Botanical Resources
Flora Neomexicana Series 3rd Edition
by Kelly W. Allred, Gene Jercinovic and Robert DeWitt Ivey
This flora is our main resource here in New Mexico. While there are a few books in the series, the two main resources are the illustrated guides broken up into two volumes. Identification keys are provided for the 4184 taxa (3817 species) of vascular plants found in New Mexico. About one-half of the species are illustrated. Habitat, distribution, and ecological notes are provided. Print versions are available online. It is also available as a pdf you can download for free.
New Mexico Field Guides
Trees and Shrubs of New Mexico
by Jack L. Carter
Over 500 stunning full-color photographs not only aid in identification but demonstrate the beauty of the native flora. Over 450 finely detailed illustrations highlight the important characteristics of each species. This edition describes 496 species (21 more than previous edition) including common cultivated and introduced species. Colorful county maps show each species' distribution in New Mexico. Updated nomenclature and taxonomic information help with identification. Biographical sketches of noted botanists provide historical context. Landscaping tips for using native species help gardeners understand what plants are appropriate for the New Mexico climate.
A Field Guide to the Plants and Animals of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque
By Jean-Luc, E. Cartron, Timothy K. Lowrey, Jane E. Mygatt, Sandra L. Brantley, David Lightfoot
Local field guide with contributions from much of the Museum of Southwestern Biology. This guide contains more than seven hundred plants and animals illustrated with color photographs, this authoritative guide is the first of its kind for the Middle Rio Grande Bosque and is an invaluable resource for land managers, teachers, students, eco-buffs, and nature enthusiasts. It also reveals the important role the bosque plays in New Mexico's natural heritage.
By Larry J. Littlefield & Pearl M. Brown
This unique reference work describes over 350 wildflowers and flowering shrubs that grow in New Mexico's Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia, and Manzano Mountains, as well as neighboring ranges, including the Manzanita, San Pedro, Ortiz, and other lower-elevation mountains in central portions of the state. With more than a thousand color photographs accompanied by visual descriptions, the easy-to-use guide organizes plants first by flower color, then alphabetically by family common name, then by scientific name. The authors also include information on traditional uses of the plants by indigenous peoples and an extensive glossary and bibliography. A brief geological history and description of the ranges examines the different life zones and ecosystems and how these relate to elevation and microclimates. Wildflower enthusiasts and hikers will welcome this useful book.
A Field Guide to the Grasses of New Mexico
A useful resource to wildflower and nature enthusiasts, students, ecologists, range managers, ranchers and farmers, and environmental scientists. This comprehensive guide describes over 460 different kinds of grasses growing in New Mexico, with nearly half of the species illustrated. Available for pdf download.