Midwest Ferns is the first modern, comprehensive field guide to the true ferns and fern relatives of the American midwest, including the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Included are keys, descriptions and illustrations for over 130 of the region's species of ferns and fern relatives:
- True Ferns in 18 families and 37 genera, including 'typical' ferns such as members of the Wood Fern, Sensitive Fern, Maidenhair Fern, Cliff Fern and Spleenwort Families, plus families now considered part of the true fern group - the Horsetail (Equisetum) and Adder's-tongue Families (moonworts, grapeferns).
- Fern Relatives in 3 families and 8 genera, including members of the Clubmoss, Quillwort and Spike-moss Families. Features - Introduction to fern terminology, structure and life-cycle
- Illustrated keys to each family, genus and species
- Key to ferns by habitat groups
- Arranged alphabetically by family
- Species fully described and illustrated with line drawings and b/w photographs to show the frond (leaf) and important reproductive parts such as the sorus and indusium, and other diagnostic details such as vascular bundles in the stipe (leaf stalk) and close-ups of the pinna (leaf divisions)
- North American and Midwest region distribution maps for each species.