An independent publisher of web and print media. Printed ♻️ in the 🇺🇸.

Back Country Press logo

Cart

  • Classes
    • Arborist CEUs
  • Products
    • Books
    • Gift Card
    • Book Resources
    • Sale Items
    • Posters
    • ID Guides
    • Free Downloads
    • Hats
  • Authors
  • News
    • Podcast
  • About
    • Calendar
    • Vendor Sales
    • Newsletter
    • Scholarships
    • Find Our Books
  • My account
    • Orders
    • Downloads
    • Checkout
    • Lost Password
    • Login
California Desert Plants paperback
California Desert Plants paperback - Image 2
California Desert Plants paperback - Image 3
California Desert Plants paperback - Image 4
California Desert Plants paperback - Image 5
California Desert Plants paperback - Image 6
California Desert Plants paperback - Image 7
California Desert Plants paperback - Image 8
California Desert Plants paperback - Image 9

California Desert Plants paperback

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 3 customer ratings
(3 customer reviews)

$34.95

“Those mesmerized by California’s desert biomes will fall happily and deeply into California Desert Plants. An instantly indispensable field guide, this book reveals not only the photosynthesizers but the geology, hydrology, and atmospheric spheres that help co-create the landscape. This is a trip through beauty and time.”
– Mary Ellen Hannibal, author of Citizen Scientist: Searching for Heroes and Hope in an Age of Extinction

Can we add a message on a notecard?

Category: Paperback Tags: Botany, California, Desert
  • Description
  • Additional information
  • Reviews (3)

Description

About California Desert Plants

The desert areas of California include the northwestern portion of the Sonoran Desert, the largest part of the Mojave Desert, and the western margin of the Great Basin. A key ecological feature of the remarkable California desert region is winter-rainfall coupled with dry summers. This rainfall regime, a gradient of temperatures from low- to high-elevations, and a complex array of geologic substrates has produced highly specialized habitats for plant survival. California Desert Plants explores these vast and intimate desert landscapes through their diverse, colorful, and dynamic flora.

The book includes:

  • Over 400 color photographs of plants and landscapes
  • Descriptions and photos of dominant plant species
  • Overview of plant adaptations to desert environments
  • Discussion of major desert habitats

Table of contents:

  • Chapter 1 – Desert Environments
  • Chapter 2 – California Deserts
  • Chapter 3 – Ecological Strategies of Desert Plants
  • Chapter 4 – Creosote Bush Scrub and Joshua Tree Woodlands
  • Chapter 5 – Cactus and Succulent Scrub
  • Chapter 6 – Wash Woodlands and Arroyos
  • Chapter 7 – Desert Wetlands: Palm Oases, Riparian Woodlands, and Marshes
  • Chapter 8 – Saline Habitats: Playas, Saltbush Scrub, and Alkali Sinks
  • Chapter 9 – Sand Dunes
  • Chapter 10 – The Flowering Desert
  • Chapter 11 – Great Basin Shrublands and Woodlands
  • Chapter 12 – Conserving the California Desert

Authors: Michael Kauffmann, Philip W. Rundel and Robert J. Gustafson

With photos by:
Matt Berger (@sheriff_woody_pct), Robert Gustafson, Stan Shebs, Jim Morefield, Michael Kauffmann, Julie Evens, Morgan Stickrod, Joey Santore, Dylan Neubauer, Robert Childs, Mark Bailey, Kjirsten Wayman, James Andre, Naomi Fraga, Moe Donnelly, Jim Bartel, Mike Splain, Ryan Henson, Chris Clarke, Jon Rebman, Tim Messick, Duncan Bell, Jesse Miller, David Greenberger, Karen Orso, Scott Harding, Allison Poklemba, and Phil Rundel.

BOOK REVIEWS

“Another gem from Backcountry Press. Those mesmerized by California’s desert biomes will fall happily and deeply into California Desert Plants. An instantly indispensable field guide, this book reveals not only the photosynthesizers but the geology, hydrology, and atmospheric spheres that help co-create the landscape. This is a trip through beauty and time.”
– Mary Ellen Hannibal, author of Citizen Scientist:  Searching for Heroes and Hope in an Age of Extinction.

