| Serie | Collins Classic Field Guides |
| Authors | David Streeter, C. Hart-Davies, A. Hardcastle, F. Cole & L. Harper |
| Language | English |
| ISBN | 9780008156756 |
| Publisher | Harper Collins UK |
| Pages | 704 |
| Size | 135 x 194 X 39 mm |
| Format | Paperback |
| Images | Colour Illustrations |
| Year published | 2016 |
Leading botanical artists have been specially commissioned to ensure accurate, detailed illustrations. Species are described and illustrated on the same page, with up-to-date authoritative text aiding identification. Plants are arranged by family, with their key features highlighted for quick and easy reference. The text offers a complete account of over 1,900 wild flowers of Britain and Ireland, along with a summary of their European distribution. 'Collins Flower Guide' is an indispensable guide for all those with an interest in the countryside, whether amateur or expert.
New to the second edition:
Some of the taxonomy (order) has changed significantly since the first edition was published, and these changes have all been incorporated into the second edition. There are no new illustrations as such, but substantial text corrections and updates in addition to the taxonomic changes. The keys have all been improved on and updated (and in some cases rewritten entirely), making the book inherently more accessible.
The author explains in his introduction to the second edition:
"Recent research in molecular systematics using techniques of DNA sequencing has resulted in a revision of the family relationships between some species of plants. Much of this is a consequence of an international collaborative research project, the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group or APG. The APG system has now been incorporated into the most recent edition of Stace’s standard British flora and has been followed in this new edition of the Guide. In some cases, such as the splitting up of the Scrophulariaceae and the Liliaceae into a number of separate families, this has resulted in some unfamiliar changes although in many cases they had already been predicted by traditional taxonomy."
Thus some plant (Latin) names have also changed, and the new edition reflects these changes. Where the names differ from those in the first edition they are added in parentheses following the new name for reference. The book has also been completely reset and redesigned throughout.
