Links
The Plant Information Network System of the Botanic Gardens Trust.
Compiled and edited by staff of the National Herbarium of New South Wales
Links from the Plant Information Network System will take anywhere you need to go for authoritative Australian plant identification information available on the internet.
Australian Native Plants Society (Australia)
If you are interested in the cultivation, propagation, conservation and appreciation of Australia's native flora spend some time here.
References
The Bone Readers Claudia Tuniz, Richard Gillespie & Cheryl Jones
ISBN 978 1 74114 728 5 (pbk)
Published 2009
In this book the authors tie together various research results, up to 2008, tracing Homo sapiens migrations from Africa across the Earth as it was during the migrations, with varying sea levels and climate regimes, to Australia, among other places. They also give some answers about our impact on this continent during the last 50 millenia or so, especially in the first millenia after arrival. There are also numerous discussions on the relative merits and advances in various dating and DNA extraction techniques because they are crucial to the story.
Allen & Unwin
My reference books
All of the books listed below have a wealth of information in them other than just about identifying particular plants.
They would be available from most bookshops, though Australian botanic gardens book shops are more likely to have all of them on their shelves at any one time. There are other books that are probably just as good or better as a reference, I haven't looked for new books in a while.
Australian Rainforest Plants Nan & Hugh Nicholson
ISBN 0 9589436 2 1(Set)
A series of at least 6 small books of around 70 pages each, with excellent photos and brief descriptions of the plants.
The first was published, first edition, in 1985. The sixth was first published in 2004.
My collection of their books has grown gradually since we moved to Sassafras and needed help in identifying the plants. A most useful reference once I have narrowed down the possible list of suspects.
Ornamental Rainforest Plants in Australia David L. Jones
ISBN 0 7301 0113 4
Published 1986
I have had this one for quite some time, probably from around the early 90s. I remember thinking I'll get this one because I knew of the author as someone heavily involved in rainforest plant research from my time in the Plant Records section at ANBG. Excellent photos, many line drawings and good descriptions however it is aimed at those wanting rainforest plants as an ornamental so some of the heights are a little low in the rainforest situation.
Reed Books Pty. Ltd.
Trees & Shrubs in Rainforests of New South Wales & Southern Queensland J.B. Williams G.J. Harden & W.J.F. McDonald
ISBN 0 85834 555 2
Published 1984 This has now been superseded by the following book by the same authors.
There were actually 3 books in this series, this one, the Red Book, is about "Trees & Shrubs", another about "Rainforest Climbing Plants" and another "How to identify plants" which is rather useful in deciphering the jargon (otherwise known as learning) that is used to precisely identify plants in any of the other books I have.
Originally they were 3 thin books, A4 size, staple bound. This series was my first port of call when I came in the door with a new specimen.
They were generally indispensable in a quest to identify what you may have. Large line drawings and good descriptions. From these publications I was often be left with only 2 or 3 possibilities, if I was lucky I had only one candidate.
Printed by the University of New England Printery.
Rainforest Trees and Shrubs Gwen Harden Bill McDonald John Williams
ISBN 09775553 0 5
Published 2006
"A field guide to their identification"
This is a greatly expanded and extended version of the Red Book listed above. How much more? As a guide there are now descriptions and illustrations provided for 850 species, an increase of 309 over the Red Book. My comments above about the usefulness still apply, only the title has changed.
For a good preview go to www.rainforests.net.au
Gwen Harden Publishing
Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia A.G. Floyd
ISBN 9780958943673 (hbk).
First Published 1989, Forestry Commission of New South Wales
Revised edition 2008
A most detailed publication. All plants covered have line drawings and a detailed description. While I find the keys in Trees & Shrubs in Rainforests of New South Wales & Southern Queensland easier to use I will use this book to narrow down possibilities. The descriptions are most excellent and complete. From here I will turn to my picture books for more final determination, then come back here if I'm still not sure, and usually even if I am to find out more about what I've just found.
The Revised edition of course has the name changes of the preceeding 19 years, there are a few :-) There are quite a few more pages, information has been revised in some descriptions, layout has been improved and overall there is more information. The paper is now water resistant, very useful in a damp climate.
Alex Floyd is the author of a number of other books about rainforests.
Terania Rainforest Publishing
Lismore, Australia
Sassafras