, this is a great source of images, if that's what you're looking for, but look for another source if you want to undersatnd and appreciate this incredible and important topic.

OK.......2003-01-25

This book was OK---but it had more fractals in nature and not so much in the way of computer-generated fractal art which is what I was looking for. Not bad if you can find it used.

What an incredibly book!!.......2002-05-18

This book is more art than science. It has an incredibly wealth of pictures. It gives you a good visual introduction to factals. A great coffee table book!

The Pattern Book: Fractals, Art, and Nature

Average customer rating:

Better for Mathematicians
A natural first book for one interested in fractals

The Pattern Book: Fractals, Art, and Nature

Manufacturer: World Scientific Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

ASIN: 981021426X

Book Description

This book will allow you to travel through time and space. To facilitate your journey, the editor has scoured the four corners of the earth in a quest for unusual people and their fascinating patterns. From Mozambique, to Asia, to many European countries, the contributors to The Pattern Book include world-famous cancer researchers, little-known artists and eclectirc computer program-mers. Some of the patterns are ultramodern, while others are centuries old. Many of the patterns are drawn from the universe of mathematics. Computer recipes are scattered throughout.

Although the emphasis is on computer-generated patterns, the book is informal and the intended audience spans several fields. The emphasis is on the fun that the true pattern lover finds in doing, rather than in reading about the doing! The book is organized into three main parts: Representing Nature (for those patterns which describe or show real physical phenomena, e.g., visualizations of protein mo! tion, sea lilies, etc.), Mathematics and Symmetry (for those patterns which describe or show mathematical behavior, e.g. fractals), and Human Art (for those patterns which are artistic works of humans and made without the aid of a computer, e.g. Moslem tiling patterns.)

Customer Reviews:

Better for Mathematicians.......2007-02-18

As an artist, I had hoped this book would have presented, on equal footing, mathematics and natural/artistic elements. I ordered it based upon a review that reflected such, but was a bit disappointed to find it was definitely more formulaic based. However, that having been said, there were a few good things I extracted from this book, just not as much as I would have liked based upon the review. Would I recommend this book to a fellow artist? Likely not. To a math/science colleague...definitely. I think Gombrich is a better bet for the artist.

A natural first book for one interested in fractals.......2004-01-01

Fractals can be found everywhere, and Clifford Pickover has done a good job in selecting some of the best. The range of the collection is considerable, from "Wood Pattern" to "Trajectories of a Neural Network Quantizer in Rhythm Space." All possess a simplistic beauty that justifies the presence of the word art in the title.
Such creations, possessing enormous complexity from very simple origins, truly forces us to stretch our imaginations. All of the generation processes are very easy to understand, and some modifications for additional exploration are obvious.
One more in the collection of works devoted to fractals, this book ranks among the easiest to understand. A natural first book for those interested in fractals as objects of mathematical study or art.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission.

Book Description

A sequel to the popular SAVANNAH DOGS book, SAVANNAH DOGS II includes 114 more tales about the dogs of Savannah, Georgia. Royalties of the book go to the Savannah humane societies.

Customer Reviews:

Very good guide to South America's National Parks.......2007-01-31

This guide to some of the most famous of South America's National Parks is very good. It covers such places as Iguazu, Torres del Paine, Peninsula Valdes, Nahuel Huapi, Vicente Perez Rosales and Tierra del Fuego in a very thorough fashion. If there is any criticism to this book is that it is a bit incomplete. Since 1990, when the book was first edited, a number of others national parks have been created in South America, and they are obviously not included here. Also, the book concentrates in the national parks of southern South America (perhaps because they are the best organized and are easier and safer to visit) and it lacks a bit about parks in the northern part of South America. But this is a very good introduction to really fascinating places. All in all, a very worthwhile book.

An excellent guide to exotic parklands.......2004-01-07

South America is home to many of the world's most spectacular natural wonders. These include Angel Falls, the world's highest waterfall; Iguassu Falls, one of the world's largest waterfalls; the world's largest river, the Amazon; and the Patagonian Icecap, the largest in the world outside Greenland or Antarctica. All of these magnificent features and a host of others are covered in the text of this book. Especially noteworthy as well are the Andean parks, such as Mount Fitzroy, Torres del Paine, both awesome mountain ranges, and Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas, discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.

