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    Wildflowers and Plant Communities of the Southern Appalachian Mountains and Piedmont: A Naturalist's Guide to the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia

    by Timothy P. Spira

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    Paperback

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    $27.00
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    Timothy P. Spira is professor of biology at Clemson University.

    Table of Contents

    Region Covered ix

    Acknowledgments xi

    Part I Introduction 1

    1 How to Use This Field Guide 5

    2 The Mountains 8

    3 The Piedmont 15

    4 Understanding Natural Communities 19

    Part II Photo Key 29

    1 The Mountains 31

    Spruce-Fir Forest 31

    Grassy Bald 34

    Heath Bald 36

    High-Elevation Rock Outcrop 39

    High-Elevation Red Oak Forest 42

    Northern Hardwood Forest 46

    Rich Cove Forest 50

    Acidic Cove Forest 54

    Spray Cliff 57

    Rocky Streamside 59

    Mountain Bog 62

    Chestnut Oak Forest 66

    Pine-Oak-Heath 69

    Forest Edge 72

    2 The Piedmont 77

    River Bluff Forest 77

    Alluvial Forest 80

    Basic Mesic Forest 84

    Oak-Hickory Forest 88

    Xeric Hardpan Forest 92

    Granite Outcrop 95

    Roadside and Field 99

    Part III Plant Community Profiles 103

    1 The Mountains 105

    High-Elevation Communities 105

    Spruce-Fir Forest 105

    Grassy Bald 110

    Heath Bald 115

    High-Elevation Rock Outcrop 119

    High-Elevation Red Oak Forest 124

    Northern Hardwood Forest 129

    Low-Elevation Moist to Wet Communities 135

    Rich Cove Forest 135

    Acidic Cove Forest 141

    Spray Cliff 147

    Rocky Streamside 151

    Mountain Bog 156

    Low-Elevation Dry Communities 163

    Chestnut Oak Forest 163

    Pine-Oak-Heath 168

    Forest Edge 173

    2 The Piedmont 179

    Moist to Wet Communities 179

    River Bluff Forest 179

    Alluvial Forest 184

    Basic Mesic Forest 190

    Dry Communities 195

    Oak-Hickory Forest 195

    Xeric Hardpan Forest 200

    Granite Outcrop 205

    Roadside and Field 211

    Part IV Species Profiles 217

    1 Trees 219

    2 Shrubs and Woody Vines 269

    3 Herbaceous Plants 325

    Glossary of Botanical Terms 471

    Selected Natural Areas 476

    Suggested Reading 495

    Websites 498

    Index of Scientific Plant Names 499

    Index of Common Plant Names 509

    What People are Saying About This

    From the Publisher

    Full of gorgeous photography, this in-depth guide to plant communities and plant identification will be of immense interest to field naturalists as well as birders, wildflower enthusiasts, hikers, nature lovers, and photographers.—Peter White, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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    This richly illustrated field guide serves as an introduction to the wildflowers and plant communities of the southern Appalachians and the rolling hills of the adjoining piedmont. Rather than organizing plants, including trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, by flower color or family characteristics, as is done in most guidebooks, botanist Tim Spira takes a holistic, ecological approach that enables the reader to identify and learn about plants in their natural communities. This approach, says Spira, better reflects the natural world, as plants, like other organisms, don't live in isolation; they coexist and interact in myriad ways.

    Full-color photo keys allow the reader to rapidly preview plants found within each of the 21 major plant communities described, and the illustrated species description for each of the 340 featured plants includes fascinating information about the ecology and natural history of each plant in its larger environment. With this new format, readers can see how the mountain and piedmont landscapes form a mosaic of plant communities that harbor particular groups of plants. The volume also includes a glossary, illustrations of plant structures, and descriptions of sites to visit. Whether you're a beginning naturalist or an expert botanist, this guidebook is a useful companion on field excursions and wildflower walks, as well as a valuable reference.

    Southern Gateways Guide is a registered trademark of the University of North Carolina Press

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    From the Publisher
    His book differs from others because it is organized by plant communities. . . . Spira makes it easier to understand the relationship between plant species and their particular physical environment. . . . This book certainly piqued my curiosity and has found a home on my book shelf.—And Sow Forth
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