“I am marveling at California Desert Plants! This book is packed with incredible information and beautiful images—from the ecosystem level to individual species. It will be cherished and enjoyed by both the seasoned ecologist and the budding botanist. A must have for any desert lover.”
– Naomi Fraga, Director of Conservation Programs, CA Botanic Garden

“Finally a book that summarizes all the botanical natural history of the deserts of California by combining ecology, taxonomy, and identification. Read it as you wander through California’s deserts and these places will never appear the same again.”
– Jenn Yost, Botany Professor, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

“California Desert Plants, Ecology and Diversity is a rich, nuanced, and accessible exploration plant relationships and adaptations. This book gives the context in which plants make sense, and helps us to see relationships between species, across families, and in response to place. The text is clear and filled with fascinating information put in a context that helps you understand desert systems. Thoughtful illustrations, photographs, diagrams and maps clearly support and enhance the lessons. This book will help you build a deeper sense of place and an understanding and appreciation that promotes stewardship and care for desert landscapes.
– John Muir Laws, nature journaling innovator and author of The Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada

Learn more about the book.

Additional information

Weight 14 oz
Dimensions 11 × 8.5 × .1 in

3 reviews for California Desert Plants paperback

  1. Rated 5 out of 5

    craig a barfoot (verified owner) – November 14, 2022

    A wonderful field guide, and this coming from a someone who has a cabinet full. I’m unfamiliar with the region and the flora, but this will help me prepare for a visit, one that I look forward to.

  2. Rated 5 out of 5

    paul norwood (verified owner) – February 26, 2023

    Innovative approach that clusters the plants both by habitat and families. This feels very up to date, with some plants being re-assigned to families that I wasn’t aware of. I was surprised to find out that the book is actually readable, not a regular field guide.

  3. Rated 5 out of 5

    Dayne (verified owner) – March 13, 2023

    I bought this book on sale and on a whim, as I do not live close to most of the desert landscapes depicted within. Within Hours of opening the package and reading the book, someone noticed and invited me for a week in the Mojave/Sonoran. As with all my experiences with the material produced by Backcountry Press, I am excited to experience these landscapes with the assistance of their qualified expertise. I could not possibly be a happier customer—thanks!

Add a review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may also like…

  • California Desert Plants paperback and eBook

    California Desert Plants paperback and eBook

    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $44.95
    Add to cart

Related products

  • Vascular Plants of Northwestern California

    The Vascular Plants of Northwestern California (eBook + paperback)

    $30.00
    Add to cart
  • Conifer Country (2nd Edition)

    Conifer Country (2nd Edition)

    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $29.95
    Add to cart
  • Conservation of California’s Great Valley Vernal Pool Landscapes

    Conservation of California’s Great Valley Vernal Pool Landscapes (Book)

    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $20.00
    Add to cart
  • Field Guide to Manzanitas

    Field Guide to Manzanitas

    Rated 4.80 out of 5
    $27.95
    Add to cart

Events

Join Our Newsletter, get 10% off

* indicates required

Our most recent Podcast

Trivia Challenge: Wildflowers of the Klamath Mountains

https://backcountrypress.com/podcast-player/21109/trivia-challenge-wildflowers-of-the-klamath-mountains.mp3

Download file | Play in new window | Duration: 19:11 | Recorded on July 8, 2022

Product tags

Botany California Cascadia Conifers Desert ecology ectotherms explorations field guide Fire Fire Ecology Forest pathogens Fungi Geology Hiking Hiking Guide Humboldt County Identification Card Invertebates Klamath Mountains Klamath Mountians Lassen Volcanic National Park Literature Mammals mushrooms Natural History Oregon Pacific Crest Trail pathogens Pines Plant Exploring Plants redwood forest Rivers road guide sea vegetables Seaweed Trees Trinity Alps Vernal Pools Washington wildflowers

RSS Follow Backcountry Press updates

  • Second Edition of Hiking Humboldt Volume 2 by Rees Hughes Now Available!
  • Truffle Season in the Pacific Northwest

GIft Card from BCP

bookstore

Subscribe to the Backcountry Press Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 309 other subscribers

FREE shipping on orders of $75 or more. Dismiss