Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest, in five parts, offers the
first complete guide, with keys, to the ferns, fern-related, and
seed-bearing plants of Washington, northern Oregon, Idaho north of the
Snake River plains, the mountainous western part of Montana, and
southern British Columbia. Each volume gives complete regional synonymy,
type collections, geographic ranges, "genuine" common names, and
chromosome numbers for each species, as well as economic importance and
horticultural features.
Part 2 covers the Salicaceae through the Crassulaceae. Each species is
illustrated by one to several detailed drawings at considerable
magnification of such structures as the flower, fruit, and seed, as well
as a habit sketch, mostly at one-half natural size. Two keys to the
families of Dicotyledonae covered by Parts 2 to 5 are included. In the
first, the families are initially separated into orders, largely on the
basis of floral morphology, then keyed apart. The second key, which is
completely artificial, utilizes such peculiarities of the various taxa
as habitat, habit, duration, and foliage, as well as floral morphology.
As in Parts 3 and 4, notes on the ornamental value of the trees, shrubs,
and many herbs, were written in collaboration with Brian O. Mulligan,
director of the University of Washington Arboretum, and Carl S. English,
well-known botanist and horticulturalist.
Illustrated by Jeanne R. Janish.