What's Your Best or Favorite Palm Book?

[Xerarch]

I have seen a number of people reference palm books on here, so which ones do you like the most? I think my "The Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms" second edition, is pretty awesome. I also enjoy "Betrock's Cold Hardy Palms". "Palms for South Texas" is fun, I like regional books even though I've never been to South Texas.

So let's hear what you all think, I'd like some ideas for expanding by palm book collection when the time comes.

[sashaeffer]

Because of where I live (Nebraska) "Palms won't grow here and other myths" by David Francko

[Jeff Searle]

I was just showing my father in law my, Field Guide to the Palms of Madagascar Book last night. He was pretty fascinated about not only all the Dypsis, but how so many of them have been recently discovered in the last 10-15 years.

[DoomsDave]

There's a few. Palms of Madagascar, by Dransfield and Beentje, Lolou by Don Hodel (about Pritchardias). Don Hodel's book on Chamadoreas.

There's many. Some of the old classics are cool to read, just to see where we've been, like riding in a bullet-train caboose.

[PalmatierMeg]

"Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms" (both editions) is my go-to bible for palms. I consult it often. I also have Don Hodel's book on Chamaedoreas as a specialty book.

[colin Peters]

I agree with Dave, POM and Loulu by Don Hodel.

Hopefully someday a new version will come out of POM, that has some of the new discoveries in it, because it

shows the great diversity of Madagascar and the palms many of us love. And of course Loulu, because of

the native palms of Hawaii, which I have come to love and discover in my own "backyard".

Hopefully Loulu will be available from University of Hawaii Press on cyber Monday as it has been in the past couple of

years, at a good discount.

aloha

[Kostas]

My favorites from the ones I have are "Chamaedorea Palms" by Hodel, "The Palms of New Caledonia" by Hodel and Genera Palmarum

[Xerarch]

Excellent suggestions, I'll put one of each on my future acquisition list. One of my frustrations with these books is that they illustrate just how many awesome palms there are out there that I have no hope of growing, ever. I don't suppose that will stop me from reading books though, I love my encyclopedia of cultivated palms and I consult it all the time, especially whenever a species gets mentioned on this forum that I know little about.

So, let's hear about for book favorites please!

[Sunnie]

I like "The Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms" second edition

[Pip]

Palms in Australia by David Jones started my interest in palms unfortunately I've miss placed my copy. I now have the 2nd edition of The Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms which is ok butI should get one written for California as my climate is so similar.

[Matt in OC]

Surprised no one has mentioned the Martius "Book of Palms!" Such an unbelievable story and some of the most gorgeous illustrations of palms.

Another unique book is Tomlinson's "The Anatomy of Palms."

My other favorites have already been mentioned: Hodel's "Loulu," and "Encycolpedia of Cultivated Palms."

[JasonD]

Palms of the World, by McCurrach, was my introductory book to palms. My step-grandmother gave it to me one high-school spring break when I was staying with her and my grandfather in Miami and we visited Fairchild Tropical Garden. It was published in 1960 and has classic black-and-white photos and illustrations. There were no other books on palms available at the time. Much of the information is (and was) outdated but it's a beautiful compendium and a piece of history.

Brazilian Flora: Arecaceae is quite good. One of its innovations is using black cloth as a backdrop for photos of smaller palms in habitat to isolate the plant and allow a much more detailed view. It opens up the incredible diversity of that vast country and stretches your concept of the palm with its many grassy, acaulescent species.

Palms In Australia by David Jones is really valuable.

Hodel's books are all fascinating, as is the Palms of Madagascar (amazing photos, too).

The Betrock's books are helpful in winnowing out the super-rare species and thus being practical.

And...Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms, 2nd Ed. is essential.

[Halekuma]

My favourite book is Palmas de Colombia by Gloria Galeano. I wish I could travel freely through Colombia to find all those species in habitat... There are plenty of cool weather (and even cold tolerant) species that are rarely cultivated elsewhere... Thanks to that book I found plenty of Geonoma Orbygniana and Dyctyocaryum in habitat, growing in an almost vertical slope... It is also sad that when somebody ask for example to a taxi driver where is X place or Y area they rarely know about it... No wonder why last year a new species was discovered in Colombia...

[Sabal Steve]

I have seen a number of people reference palm books on here, so which ones do you like the most? I think my "The Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms" second edition, is pretty awesome. I also enjoy "Betrock's Cold Hardy Palms". "Palms for South Texas" is fun, I like regional books even though I've never been to South Texas.

So let's hear what you all think, I'd like some ideas for expanding by palm book collection when the time comes.

I have the first two books you mentioned. The former is an overall better reference. However, the betrock book provides a nice guide to the varigated Raphis cultivars.

[Pete in Paradise Hills]

My favourite book is Palmas de Colombia by Gloria Galeano. I wish I could travel freely through Colombia to find all those species in habitat... There are plenty of cool weather (and even cold tolerant) species that are rarely cultivated elsewhere... Thanks to that book I found plenty of Geonoma Orbygniana and Dyctyocaryum in habitat, growing in an almost vertical slope... It is also sad that when somebody ask for example to a taxi driver where is X place or Y area they rarely know about it... No wonder why last year a new species was discovered in Colombia...

have to get that book. my wife is from Colombia and our next trip there to visit her family will include some PRAs by me

[DoomsDave]

Palms of the World, by McCurrach, was my introductory book to palms. My step-grandmother gave it to me one high-school spring break when I was staying with her and my grandfather in Miami and we visited Fairchild Tropical Garden. It was published in 1960 and has classic black-and-white photos and illustrations. There were no other books on palms available at the time. Much of the information is (and was) outdated but it's a beautiful compendium and a piece of history.

Brazilian Flora: Arecaceae is quite good. One of its innovations is using black cloth as a backdrop for photos of smaller palms in habitat to isolate the plant and allow a much more detailed view. It opens up the incredible diversity of that vast country and stretches your concept of the palm with its many grassy, acaulescent species.

Palms In Australia by David Jones is really valuable.

Hodel's books are all fascinating, as is the Palms of Madagascar (amazing photos, too).

The Betrock's books are helpful in winnowing out the super-rare species and thus being practical.

And...Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms, 2nd Ed. is essential.

Yeah, that's a corker, Palms of the World.

I remember that black and white picture of that ENORMOUS Raphia soaring 70 - 80 feet (25 m?) above that little white figure of a man in a pith helmet. Sometimes B & W is better than color.

That book's almost as old as me.

[Halekuma]

My favourite book is Palmas de Colombia by Gloria Galeano. I wish I could travel freely through Colombia to find all those species in habitat... There are plenty of cool weather (and even cold tolerant) species that are rarely cultivated elsewhere... Thanks to that book I found plenty of Geonoma Orbygniana and Dyctyocaryum in habitat, growing in an almost vertical slope... It is also sad that when somebody ask for example to a taxi driver where is X place or Y area they rarely know about it... No wonder why last year a new species was discovered in Colombia...

have to get that book. my wife is from Colombia and our next trip there to visit her family will include some PRAs by me

Nice, from what department if I can ask... Last year we tried to visit some places from the book in Antioquia and we couldnt due to insecurity. Still you can find more common palms in habitat like a Aiphanes horrida (corozo) in plenty of rural areas near small very secure towns... The rare species I think require to take some risk due to being more "wild" places... still you can find plenty rare species in National parks like Piedra Blancas (in guarne) if looking for cool tolerant palms or Jardin-tamesis for palms like wettinia, etc...