The mountainous Blue Ridge, perhaps the most botanically diverse region in the eastern United States, extends for more than five hundred miles, the bulk of the area falling within eighty-five counties of five states: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. The area has attracted the attention of botanists for nearly two centuries, yet no comprehensive work has previously been available that catalogs its rich floristic abundance. Addressing the needs of professional and amateur botanists interested in the Blue Ridge, B. Eugene Wofford’s guide makes it possible to identify all the region’s native and naturalized plant life--representing 161 families, 726 genera, and 2,391 species and lesser taxa. Among the flora to be found in the Blue Ridge are a number of species that have been identified as rare or endangered. The volume contains an introduction instructing readers on the use of the guide; a glossary of terms with selected illustrations; a map of the region; a key to the major plant groups; and keys to the Pteridophyte, Gymnosperm, Monocot, and Dicot families as well as to genera, species and lesser taxa. The species and lesser taxa enumeration following each genus contains the scientific name, common name or names, general habitat preferences, frequency and area of occurrence, flowering or sporulating periods, and pertinent taxonomic and nonmenclatural synonyms. The keys for identification rely primarily on easily identified flowering or sporulating material and can be interpreted by all users, from beginners and amateurs to experienced professionals.

The product of twenty-five years of planning, research, and writing, Guide to the Vascular Plants of Tennessee is the most comprehensive, detailed, and up-to-date resource of its kind for the flora of the Volunteer State, home to nearly 2,900 documented taxa. Not since Augustin Gattinger’s 1901 Flora of Tennessee and a Philosophy of Botany has a work of this scope been attempted. The team of editors, authors, and contributors not only provide keys for identifying the major groups, families, genera, species, and lesser taxa known to be native or naturalized within the state—with supporting information about distribution, frequency of occurrence, conservation status, and more—but they also offer a plethora of descriptive information about the state’s physical environment and vegetation, along with a summary of its rich botanical history, dating back to the earliest Native American inhabitants. Other features of the book include a comprehensive glossary of botanical terms and an array of line drawings that illustrate the identifying characteristics of vascular plants, from leaf shape and surface features to floral morphology and fruit types. Finally, the book’s extensive keys are indexed by families, scientific names, and common names. The result is a user-friendly work that researchers, students, environmentalists, foresters, conservationists, and indeed anyone interested in Tennessee and its botanical legacy and resources will value for years to come.

This richly illustrated field guide serves as an introduction to the wildflowers and plant communities of the southern Appalachians and the rolling hills of the adjoining piedmont. Rather than organizing plants, including trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, by flower color or family characteristics, as is done in most guidebooks, botanist Tim Spira takes a holistic, ecological approach that enables the reader to identify and learn about plants in their natural communities. This approach, says Spira, better reflects the natural world, as plants, like other organisms, don't live in isolation; they coexist and interact in myriad ways. Full-color photo keys allow the reader to rapidly preview plants found within each of the 21 major plant communities described, and the illustrated species description for each of the 340 featured plants includes fascinating information about the ecology and natural history of each plant in its larger environment. With this new format, readers can see how the mountain and piedmont landscapes form a mosaic of plant communities that harbor particular groups of plants. The volume also includes a glossary, illustrations of plant structures, and descriptions of sites to visit. Whether you're a beginning naturalist or an expert botanist, this guidebook is a useful companion on field excursions and wildflower walks, as well as a valuable reference. Southern Gateways Guide is a registered trademark of the University of North Carolina Press

This field guide dedicated to wildflowers of the Blue Ridge Parkway is an information-packed, pocket-sized book that introduces park visitors to the vibrant wildflower habitats along the Blue Ridge Parkway in a colorful and portable package. Including full-color photos and easy-to-understand descriptions, the wildflowers are arranged by color and family to aid in quick identification. With full cooperation from the park association, this book will appeal to the 16 million visitors who travel the Blue Ridge Parkway every year.

