CANTON – Three of the four authors of a new field guide to help people identify mosses throughout the Northeast have connections to St. Lawrence University.

Associate Professor of Biology Karl McKnight; Warren Perdrizet, Class of 2011; and Kristen McKnight Ward, who studied at St. Lawrence for a year, have released Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton University Press recently published the book, also written by Joseph Rohrer.

“The guide features an innovative, color-tabbed system that helps readers pick out small groups of similar species,” says a news release from the publisher. “Illustrated identification keys, colorful habitat and leaf photos, more than 600 detailed line drawings and written descriptions help differentiate the species. This book allows all nature enthusiasts to make accurate identifications and gain access to the enchanting world of mosses. All the reader needs is the field guide, a hand lens and a spray bottle to identify mosses across most of the Northeast.”

Rooted in field experience and scientific study, Princeton’s guides to animals and plants are considered the authority for professional scientists and amateur naturalists alike. Princeton Field Guides are compact and designed for use in the field. The guides illustrate every species in color and provide detailed information on identification, distribution and biology.

McKnight joined the St. Lawrence faculty in 1985. He earned bachelors and master’s degrees from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. He has directed St. Lawrence’s Outdoor Studies program and helped develop the University’s nationally recognized Adirondack Semester.

Ward is a third-generation botanist/field guide author and professional artist. Perdrizet graduated from St. Lawrence with a bachelor’s in biology.

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