The Longleaf Leader - Winter 2021

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ARTS & LITERATURE

LONGLEAFLITERATURE

on the plants’ role in wildlife sustenance. Of note: Filled with colorful photos and the practical importance of the plants.

The extraordinary diversity of longleaf ecosystems comes from the abundant plant life found in the understory, which in turn supports a diverse wildlife community. While many of us celebrate this diversity, we might not always know what we are seeing. To assist with your botanical observations, we have compiled our favorite plant identification guides, focusing on herbaceous plants. Of course, these guides are not a substitute for detailed taxonomic plant keys but are valuable, often visual, resources for common species. For those seeking a comprehensive flora, Alan Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern United States (2020) is available online from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Herbarium (ncbg.unc.edu/research/unc-herbarium/floras). You can even request regional and state compilations.

East Gulf Coastal Plain Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Wildflowers of the East Gulf Coastal Plain, Including Southwest Georgia, Northwest Florida, Southern Alabama, Southern Mississippi, and parts of Southeastern Louisiana by Gil Nelson; A Falcon Guide; The Globe Pequot Press 1st edition (2005) Uses vivid color photos and text featuring detailed descriptions and arranged-by-color photos of more than 300 plants, plus an introduction to the area's habitats and ecology, glossary of botanical terms, a primer on plant characteristics, with a water-resistant cover and extra durable binding. Of note: Descriptions accompanied by a "Comments" section giving lore about the plant, its uses, or its name.

Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses by James H. Miller & Karl V. Miller; University of Georgia Press; Revised ed. edition (2005) This guide to common and unique plants found in forests of the Southeast thoroughly covers 330 species of forbs (herbaceous plants), grasses, vines, and shrubs, with a special emphasis [ 42 ]


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