CHANGCHUN, March 29 (Xinhua) -- A book which introduces over 95 percent of the woody plants in China's northeastern region was published earlier this week, its author said Thursday.

The two-volume book introduces more than 400 types of woody plants including their names, appearances, distribution areas and economic value in northeast China, according to author Zhou You, a life sciences professor with Tonghua Normal University in Jilin Province.

Meanwhile, the over 3,000 photos in the book offer readers a visual understanding of the plants.

The book was published by Northeast Forestry University Press. It is believed to be the first comprehensive book on trees, shrubs and lianas in northeast China, which includes the provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang as well as eastern parts of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Zhou hopes the book will serve as important reference document for researchers studying forest resources in the region.

"It can also provide help forestry, agricultural and environmental protection authorities to develop and protect plant resources in northeast China," said Li Wenhua, an eminent Chinese forest ecologist.

Another two books related to wetland plants and medicinal plants also authored by Zhou will be published in the next two years.