Bibliography - Page Two
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Many alpine plants contain anythocyanin, a chemical that converts sunlight into heat. Plant hairs provide a furry coat that reduces the loss of heat and moisture. These hairs also protect plants from the instense ultraviolet radiation that is twice what it is at sea level.
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Lichen help erode rock. They are multicolored miniature plants that produce weak acids that gradually dissolve the cement that binds minerals together. Some species of lichen live for thousands of years.
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Hummingbirds are great pollinators of wildflowers. Like bees, hummingbirds carry pollen from one plant to another. Each bird visits between one and two thousand blossoms each day! Hummingbirds sometimes enter a state of torpor, usually during the night when they are not feeding. In torpor, metabolism slows down saving up to 60 percent of the bird’s available energy. They use spiderwebs to bolster their nests, which are the size of a walnut shell. Hummingbird eggs are the size of a Tic-tac breath mint. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wildflowers on the tundra often grow small. At ground level, plants are protected from the harsh elements of the tundra. Winds may be thirty miles an hour at eye level but only three miles an hour at your feet. ALSO.....
Plants on the tundra may receive as little as two inches of moisture a year. While some cushion and mat types of plants may be only one or two inches high, their moisture seeking roots grow four to five feet under the rocky ground. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By expert estimates, there are over 20,000 species of flowering plants in North America, belonging to about 300 different families. Those that grow in the wild or on their own, without cultivation, are called WILDFLOWERS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Genus Grindelia in the family Asteraceae by Dr. Mary L. Dubler, equine verterinarian, Fort Collins Colorado. "It is not too common that horses get into trouble with eating toxic plants, but in certain areas of the western states Gumweed is a concern because it accumulates the heavy metal Selenium from high-Selenium soils. Selenium consumed in larger-than-normal quantities causes a weakening of the structure of hair and hoof, so the horses start getting cracks and grooves in their hooves and the hairs of the mane and tail break. It can cause other problems too, but often the first thing the owners notice is problems with the hooves or they think the tail hairs are falling out when what is actually happening is that they are breaking. Other plants are Selenium accumulators too, but horses seem to particularly like eating Gumweed, especially late in the summer when the pasture grasses are waning." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
by Janet L. Wingate, Ph.D. See the first book in this bibliography. THIS book was the starter book on Keys by Janet Wingate, with all the illustrations by her as well. This publication covers 'herbacious wildflowers of six U.S. Rocky Mountain states, including the foothill, montane and subalpine zones.' As is the case with Alpine Flower Finder, this book is portable and meant to go with you in the field! Copyright 1990.
by Ronald J. Taylor
Our first book covering this habitat specifically with an excellent representation of species. The plants are presented by family. Good photographs with both technical descriptions of plants and interesting factual information makes this a well rounded book on wildflowers. Also included are the zones of the area and a number of animals and insects co-habitating with the plants.
Southern Rocky Mountain Wildflowers text by Leigh Robertson most photography by Duane B. Squires
Per cover: A field guide to wildflowers in the Southern Rocky Mountains, including Rocky Mountain National Park. Good photography and comments. If we find a wildflower we don't know, we look here first.
Washington's Best Wildflower Hikes by Charles Gurche
Hiking and wildflowers; a natural pairing that is marvelously encapsulated in this book. Five Washington state areas, wildflower profiles, maps, and great photography make up the fine offerings you will find in the book. We have done a number of the hikes based on the authors recommendations and have never been disappointed. Copyright 2004.
Wayside Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest by Dr. Dee Strickler
Another fine book by the prolific Dr. Dee Strickler. His work includes almost 400 species of wildlfowers. The focus is on those common plants growing along roads and highways, trails, and byways. The photography in this book is well done, with leaves and plant structure often captured in the shots along with the plant's flower(s).
Western Region Field Guide to Wildflowers National Audubon Society, by Richard Spellenburg
This classic is a must have for a well rounded collection on wildflower identification. Although the information is great, I do however, find the organization of the book a bit of a pain. Photographs and informational text on the given subjects are located in differing sections of the book. Pain or not, we have used this book a good deal in our research.
Wild at Heart, a Natural History Guide
Per cover: Dedicated to Snowmass, Aspen, and Maroon Bells Wilderness. Hands down the best wildflower book I have used in my studies of wildflowers. The book is a treasure trove, not only of technical information, but interesting facts, medical uses of plants, and historical lore. A true joy and love of nature comes through in Ms. Huggins sharing of her knowledge through her book. The wildflowers are presented by family, with a photo index of the flowers to assist in their location in the book when family or name is not known. A wonderful must have text!!!
This is a yes vote! When we have collected a new digital wildflower specimen during a hike in the Mt. Rainier area we look here first to learn about the plant. The layout of the book is very good - by zones - and it is a portable little book as well. There is a pictorial index of the flowers at the front of the book that is very useful.
Wildflowers of the Olympics and Cascades by Charles Stewart
I found this book in a second hand bookstore on the Oregon Coast. Yup, I am a collector at heart I guess! Well presented with good photographs, I found a couple of flowers ignored in other more recent books!
Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest by Mark Turner & Phyllis Gustafson
This book has a great deal to offer. Excellent technical information on the plants, a regional map for each and every plant, and a great introductory section. We use this book ALOT. Some of the photographs could be better but overall this is a wonderful resource for wildflower identification.
An interesting work comprised of 186 species. The plants are presented by family and genus in a great layout. The excellent photographs of the species are given their own pages with text about the plants adjacent. The larger pictures of the plants greatly aid in appreciating their beauty. Always interesting to us are the Native American uses of plants which are shared generously in this book. Good going!
Wildflower Trails of the Pacific Northwest by Art Chipman
by Terry Domico
Mark has owned this book for years and I only recently found it. The reality survivor shows can use some tips from this book! Some interesting wildflowers are in here...Clover (not too surprising), Tiger Lily, and Cattails. Mmmm! Copyright 1979.
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Wildflowers West ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In early 2008 we moved to Colorado. They say that when God takes a vacation, he goes to the Colorado wilderness. We are exploring our hearts out to determine the truth of this! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nature shows us only surfaces, but she is a million fathoms deep. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wildflower Zones 3500 - 6000' Plains 6000 - 8000' Foothills 8,000 - 10,000' Montane 10,000 - 11,500' Subalpine 11,000' - up Alpine (varies) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. ~John Muir~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth, find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. ~Rachel Carson~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Man, being the servant and interpreter of nature, can do and understand so much and so much only as he has observed in fact or in thought of the course of nature: beyond this he neither knows anything nor can do anything. ~Sir Francis Bacon~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If I were to name the three most precious resources of life, I should say books, friends, and nature; and the greatest of these, at least the most constant and always at hand, is nature. ~John Burroughs~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He who is born with a silver spoon in his mouth is generally ~Celia Thaxter~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.. ~Walt Whitman~
Come forth into the Light of things, Let Nature be your teacher. ~William Wordsworth~
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. ~John Muir~ |
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This is a complete representation of the bibliography for Wildflowers West, in alphabetical order. New material will be added as aquired.This page uses the FinderFox widget. (Firefox browsers only)
D. Dixon
Updated 10.11.9 Back to top Site Map Back to Page One
