Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia

Alice Kidd is an editor with The New Catalyst editorial collective in
Lillooet, B.C.

Southern Interior British Columbia is bounded by the crest of the Coast
and Cascade mountains on the west and the crest of the Rockies on the
east. Climate is largely determined by latitude, altitude, distance from
the Pacific Ocean, and the orientation of mountains to the prevailing
westerlies. Comprising both very dry and very wet areas, the region
includes five broad vegetation zones: coast/interior transition, dry
southern interior plateaus, arid basins, wet Columbia Mountains, and
East Kootenays.

In this third volume in Lone Pine series of regional guides to B.C.’s
flora, species are grouped into seven categories (e.g., trees, wild
flowers, and grass-like plants) and organized by family. Each entry
includes a general description, the key vegetative features, the ecology
of the species, and additional notes. Most entries are illustrated, and
32 keys are provided as an aid to identification. The guide describes
common native plants as well as introduced species that have become
naturalized.

The color-coded pages are filled with color pictures, drawings, and
maps. The typical introduction describes the five vegetation zones and
typical habitats. There is a section on Native plant use, a glossary
complete with drawings, a reference list, and an index of common and
scientific names. Highly recommended.