Discovering Wild Plants: Alaska, Western Canada and the Northwest Janice Schoefield, illus. by Richard W. Tyler. Seattle, WA: Alaska Northwest Books. 1989. 354 pp.

Alaska’s plant life can be overwhelming. From the towering Sitka spruce in Southeast to the miniatures of the Arctic tundra, there are hundreds of species vying for one’s attention. A good book can help make sense of the plants one sees. For that purpose, Discovering Wild Plants is one of my favorites. I received a copy of this book as a gift from my aunt when I announced my plans to move to Alaska over ten years ago and it has been a constant reference guide since then.

Often one of the most difficult steps in identifying an unknown plant is narrowing down one’s search. To assist in this task, Discovering Wild Plants is organized by habitat. For example, if I have pulled off at a wayside along the Alaska Highway north of Tok, and notice an interesting flowering plant in the ditch alongside the road, I’d look through the section titled Gardens, Lawns, Cultivated and Disturbed Soils. A plant observed while walking on the beach in Homer might be found in the “Sea and Sandy Shores” section. These divisions, seven in all, make it quite easy to use the surroundings to narrow one’s search down for the identity of a particular plant. In addition, the book includes full color photos of most plants as well as detailed botanical drawings and physical descriptions of identifying the various parts. The information provided is therefore appropriate and understandable to both the casual observer and more scientifically minded.

What I like best about this book, however, is the wealth of information provided about each plant in the book. In addition to providing drawings, photos, physical descriptions and ranges, (typical for most field guides), Ms. Schofield has compiled detailed information regarding food uses, medicinal uses and historical uses for each plant. Recipes and directions for various teas, balms and tinctures are provided. It is as wonderful book to read in the winter for its encyclopedic knowledge bank as it is for identifying plants during the spring and summer. The drawback is that the book is quite large, therefore, not ideal for toting in to the field.

Nevertheless, I highly recommend Discovering Wild Plants to anyone who is interested in learning more about plant life in Alaska (and Canada and the Pacific Northwest) and the myriad uses these plants have for food and herbal remedies.