A comprehensive handbook to top southeastern nature sites For hikers, climbers, naturalists, botanists, zoologists, wildflower enthusiasts, waterfall watchers, and all who enjoy exploring the outdoors, this field guide offers detailed descriptions of more than fifty natural areas in the "gorge" region of the Blue Ridge province. Veteran naturalist L. L. Gaddy, Jr., shares his extensive knowledge of this scenic, biologically diverse region, which runs from North Carolina's Linville Gorge to Tallulah Gorge in Georgia, and offers practical advice on how to best experience its many rock pinnacles, deep ravines, wildflower coves, and spectacular waterfalls. Describing areas that range in size from less than fifty to more than ten thousand acres, Gaddy provides comprehensive information on well-known sites—Table Rock State Park, Caesar's Head State Park, Whiteside Mountain, Chimney Rock Park, and Raven Cliff Falls—along with many lesser-known areas—Wolf's Lair, Thompson River Gorge, Chattooga River Narrows, and Chauga River Gorge. For each location he outlines points of interest, flora and fauna (including rare plants and endangered wildlife), and other natural features. Gaddy supplements his entries with topographic maps and an introduction to the area in which he distinguishes the specific ecosystems of the gorge region from those found in the rest of the Blue Ridge.

This 2001 book provides a selective annotated bibliography of the principal floras and related works of inventory for vascular plants. The second edition was completely updated and expanded to take into account the substantial literature of the late twentieth century, and features a more fully developed review of the history of floristic documentation. The works covered are principally specialist publications such as floras, checklists, distribution atlases, systematic iconographies and enumerations or catalogues, although a relatively few more popularly oriented books are also included. The Guide is organised in ten geographical divisions, with these successively divided into regions and units, each of which is prefaced with a historical review of floristic studies. In addition to the bibliography, the book includes general chapters on botanical bibliography, the history of floras, and general principles and current trends, plus an appendix on bibliographic searching, a lexicon of serial abbreviations, and author and geographical indexes.

Since Kentucky is situated at a biological crossroads in eastern North America, citizens and visitors to this beautiful state are likely to be greeted by an astonishing variety of wildflowers. This non-technical guide—featuring more than five hundred dazzling full-color photographs by award-winning photographer Thomas G. Barnes—is the state's indispensable guide to the most common species in the Commonwealth. With this book, readers will learn to identify and appreciate Kentucky wildflowers and ferns by matching photographs and leaf line drawings to the more than six hundred and fifty species of flowers covered in the book. Extremely practical and simple to use, the guide's color photographs and line drawings appear with plant descriptions for easy identification, and plants are grouped by flower color and blooming season. Each species listing includes the plant's common and scientific name, plant family, habitat, frequency, and distribution throughout Kentucky, with similar species listed in the notes. There is no other volume that covers the flora of Kentucky with such ease of identification. The first new statewide guide to appear in thirty years, with its combination of high quality photographs, illustrations, portability, and easy organization of information, Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky is an essential addition to the library or field pack of the wildflower enthusiast, naturalist, and anyone else who loves the outdoors.

Wildflowers are among nature's loveliest offerings, and this book showcases the native flowering plants that are on display all throughout Georgia. For eight years, Hugh and Carol Nourse traveled the state, from the Coastal Plain to the Blue Ridge mountains and all points in between, finding and photographing wildflowers in their own habitats and in their best blooming seasons. The 86 vividly detailed photographs presented in this large-format volume capture the diversity and splendor of these sometimes elusive plants, many of which are endangered by human activities. Each photo is accompanied by a concise caption that provides common and scientific names, place and season photographed, and information on whether the plant is a Georgia protected plant. Armchair naturalists will not have to leave the comfort of their homes to appreciate this photographic collection of many of the state's wildflowers, but readers inspired to undertake their own search for these beauties will find suggestions for hiking trails and other sites to view wildflowers. Anyone who loves Georgia will treasure this book, and wildflower lovers everywhere will appreciate this beautiful depiction of the state's botanical diversity.