Gregory L. Tilford. Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West. Mountain Press. 1997.

I was curious about why Tilford felt we needed another book on edible and/or medicinal plants. He clearly states his purpose in the introduction:

My goals in writing this book are many. First, I was influenced by concerns for our troubled planet and the belief that until we build a deeper awareness of what lies beneath our feet, we can do little to help her. To alter our course from the destructive path we have blazed through the forests of the West, we must first understand how a forest operates-exclusive of our influence. … My second goal is to fill an educational niche for the wild plant enthusiast. [Page 5.]

Tilford alphabetizes his plant descriptions by using their common names. Although I strongly oppose this practice, he at least gives a reason for doing so: most people only know the common names. The descriptions provide quality information about the plant, its habitat and range, and usefulness for food and/or medicine. The photographs show the plant growing it its natural habitat.

Recommendation

In my opinion, Tilford fulfilled his clearly stated purpose for writing this book. This is another excellent Mountain Press nature guide. You'll find it easy to understand and use. The photographs are very helpful. One feature I really enjoyed is having both common names and scientific names listed in the book's index. If you like to find your own food or medicine plants, you'll want this book on your bookshelf.