This book addresses various national parks in South America's nations, including the parks that encompass the foregoing marvels. Good travel tips are included in each article, including where to stay, what to do, fundamental regional courtesies and idiosyncrasies, expedition tips, etc. Each featured park description also includes a map and black and white photos. The centerpiece of the book is a series of extraordinarily good color photos coviering the more spectacular areas.

The text is easily read and provides excellent, frequently unanticipated advice for the North American or European traveler. For anyone planning a trip to see the natural side of South America, this book would seem absolutely essential. I recommend it highly.

Book Description

With memorable stories, 250 glorious full-color photographs, and numerous uniquely southern recipes, Emyl Jenkins chronicles her adventures on the road through the South as she proves that southern hospitality still flourishes in cities and small towns, at festivals and fairs, at elegant plantations and quaint bed-and-breakfasts. Full-color photographs.

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Southern Hospitality
Emyl Jenkins
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K1J41A

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. Photographs by Walter Smalling, Jr.

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SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. Photographs by Walter Smalling, Jr.
Emyl. Jenkins
Manufacturer: Crown Publishers,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N73F3E

Book Description

• Foreword by Paul Newman
• Completely revised and updated version of a beloved theater classic
• Clear, practical guide to helping kids ages 8 to 18 get a show up and running

The classic Kids Take the Stage is one of the best-selling Back Stage Books of all time. Now Back Stage is proud to present the completely revised and updated second edition of this indispensable guide to getting young people on stage and helping them create their own shows. For teachers, for parents, for budding actors, emerging crew, and incipient directors—this is the book that shows how to get a production up and running...and have fun in the process. Clear and accessible, Kids Take the Stage outlines a systematic approach to staging, complete with basic lessons in acting, relaxation and trust-building exercises, and improvisations. From first read-through to opening night, from butterflies to bravos, this is the perfect book to help young people realize their creative potential.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding Resource!.......2005-07-20

Though I've been a middle school coach for the past 12 years, I still am interested in getting new ideas to get my young actors/ actresses more involved with the drama process. I also taught a 3 week long Creative Drama class this summer with 3rd-5th graders and the many sound ideas in this book gave me a wealth of activities to choose from.

Whether you're a first time Drama Coach or a long in the tooth coach like me, this book is a MUST BUY! I particularly like how the authors used "famous actor" quotes to help back up the many acting activities in this book. I love the chapter entitled "Rehearsals with Heart" because this idea of treating young actors as people with talents to share comes shining through in EACH chapter! The "Leader's Guide" (near the end of the book) lays out a 10 session "suggested" guide for the novice or the veteran drama person to follow (wonderful idea!)

In a nutshell, THIS BOOK ROCKS and I've now got even MORE ideas to use with my kids when the spring production rolls around this year!

Well Done!

Ralph :)

Lenka puts actions into words.......2001-10-03

I read this book after receiving it at a conference that Lenka Peterson spoke at. In reading the book, I realized that she had put most of the information covered in an 8-hour session plus enough to fill another week of 8-hour sessions. The book truly takes actions and in-person teaching lessons and makes them readily available to anyone anywhere.

Helping Young People Discover Theater.......1999-08-19

In this wonderful new book, Lenka Peterson and Dan O'Connor draw on more that 30 years of experience to reveal how to teach and direct plays with children. Their sophisticated yet accessible guide covers everything form the basics of acting to mounting and staging a production. It includes plenty of child-friendly sample scenes and relaxation techniques for kids. Perfect for established children's theater groups as well as churches, schools and camps, Kids Take the Stage shows how we can help kids realize their creative potential...and, in the process, create a new generation of theater lovers.

- Stage and Screen, bookclub of the performing arts

Helping Young People Discover Theater.......1999-08-19

Bravo!.......1999-08-15

This is a magical book, full of exercises and anecdotes that teach children to celebrate what they have to offer as potential artists, but mainly as human beings. I recommend it to anyone who wants to introduce children to acting and the theater. It is joyful, rewarding, wise and a lot of fun to read. Bravo/Brava!

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