Alabama Forest Owner's Guide
to Information Resources

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Introduction

Understanding
Information

Sources of
Publications

Woodlots/Small
Forests

Forest
Resources

Plants and
Animals

Planning the
Resource

Management for
Trees

Management for
Wildlife

Management for
Alternative Uses

Business
Information

Forest Industry

Environmental
Protection

Forestry Law

Reference
Sources

Special Methods
and Practices

Background
Information

Current
Periodicals

Programs for
Landowners

Guide and
Publication Lists

Conclusion

A great variety of plants and animals are found in Alabama's forests. A few, well-written books are valuable for understanding these resources.

Trees

Barrett, John W. Regional Silviculture of the United States. 3rd ed. New York: Wiley, 1995. 643 p. $199.00
Useful for a broad understanding of growing trees and managing wildlife and other forest resources in three forest regions found in Alabama: southern Appalachian hardwood region, southern bottomland hardwood region, and the southern pine region.

Burns, R. M. Silvics of North America. Vol. 1, Conifers; Vol. 2, Hardwoods. Washington D.C.: U.S.D.A. Forest Service, 1990. (Agriculture Handbook No. 654) Vol. 1, 675 p.; Vol. 2, 877 p.
Discusses habitat, life history, special uses, and other characteristics of 200 forest trees. Includes species found in Alabama. An excellent source.

Davis, Donald Echard and others. Guide and Key to Alabama Trees, 5th edition. Dubuque, Ia.: Kendall/Hunt Pub., Co., 1999. 134 p.
Has pictures along with descriptions and gives information on distribution and uses. Includes valuable botanical keys for identification of genera and species.

Dean Blanche Evans. Trees and Shrubs in the Heart of Dixie. Rev. edition. Birmingham: Southern University Press, 1968. 227 p.
Describes in detail all major trees an shrubs in Alabama. Has wonderful black & white illustrations of leaves, acorns, cones, flowers, and fruit.

Duncan, Wilbur H., and Duncan, Marion B. Trees of the Southeastern United States. Athens, Ga.: University of Georgia Press, 1992. 336 p. $16.07
A first-rate guide (with botanical keys) to identification of trees. Features color illustrations, descriptions, and distribution maps for 276 species, many found in Alabama.

York, Harlan H. 100 Forest Trees of Alabama, 2nd ed.. Montgomery, Ala.: Alabama Forestry Commission and Division of Vocational Education, Alabama State Department of Education, 1995. 111 p. Also an E-book.
Gives brief descriptions and illustrations of common or significant trees in Alabama. Information includes: common names, form, bark, twigs, leaves, flowers, fruit, winter buds, wood, uses, habitat, distribution, and distinguishing characteristics. B & W plates.

Trees of Alabama and the Southeast Web Site, by Lisa Samuelson and others at the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, is an excellent E-book about Alabama trees.
Also useful is a pamphlet called A Key to Common Trees of Alabama, by Frank A. Roth, II and Larkin H. Wade, published in 1993 (Circular ANR-509) by the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. 16 p. Leaflets called The Southern Pine: Alabama's State Tree and What Do Alabama's Forests Look Like? are available from the Alabama Forestry Commission.

Birds

DeGraaf, Richard M. and others. Forest and Rangeland Birds of the United States: Natural History and Habitat Use. Washington. D.C.: U.S.D.A. Forest Service, 1991. (Agriculture Handbook No. 688) 625 p.
Gives information on range, habitat, nest and food, along with a color illustration of each species. A useful table shows birds found in predominant southeastern forest types.

Imhof, Thomas, A. Alabama Birds, 2nd ed. Tuscaloosa, Ala.: University of Alabama Press, 1976. 445 p.
For each species, gives description, nesting, food, distribution, occurrence in Alabama, and time of breeding. Includes color plates of birds.

Wildflowers

Duncan, Wilbur H., and Foote, Leonard E. Wildflowers of the Southeastern United States. Athens, Ga.: The University of Georgia Press, 1975.
A field guide for identifying wildflowers. For each species, gives common and scientific names, recognition characteristics, abundance, ecological and geographic distribution, flowering period, economic value (if any), and danger (such as poison).

Another helpful title is Wildflowers of Alabama and Adjoining States by Blanche E. Dean, Amy Mason, and Joab L. Thomas published by the University of Alabama Press, 1983. 256 p.

Also useful is a pamphlet called Woodland Wildflowers -- a Primer, by Kathryn Flynn, published in 1997 (Circular ANR-1071) by the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. Also an E-book.

Mammals

Choate, Jerry R.; Jones, J. Knox, Jr.; and Jones, Clyde. Handbook of Mammals of the South-Central States. Baton Rouge, La.: Louisiana State Univ. Press, 1994. 304 p. $47.50
Gives distribution, description, and natural history of mammals in Alabama. B & W photos included.