Through the pioneering efforts of ecologist B. W. Wells (1884-1978), thousands of North Carolinians learned to appreciate and protect the state's diverse plant life long before ecology and conservation became popular causes. A keen observer of the natural landscape, Wells provided the first scientific descriptions in modern terms of the forces that shaped coastal communities, bogs and savannahs, the Carolina bays, pine forests, old fields, and mountain grassy balds. But the broader impact of his life lay in his championship and popularization of nature. Outside academic circles, he shared his knowledge through public lectures, articles, and lobbying efforts, and by teaching anyone who would listen. In 1932 he produced for his Tar Heel audience a revolutionary work on the plant ecology of the state, The Natural Gardens of North Carolina. Organized by habitat, this volume is still entertaining and instructive. Wells received his Ph.D. in botany from the University of Chicago in 1917 and served as chair of the North Carolina State College botany department for thirty years. He was a memorable teacher and a significant force in the development of his academic institution.

1919/28 cumulation includes material previously issued in the 1919/20-1935/36 issues and also material not published separately for 1927/28. 1929/39 cumulation includes material previously issued in the 1929/30-1935/36 issues and also material for 1937-39 not published separately.

Flora of North America Volume 7 will be the eighth of 19 volumes on dicotyledons to be published in the Flora of North America North of Mexico series. It treats 923 species classified among 125 genera in 11 families; the larger families covered in Volume 7 include Brassicaceae (Mustard family), Cleomaceae (Spiderflower family), and Salicaceae (Willow family). The endemic family Limnanthaceae with eight species classified in two genera (Floerkea and Limnanthes) is also included in the volume. Each genus has representative species illustrated with a line drawing that, in combination with keys and descriptions, will facilitate identifications of these groups of plants. Some of the genera treated in this volume with the most species in the flora area include: Boechera, Cardamine, Draba, Lepidium, Physaria, and Streptanthus (Brassicaceae) with 109, 39, 121, 42, 88, and 35 species, respectively; plus Salix and Populus (Salicaceae) with 113 and 8 species, respectively. Three families are represented in the flora each with a single introduced species: Caricaceae (Papaya family), Moringaceae (Drumstick tree family), and Tropaeolaceae (Nasturtium family). Standing Orders To receive all Flora of North America titles automatically as they are published, and at a 25% discount, please submit your request for a standing order (ISBN 978-0-19-521735-3) to [email protected].