I love ferns and photograph them often. Trouble was that I had very little idea which was which. This is an updated version of a book written in the 50s I think and, like other Peterson guides, uses a combination of drawings and photographs along with informational text to help you figure out what gorgeous little fern you're looking at. The beginning includes a general morphology on ferns; from rhizome to pinnule. It also explains how pinnae work which is so important for identifying ferns (is it single, bi- or tri-pinnate?). Some fern entries go on for several pages with complete information about habitat, ecology, range, rhizome, blade, and more. Thorough and full of detail. ( )