New ‘Brush and Weeds’ Texas rangeland field guide debuts
Dec 3, 2008 10:30 AM,
By Blair Fannin
Texas A&M University
A new book authored by a team of Texas AgriLife Extension Service specialists helps identify problem plants found throughout the state’s vast native rangeland.
“Brush and Weeds of Texas Rangelands”, a 203-page, full-color publication produced by Texas A&M AgriLife Communications, provides in-depth information about unwanted brush and weed plants found throughout the state, said co-author Dr. Charles Hart, AgriLife Extension range specialist.
“It was designed for ranchers, land managers, natural resource managers, plant enthusiasts and natural resource agency personnel as the end-user to help identify problem plants on Texas rangeland,” Hart said.
“Many of the plants covered in this book are not found in other plant books. Multiple, full-color images of each plant help the reader to identify the plant with close-ups of unique plant characteristics.”
More than 87 percent of native Texas rangeland contains unwanted brush and weeds at varying densities, Hart said. The book provides information such as the scientific, common and family names and description of plants, the habitat they grow in and their distribution across the state.
“If you are actively involved or interested in the management of our rangelands of Texas, this book can help identify plants that have the potential to become significant problems,” Hart said.
The book is available for $25 plus shipping and tax through the Texas AgriLife Extension Service Bookstore (http://agrilifebookstore.org). Proceeds will be used to reprint and update the book in the future, Hart said.
The Texas A&M University Press is distributing the book to commercial bookstores and other retail outlets. Other plant books available include “Toxic Plants of Texas” (publication B-6105) and “Know Your Grasses” (publication B-182), also available at the AgriLife Extension bookstore.
(New Course)
