Much more than a catalog of trees and shrubs, "Woody Plants of the Southwest" is an encyclopedia-like discussion covering all except the herbaceous vegetation of portions of the southwestern United States and a narrow strip of adjoining Mexico. Samuel H. Lamb has not only identified hundreds of woody plants, but has arranged them by families, explained their Latin names, and has provided a brief biography of persons, primarily botanists, who have been honored by having their names included in the accepted scientific nomenclature. He has also provided one or more common names in English and...