Baboquivari Mountain plants: Identification, ecology, and ethnobotany [Book Review]

Abstract

The Sky Islands of southern Arizona and northwestern Mexico make up a region that is rich, both biologically and culturally. These isolated mountain ranges, separated by desert "seas," contain a unique and diverse flora and have long been home to indigenous peoples of the southwestern US. This book, Baboquivari Mountain Plants: Identification, Ecology, and Ethnobotany, details the flora and ethnobotany of the westernmost of these mountain ranges. The mountains form the boundary between the Sonoran and Chihuahuan floristic regions, containing species from both provinces, along with elements from both the Petran and Madrean Montane Coniferous Forest provinces. The result is a very high diversity of plant species for the relatively small amount of land area. The mountains are sacred to the Tohono O'odham people, whose lands include all of the western slopes. The author has done extensive research, beginning with his own field surveys and later compiling information from numerous sources, both published and unpublished. The result is a beautiful volume containing a wealth of information on plants of the Baboquivari Mountains and their significance to native peoples.

Citation

Pendleton, Rosemary L. 2011. Baboquivari Mountain plants: Identification, ecology, and ethnobotany [Book Review]. Native Plants. 12(1): 75.