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