For a main text I have used
Walters, D.R. and D.J. Keil. 1996. Vascular Plant Taxonomy. 4e.
Kendall-Hunt.
It's a bit weak on plant evolution, but good on the jargon, and has OK
coverage of families.
For families, I have considered
Zomlefer, W.B. 1994. Flowering Plant Families. Chapel Hill.
Nice book, but it's much more comprehensive than what I can cover in one
semester.
I am considering
Hickey, M. and C. King. 1997. Common Families of Flowering Plants. Cambridge
U.P.
Two good floristic references for the Midwest are Voss's Michigan Flora (3
volume comprehensive flora for <$50, Cranbrook Institute) and Swink and
Wilhelm's Plants of the Chicago Region (c. $40, IN Acad. Sci.). Both have
particularly good keys.
David J. Hicks djhicks at manchester.edu
Biology Department (219) 982-5309
Manchester College
N. Manchester, IN 4696
