Packer and Gould have provided an invaluable service for anyone interested in western North American botany by creating a simple, user-friendly and portable key to the Alberta species found in the 30-volume set of Flora of North America. Designed to be carried into the field for handy reference and use, this work incorporates the new names and taxonomical understandings that have accumulated over the years. Part 1 of what will be a three-volume set contains the up-to-date classification of the ferns, fern allies, gymnosperms, and monocots found in Alberta according to the latest taxonomic findings.