“Botany for Arborists” is a compilation of revised articles that had been written for and published by Western Arborist Magazine. Cover photo courtesy of the author.

I would recommend “Botany for Arborists” for all professional arborists wishing to expand their knowledge base. For those studying to take the ISA Certified Arborist or BCMA test who are wondering, “What else should I be reading?” add this to the list. For those aspiring to provide consulting services, this book will benefit you.

“Botany for Arborists” is a soft-cover, 193-glossy-page, full-color compilation of revised articles that had been written for and published by Western Arborist Magazine. It consists of 23 short but in-depth chapters. At the end of each chapter, you will find a reference section and, in some instances, suggestions for further reading. Each page has the chapter name at the very top of the page for quick, easy reference.

This is the latest book by the Britton Foundation and can be found at thebrittonfund.org. It is a great value for $63.50.

Besides the many tree anatomy and physiology chapters one would expect to find in such a text, there are chapters of a more practical nature also, such as “Pruning,” “Mulching,” “Irrigating Trees” and “Water Relations.”

Chapter 18, “Water Relations,” describes water movement from the soil through the tree to its leaves, where it evaporates into the atmosphere. It’s very interesting how a tall tree can move water to such great heights (cohesion-tension theory) or move dissolved mineral elements to where they are used by the tree.

Chapter 23, “Pruning,” is nearly 20 pages long and contains 40 color photographs. Remember the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words!” One of the paragraphs in this chapter, which I am sure interests us all, cautions us on how crown thinning is a misguided pruning practice that seldom serves a useful purpose – not even to prevent storm damage.

Several chapters I thought were well covered and a little more technical in nature included “The Rhizosphere” and a separate one, “Nutrient Management.” Chapters on “Tree Growth” and “Energy and Trees” are very enlightening. Additionally, the chapter titled “Hormones: How Trees Regulate Their Growth” is fascinating, and takes some of the wonder out of how such a complex process works.

The book also covers “Diseases of Shade Trees” and more extensively covers “Root Rot,” “Cankers” and “Abiotic Disorders,” each in separate chapters. It does a good job of explaining white rot and brown rot and how each goes about cell breakdown in a different manner.

Chapter 2, “Taxonomy,” has an extensive table of species meanings explained, not often seen in other arboricultural textbooks. For example, in Picea pungens, pungens means “sharp pointed,” or in Quercus alba, alba refers to the species being a white oak.

I consider this book to be one of the most valuable I have added to my library. You will not be disappointed.

Steven F. Pregler is an ISA Certified Arborist and retired city forester for the city of Dubuque, Iowa.