Botanical Bonanza

Botanical Bonanza

L-R: 1995 edition, 2012 edition, 2021 edition

 

One of the things readers of this blog appreciate most are the images and identifications of plants and wildflowers included with each hike description.  In addition to landmarks, geological formations and wildlife, vegetation is a defining characteristic of hiking trails.  Whether trekking through alpine tundra, pine-oak woodlands, chaparral or Arizona’s iconic Sonoran Desert, hikers encounter myriad species of trees, shrubs, cacti and wildflowers.  Appreciation of these colorful understories and canopies is enhanced by putting names to the sighted specimens.  

While I use multiple sources to help identify the plant photos I share, my go-to source for the past 25 years has been the Falcon Guide, Plants of Arizona.  About to be released in its third updated edition, the book features color images and accurate, concise descriptions of over 1000 plants that help non-pros like myself identify and learn about Arizona’s botanical bounty. Entries are sorted by flower color and descriptions include botanical names and plant family, habitat, blooming season, elevation range, whether the plant is native or invasive, common or rare and information about ethnobotanical uses, history and precautions.  The third edition has been upgraded with additional photos showing full-plant views and various flowering/fruiting stages of development.  A glossary of botanical terms, Arizona life zones and an overview of plant families round out this detailed, yet approachable guide. 

  

Plants of Arizona: Third Edition

By John F. Wiens and Anne Orth Epple

Falcon Guides

Paperback, October 2021, $34.95

512 pages, 6” x 9”