Grasses : $b A handbook for use in the field and laboratory

This compact handbook invites anyone with a curiosity about the grasses that blanket our landscapes to explore them up close. Written for both fieldwork and laboratory study, it guides readers through careful observation with a hand lens, helping them recognise the subtle traits that separate familiar species. The author deliberately limits the scope to common native grasses, providing clear instructions for tasks such as analysing meadow samples, identifying weed species, or examining seed material.

Beyond practical techniques, the text offers concise insights into the biology and physiology that make grasses so adaptable, from the modest lawn species to the towering bamboos and cereal crops. Detailed drawings and tables illustrate leaf sections, seed structures, and the natural variation found within genera like Festuca and Bromus. Whether you are a student, a land manager, or simply an amateur botanist, the book equips you with the tools to appreciate the hidden complexity of these ubiquitous plants.