Wildflowers of the Northern and Central Mountains of New Mexico
Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia, and Manzano
by Larry J. Littlefield and Pearl M. Burns
Published by: University of New Mexico Press
This unique reference work describes over 350 wildflowers and flowering shrubs that grow in New Mexico's Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia, and Manzano Mountains, as well as neighboring ranges, including the Manzanita, San Pedro, Ortiz, and other lower-elevation mountains in central portions of the state. With more than a thousand color photographs accompanied by visual descriptions, the easy-to-use guide organizes plants first by flower color, then alphabetically by family common name, then by scientific name. The authors also include information on traditional uses of the plants by indigenous peoples and an extensive glossary and bibliography. A brief geological history and description of the ranges examines the different life zones and ecosystems and how these relate to elevation and microclimates. Wildflower enthusiasts and hikers will welcome this useful book.
Larry J. Littlefield is a professor emeritus of plant pathology at Oklahoma State University. He has been a volunteer with the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center and the trails maintenance crew for the U.S. Forest Service since retiring in Albuquerque in 2005.
Pearl M. Burns, coauthor of the "Wildflowers" chapter of Field Guide to the Sandia Mountains (UNM Press), is a member of the Friends of the Sandia Mountains and a leader of countless wildflower hikes for the U.S. Forest Service, Albuquerque Open Space program, and other organizations.
"Hikers, amateur botanists, or anyone interested in identifying wildflowers in their native habitats in the northern and central mountains of New Mexico will find this book useful."--American Reference Books Annual
"Beautifully illustrated. . . . For anyone who thinks that New Mexico is mostly barren desert, this book will be quite a surprise."--Wildlife Activist
"An exceptional volume, Wildflowers of the Northern and Central Mountains of New Mexico could well serve as a template for similar studies of wildflowers in other parts of the country."--Midwest Book Review
"An abundantly visual guide."--New Mexico Magazine
"An experienced plant scientist and an avid hiker known for her vast knowledge of New Mexico wildflowers have produced this authoritative and beautiful guide to the flora of the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia, Manzano, and other mountains of northern and central New Mexico. If the plants could speak, they would say, 'This is how we want you to know us.' A must-have for all who truly love the mountains."--Robert Julyan, author of The Mountains of New Mexico