The Rocky Mountain Plant Guide - by George Oxford Miller (Paperback)

About the Book

"The Rocky Mountains are not one continuous, homogenous range formed at the same time by the same processes. The more than 100 separate ranges can be divided into the Northern and Canadian Rockies, Middle Rockies, and Southern Rockies separated by plateaus and basins. Each region has its own distinct topography, geology, and ecosystems. Within each region, altitude, precipitation, and exposure create broad, well-defined life or bio zones with numerous unique habitats and vegetative associations, or communities, of plants. In this book, wildflowers and shrubs are lumped together, with trees in a separate section. Herbaceous perennial wildflowers freeze down to the roots ever winter and sprout in the spring. Annuals die in the fall and depend on seeds to germinate in the spring. Shrubs have woody stems and branches and reach 3-10 feet tall (1-3 m), sometimes developing into small trees. Trees usually have a single trunk and are greater than 15 feet tall (4.5 m). Herbaceous trees and shrubs lose their leaves in the autumn (aspen, cottonwoods) while evergreen species retain their leaves (pine, spruces, and firs)"--

Book Synopsis

Get to know the region's wildflowers, shrubs, and trees with this comprehensive field guide, organized by color for ease of use.

The majestic Rocky Mountains provide a diverse landscape of life zones, habitats, and micro-niches, each packed with the wonders of nature. Plant life--from towering forests to dazzling mountain meadows--are beautiful to behold. Learn to identify wildflowers, shrubs, and trees with The Rocky Mountain Plant Guide by George Oxford Miller.

Make field identification simple and informative. This comprehensive guide features 700 species of plants, organized by color and then by family for ease of use--with a separate section for trees. Detailed photographs present the plants as you'll see them in nature, and a "similar species" feature helps you to decide between look-alikes.

Inside you'll find:

• 700 species: Only Rocky Mountain wildflowers, shrubs, and trees


• Simple color guide: See a yellow plant? Go to the yellow section


• Quick ID: At-a-glance tips for identifying each species


• Professional photos: Larger and easier to see than in other guides

The information is applicable to Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, as well as northern Washington, and Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. So grab The Rocky Mountain Plant Guide for your next outdoors adventure--to help ensure that you positively identify the plants that you see.

About the Author

George Oxford Miller is a botanist, an environmental photojournalist, and a past president and lifetime member of the Albuquerque Chapter of the Native Plant Society of New Mexico. After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin with a master's degree in botany and zoology, George pursued a career as an environmental journalist specializing in nature recreation and travel, in addition to environmental issues.

He is a frequent contributor to New Mexico Magazine and has written 25 nature guides, including Wildflowers of Colorado and Southern Wyoming and Backyard Science & Discovery Workbook: Rocky Mountains. He is also the author of Native Plant Gardening for Birds, Bees, and Butterflies for the Southwest, Southern California, and Northern California, as well as A Guide to Wildflowers, Trees, and Shrubs of Texas.