“This is the Rolls-Royce of botanical identification keys”
Dr Timothy Utteridge, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK
RAINFOREST PLANTS of AUSTRALIA
(Rockhampton to Victoria)
Interactive Identification Key
& Rainforest Information System
Available as USB or Mobile App (from App Store)
Web price USB $50
What is the RAINFOREST PLANTS of AUSTRALIA Interactive Identification Key & Information System?
This interactive rainforest key enables rapid identification of rainforest plants of Australia (Rockhampton to Victoria), covering 1139 species and including extensive information about eastern Australian rainforests. It is a user-friendly digital system, using Lucid 3.5 technology, provided on a key-shaped USB in a DVD-sized package. Over 12,000 photographs are included.
This key has been 13 years in preparation by botanists Gwen Harden, Bill McDonald, Nan Nicholson and photographer Hugh Nicholson. Terry Tame and John Williams also contributed.
The key is based on updated and expanded information from the “Red Book” Rainforest Trees & Shrubs, and the “Green Book” Rainforest Climbing Plants, both by Gwen Harden, Bill McDonald and John Williams. Nan and Hugh Nicholson are author and photographer of Australian Rainforest Plants I-VI.
It is the combination of expertise and enthusiasm for rainforests that makes this key not only exceptionally thorough and accurate but a thing of beauty and a joy to use.
Rainforest Plants Of Australia – Home page
Which rainforest species are included?
All 1139 species of rainforest trees, shrubs, climbers and mistletoes within the distribution area. This includes 104 species of weeds naturalised in rainforest, and 201 rare & threatened species.
What area is covered?
Eastern and southern mainland Australia, from Rockhampton in Queensland to southern Victoria.
Distribution Map of the Rainforest Key
What species information does it include?
Each of the 1139 species has a detailed botanical description, a detailed line drawing and up to 15 photographs showing habit, leaf, flower, fruit, bark and other distinguishing features.
Example of species Fact Sheet in Rainforest Key
Example of line drawing
Why is it easy to use?
The key can be searched using 160 different features. These include botanical features such as habit, leaves, stems, bark, flowers, fruits and many other characteristics, eg. spines, climbing mechanisms or type of sap. It can even be searched on new leaf colour or old leaf colour or leaf scent.
It can also be searched on geographical area, rainforest type, rare or threatened status, weed status or family.
Why is it called an Information System?
This key includes additional comprehensive information with many illustrations and photographs covering:
- Rainforest ecology
- Rainforest types from wet subtropical and cool-temperate to dry inland vine scrubs.
- Rainforest distribution and where to find the best examples
- Detailed illustrated glossary
- Huge list of references and useful websites
Subtropical Rainforest painting in Rainforest Plants of Australia Key
Examples of Australian subtropical rainforest photos and locations in Rainforest Key
Who is this Interactive Identification Key and Information System for?
This key is for everyone interested in rainforest, whether they are professional botanists or ecologists, or plant lovers with little or no knowledge of botanical terms.
Those who would find this resource useful:
- landowners
- government agencies
- environmental consultants
- landcare workers
- bushwalkers
- environmentalists
- researchers
- professional botanists
- taxonomists
- gardeners
- and all those interested in Australian rainforests
What is the benefit of the 12,000 photos?
The photographs alone make this an exceptional resource. Hugh Nicholson’s rainforest photography is renowned and many other photographers have also contributed images.
The photographs represent a comprehensive and beautiful collection of images of the rainforest plants in the study area.
They enable visual confirmation of species identification, and for inexperienced users, they can be used to find the right species once the key has narrowed possibilities down to about 10 or so species.
A selection of Silkpod flowers
Different spines on a range of species
RAINFOREST PLANTS of AUSTRALIA
Interactive Identification Key and Information System
Rockhampton to Victoria
$50.00
We are excited to be sharing this key after 13 years of intensive but exhilarating work!
Nan & Hugh Nicholson
Terania Rainforest Publishing
391 The Channon Road, The Channon
2480, NSW, Australia
Email: terania@rainforestpublishing.com.au