The Compact Guide to Wildflowers of the Rockies

Leila I. Wallenius is a reference librarian at Laurentian University.

Bush has produced a beautiful, pocket-sized guide to 100 wildflowers of
the Rocky Mountains. Organization of the plants into four general
habitat categories (grasslands, beneath the trees, wetlands, and
mountain meadows and rock fields) will aid the user in identification.

The watercolor representations of the plants are well done. When
details need to be clarified, Bush provides a magnified illustration.
The descriptions accompanying the illustrations are there to inspire
interest in the plant’s ecology rather than to clarify its physical
characteristics.

In her introduction Bush notes that most people identify plants in the
field visually rather than through complex written description. This
book includes a key that is arranged as a series of tables based on
flower color. Within each table, plants are distinguished by leaf,
flower, and occasionally fruit characteristics. Once you have identified
a similar plant in the key you may refer to the index to locate the
illustration and description.

The interesting details accompanying the watercolor illustrations make
this an enjoyable guide for both the amateur and experienced naturalist.
Those familiar with the more detailed field-guide descriptions may find
this work wanting.