The bibliography and oral information from collectors and users of wild herbs, combined with my own knowledge and experiences regarding plants and personal thorough observations on the main characteristics and habitats of edible and poisonous plants, have created the knowledge presented in this book.

The text referring to the "Main Identification Characteristics" of a plant guides someone to highlight the main features in photos at all stages of its development. Subsequently, the distinction (the identification of the specific characteristics of a plant) and recognition (the determination of the species corresponding to those characteristics) of a plant in nature become possible.

However, the book is more than that, as it provides information about the identification, origin, uses, and properties of 527 (463 edible and 64 poisonous) species belonging to 51 families of Angiosperms (49 regular and 2 parasitic) and a few Ferns and Algae, making it an important part of Botany. Thus, I believe it could be useful for students of biological and geotechnical sciences, and even for botanists.

Specifically, for each plant species, the following information is provided:

• Scientific and common name as well as names, if available, from Dioscorides and Theophrastus
• Main identification characteristics
• Origin, habitat, and ecology
• Edible parts, collection season, and method of consumption
• Mode of propagation for edible species
• On average, 3-5 photos for each plant species

Moreover, it gives the reader the opportunity to become familiar with 175 medicinal plants of Dioscorides.