Weeds of the Woods: Small Trees and Shrubs of the Eastern Forest. Rev. ed.

Beryl Hamilton is a freelance writer in Thunder Bay who specializes in
home gardening.

Award-winning science writer Glen Blouin tours the wild trees and shrubs
of the eastern forest in this revised edition of his popular guide. The
colour photos of individual plants allow readers to identify species by
leaf, bark, flower, and fruit. Concise information is given on a
plant’s habitat, its place in the ecosystem, and its ornamental and
medicinal uses. Along with the scientific information, Blouin includes
early Aboriginal and colonial accounts of the forest, while plants are
listed according to their scientific names as well as the English,
French, Mi’kmaq, and Maliseet variations. The book includes an
extensive glossary and blank note pages for the reader’s use.

Although 90 percent of the Atlantic region’s land mass is covered by
trees, most of its woody species are commonly classified as weeds
because they do not grow large enough to be suitable for commercial
exploitation. Blouin makes clear that these “weeds of the woods”
contain a great deal of undiscovered potential, particularly in regard
to medicines. Paclitaxel, the extract of ground hemlock, for instance,
is now routinely used in chemotherapy for breast cancer. Wisely, Blouin
cautions that none of the remedies mentioned in his book should be tried
without consulting a medical doctor. Another prominent aspect in his
presentation of the eastern forests is his plea for responsible
management. As he states: “Humility in trying to manage nature, in
understanding how to work with nature is necessary. Otherwise we may do
irreparable harm to nature’s ecosystems, and in doing so, seriously
impact on our own ability to survive—economically and
environmentally.”

Compact, reliable, and readable, Weeds in the Woods will serve as a
good reference for identifying forest species.