Pocket Guide to Rhododendron Species. J.F.J. McQuire and M.L.A. Robinson. 2010. Published by Kew Publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; distributed by the University of Chicago Press. 704 pages; 700 color plates. $97.00, Hardcover. ISBN 13: 978-1-84246-148-8.
For anyone interested in identifying rhododendrons currently in cultivation to species, this is the field reference for you. It is a complete guide to the taxonomy and characteristics of over 1,000 rhododendron species and is presented in an easy-to-follow format with over 700 color photographs. McQuire and Robinson have condensed the work of H.H. Davidian, the original author of the Rhododendron Species volumes, into an abbreviated guide. Incidentally, the authors note that Davidian was working on a similar condensed guide prior to his death in 2003 at the age of 96. The book is quite humorously titled a “pocket guide” when in fact you would need an awfully large pocket to carry it in. The hardcover text measures 22 cm x 13 cm x 3.4 cm, has over 700 pages, and weighs 970 g (over 2 lb), so it is more of a “backpack guide,” although much easier to tote around than a large, standard text reference.
The Rhododendron genus is divided up into nine subgenera (Hymenanthes, Azaleastrum, Pentanthera, Tsutsusi, Candidastrum, Mumeazalea, Therorhodion, and Rhododendron; Vireya is not included) beginning with the elepidote (non-scaly) rhododendrons first, followed by the lepidote (scaly and usually evergreen) rhododendrons. The guide does not contain an identification key, so the user will have to first narrow down the subgenus of an unknown plant based on two pages of general characteristics located in the beginning of the text. After the subgenus is identified, 16 pages of more specific Section and Subsection characteristics are included. Bright blue tabs at the bottom right of each page label the Section and Subsection of each plant, so it will take a flip through the guide to find them. Although the authors mention the guide is intended as an introduction for the non-specialist, it will require a good base in botanical knowledge to use this reference easily. Readers should also note that this is a reference for rhododendron species, and only a handful of cultivar names appear in photograph titles, possibly limiting its use in the commercial trade.
Each plant has detailed descriptions of its characteristics, with important structures listed in bold text. With the guide lying open, these descriptions appear on the left page, and a photograph of the plant flower and leaves appear directly across on the right page. No plant descriptions fall on two separate pages. Characteristics important for identification in the photograph are also in bold text. Only the middle quarter of the book would lie open without being held down on my brand-new copy. However, stretching the back binding out did help keep the other sections flat. The plant hardiness scale is from 1 to 4, relating to UK growing locations, but there is a translation of this scale to USDA hardiness zones in the beginning of the guide. Flowering times are also in reference to UK growing locations. Additional comments relating plants to similar species and locations of cultivation also appear for most all the plants listed and are very informative. In the back of the guide, there is an extensive listing (only) of species not in or rarely in cultivation or of doubtful provenance. This section is followed by a standard glossary of terms, line drawings of flower and leaf shapes, bibliography, internet resources, and an index.