Baja California Plant Field Guide
...an excellent book with information on ecology, florists, phyto-geography, plant communities, updating taxonomic and representative species of vegetation of the peninsula of Baja California. Jon Rebman, in my opinion is one of the best botanists and taxonomists of USA, he know very well the flora of southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico. His knowledge and passion for plants of Baja California, specially the cactus's family, is internationally recognized. Norman Roberts, would be satisfied with the excellent quality of information in this third edition. --Jose' Delgadillo-Rodriquez, Botanist UABCThis book of the unique plants of the Baja California Peninsula is the finest field guide I have had the privilege to use. It is extremely user-friendly, without even a tinge of dumb-down pandering. In fact,the book is much more than a field guide. I highly recommend it even if you never have the chance to witness the botanical treasures of the two Mexican states of this 1300 km-long peninsula. The highly informative 45-page introduction includes contributions of noted scientists, all writing in an accurate and accessible manner linked to informative color illustrations. More than 715 different plants in 111 plant families are described. Common names, when available, are provided in Spanish and English. The arrangement is alphabetical by family, genus, and species. You will find up-to-date taxonomy and family assignments, and most intriguing is author Jon Rebman giving us insider taxonomic information often alluding to potential alternative classifications and reasons behind such opinions. The text is not dull. The book finishes with a fine glossary, largely illustrated, a significant list of references, and a thorough index. The color photos are of exceptional quality, illustrating significant features of the entire spectrum of the flora in fact, overall this is certainly one of the finest-illustrated regional plant books. Thequality and quantity of color illustrations at so reasonable aprice ($35) is commendable. It is worth noting that photos in the book are also available on the San Diego Natural History Museum s bajaflora.org website of about 23,000 photos of plants and landscapes of the Baja California Peninsula. You don t have to go Baja California Peninsula to enjoy this book. Many of the families, genera, and some of the species also occur in New Mexico and southern Arizona. Justlook at the information woven into the text linked to the illustrations and you will be rewarded. What plant lover can turn down a chance to learn more about a land and its flora, ranging from mountaintop conifers and aspen to deserts with spectacular cacti, boojum trees those bizarre relatives of our native ocotillo and tropical denizens such as native figs and mangroves. I can t imagine a Southwestern nativeplant person being without this book. We have waited a long time for this extensive revision of a botanical classic and the wait is worthwhile. It is gratifying to see the pioneering perseverance of Norman C. Roberts honored in such a splendid manner. --Richard Felger, Native Plant Society of New Mexico - Gila Chapter