Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest

"This book covers southern British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and northern California, from the coast to the mountains, and high desert, including the Siskiyou, Steens, and Wallowa mountains. It describes and illustrates more than 1200 species; includes perennials, annuals, and shrubs, both native and nonnative; contains 1247 color photographs, 1219 range maps, 1 ecoregions map; user-friendly organization by color flower and shape; and handy, authoritative trailside reference."--BOOK JACKET.

How to Use This Book Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest is designed for ease of use in the field to help you identify the flowers you find. It includes color photographs, clear and concise descriptions, and range maps for 1220 flowering plants found from southern British Columbia to northern California. Additional related species are mentioned in the text. Most common native species are here, as are a goodly number of weeds and many rare and endemic plants. Our goal in selecting plants was to include as many as possible that are likely to be found while exploring this large territory. We put particular emphasis on central and eastern Washington and Oregon and on the Klamath-Siskiyou region in southern Oregon and northern California because most other field guides have glossed over these areas. While 1220 plants is a wide selection, many species and varieties had to be omitted. We chose the showier species at the expense of plants with small and nearly insignificant flowers. Although grasses, sedges, rushes, and trees all have flowers, most people don't think of them as wildflowers, and you won't find them here. Many woody shrubs are included, however, because a lot of them have showy flowers and are likely to be encountered along the trail or roadside. As you look up the flowers you find, be sure to use all of the information provided. The text and photographs complement each other. The range maps present the county (in the United States) or forest district (in British Columbia) where documentation shows the plant to have been found. Keep in mind that habitat, not shown on the individual maps, is also critically important. How to Identify a Plant It is very easy to miss a critical detail about a plant you want to identify if you don't adopt a systematic way of looking. While we're usually attracted first to the flowers and their shape and color, the rest of the plant is also important. Start by getting an overall impression of the plant. Is it woody like a tree or shrub? How big is it? Does it grow like a vine, form a mat on the ground, make a clump of stems, or have a single stem that stands by itself? Are the stems stiff and strong or are they weak? Are there any spines, prickles, or hairs? Examine the leaves. Are they mostly right at the ground (basal) or do they grow along the stem? Some plants have both basal and stem leaves. What shape are the leaves? Stem leaves can be opposite each other or arranged alternately. Leaves can be attached to the stem with a long petiole, clasp the stem, have little appendages at the attachment point (stipules), or appear to have the stem growing through the leaf. Many plants have compound leaves with several leaflets. You may need to count the leaflets and note how they're arranged. Leaf texture is another clue. Are they soft, leathery, hairy on one or both sides, or spiny? Study the flowers. Identification usually requires a close look at the color, arrangement, and number of the flowering parts. Color is obvious but may change as the flowers age or among individuals of the same species. Sometimes petals have spots or blotches of a second color. Count the petals. Some flowers don't have petals, or the petals are very small and inconspicuous. Count the sepals, located at the base of the flower. For many plants, this will be enough to make an identification. However, you may also need to look closely to count the stamens. Sometimes you need to see whether these sex parts are longer or shorter than the petals. The position of the ovary can also be important. For a few flowers, such as penstemons, you have to look closely to see how thick the hairs are inside and outside the flower. A hand lens with a magnification of 100 is useful for this close level of examination, can add a lot to your enjoyment of wildflowers, and doesn't weigh much in your pack. If you need help