A deep dive into the Bay Area's ecological treasure trove--and how
this wild mountain in our midst was saved.
San Bruno Mountain, located in the center of the San Francisco Bay Area,
is a four-square mile global treasure--a natural preserve touted by
biologist E.O. Wilson as one of the world's rare biodiversity 'hot
spots'. Bathed in fog and wind and preserved from destruction by the
fierce work of local conservationists, this mountain offers visitors a
glimpse of what San Francisco looked like before colonization. Drawing
on years of visits, observations, and research to offer a comprehensive
flora of the San Bruno Mountains and its endangered species,
conservationists Doug Allshouse and David Nelson help us understand this
unique and precious place from the point of view of the plants in this
one-of-a-kind field guide. Detailing a total of 528 plant species (among
them 316 natives), the authors also delve into the history of this
living, changing habitat at the southern edge of San Francisco. The
birds, butterflies, reptiles, geology, climate, dynamic changes, and
political history of the preserve also feature in San Bruno Mountain.
Even locals who have enjoyed hiking and viewing the mountain for years
will be astonished at this book's revelations about the diversity and
importance of this wild place.
