Flora of the Gran Desierto and Río Colorado Delta

by Richard Stephen Felger

Overview

From the Pinacate lava fields and expansive dunes to the shores of the Gulf of California, the Gran Desierto is one of the hottest and driest places in the Western Hemisphere. Yet this region in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico embraces a remarkable number of habitats with a fascinating and surprisingly rich flora. This is the heart of the Sonoran Desert, still in a largely primordial state, in juxtaposition with the ravished wetlands of the once great Río Colorado. Flora of the Gran Desierto is the culmination of more than twenty-five years of research in this magnificent desert and delta by botanist Richard Felger. This comprehensive floristic study of more than 565 species of vascular plants features original diagnostic descriptions and innovative identification keys to the families, genera, and species. Particular attention has been devoted to taxa that are poorly known. Even weeds and their histories are treated in detail. Hundreds of illustrations by such eminent botanical artists as Lucretia Brezeale Hamilton, Matt Johnson, and Bobbi Angell will aid in the identification of plants.

Common names of plants are given in English, Spanish, and O'odham. While emphasizing scientific accuracy, the book is written in an accessible style. Felger's observations and knowledge of plant ecology, geographic distribution, evolution, ethnobotany, plant variation and special adaptations, and the history of the region provides botanists, naturalists, ecologists, conservationists, and anyone else celebrating the desert with readable, interesting, and important information. With two of Mexico's newest biosphere reserves—the Pinacate and the Upper Gulf of California—this region is a keystone for desert conservation efforts. Its location linking vast preserves to the north makes this book especially useful for anyone interested in borderland studies and the Sonoran Desert. Flora of the Gran Desierto represents a most creative, definitive, and enthusiastic treatment of Sonoran Desert plant life and is highly relevant to ecological restoration in deserts and wetlands in arid places worldwide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780816520442
Publisher:	University of Arizona Press
Publication date:	01/01/2001
Series:	Southwest Center Series
Pages:	673
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 1.90(d)

About the Author

Richard S. Felgerhas studied natural history in arid regions worldwide and is the founder and Executive Director of Drylands Institute in Tucson.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	ix
	Abbreviations	xi
Part I.	The Environment and Human Interactions	3
	Paleoclimate	3
	Present Climate	6
	Major Habitats	8
	Sonoyta Region	9
	Pinacate Volcanic Field	9
	Peripheral Lava Flows	12
	The Craters	13
	Higher Elevations of the Sierra Pinacate	15
	Granitic Ranges	17
	Sierra Del Rosario	17
	Dunes	19
	Desert Plains or Flats	21
	Coastal Habitats	22
	Wetland Habitats	23
	Tidal Wetlands	23
	Oases	24
	Rivers	26
	Xeroriparian Habitats	29
	History and Human Influences	29
	Conservation	31
	Agriculture and Horticulture	32
	Non-Native Plants	33
	Growth Forms	34
	Botanical History	37
Part II.	The Flora	39
	Key to the Major Plant Groups	40
	Pteridophytes: Ferns and Fern Allies	42
	Gymnosperms: Cone-Bearing Plants	49
	Angiosperms--Flowering Plants: Dicotyledons	51
	Angiosperms--Flowering Plants: Monocotyledons	469
	Gazetteer	565
	Appendixes
A.	Growth Forms and Distribution of Plants in Northwestern Sonora	577
B.	Distribution of Plants in Sykes Crater	595
C.	Commonly Cultivated Trees and Shrubs in Northwestern Sonora	599
D.	Non-Native Plants in Northwestern Sonora	603
E.	Systematic Arrangement and Relative Abundance of the Grasses in Northwestern Sonora	607
F.	Geographic Distributions of Grasses in Northwestern Sonora	611
	Literature Cited	615
	Index	651
	Tables
Table 1.	Summary of Weather Data for Northwestern Sonora	7
Table 2.	Summary of the Major Plant Groups Northwestern Sonora	41

Editorial Reviews

"While emphasizing scientific accuracy, the book is beautifully designed with more than 400 illustrations, and written in a clear and accessible style. Felger's observations and knowledge of plant ecology, geographic distribution, evolution, ethnobotany, plant variation and special adaptations, and history of the region will provide botanists, natural historians, ecologists, conservationists and anyone celebrating the desert, with readable, interesting, and important information." —Desert Plants

"For biologists and conservationists with an interest in American desert floras or simply in the flora of western North America, this book is a must-have." —SIDA

"For those who want to use the book as a botanical reference, it is unbeatable and will, I think, remain the classic for many years to come. . . . Through this excellent book, we can learn more about the ways plants adapt to a harsh environment." —Journal of Arizona History

"The reader should not be misled by the seemingly narrow geographical boundaries. The book not only provides carefully researched plant descriptions, but offers insights and a rich discussion of processes that occur in arid lands around the world. In addition to the taxonomic information, a rich trove of ecological and historical data is packed into each of the plant descriptions." —Plant Systematics and Evolution

From the Publisher

From the lava fields and expansive dunes to the coast of the Sea of Cortez, the Grand Desierto of Northern Mexico is one of the hottest and driest places in the Western Hemisphere. Surprisingly, it is also host to an astounding array of plants, of which more than 565 have been gathered and described in this text. Hundreds of illustrations aid in the identification of various species, and while scientific accuracy was tantamount in the writing, all attempts have been made to make this book accessible for not only botanists and ecologists, but for anybody with a strong biological interest in the region. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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