[See isbn 9780754834755 for the new updated edition.] This is the ultimate reference and identification guide to more than 1300 of the most spectacular, best-loved and unusual trees around the globe, with 3000 specially commissioned illustrations, maps and photographs. It provides a valuable insight into the life cycle of the tree; the role the constituent parts such as bark, trunk, leaves and flowers play in its development; and the many different environments in which trees thrive. It reveals each tree's growth habits, average height, leaf size and shape, flower and pollination details, texture of bark, needle length, bud development, fruit and dimensions. This beautifully illustrated book is an identification guide to the world's best-known trees, from huge redwoods to small garden trees. It can be used as a field guide or an educational tool to identify species and individual trees, and to learn about how trees grow, their natural environments, and the species and varieties that proliferate around the world. Each entry is accompanied by a hand-painted illustration, and includes identification details such as bark texture, leaf shape and size, flowering time, average height and overall tree shape. This authoritative volume will form a vital part of every family's natural history library.