Damian Fagan is a University of Washington graduate in botany who now lives in Oregon. His “Wildflowers of Oregon” introduces 400 of the most common wildflowers from across that state, arranged by colors. The majority of these are herbaceous plants, but trees and shrubs with prominent flowers are included. Most of these range northward into Washington and even British Columbia, making this a useful reference throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Comments with each flower typically include the source of the botanical name. For example, I learned that Tellima (as in Tellima grandiflora, or Fringecups) “is an anagram of Mitella, another genus in the Saxifrage Family.” Other notes discuss ethnobotanical uses, or hints on distinguishing between similar species.
I would recommend this book for the more casual observer. A glossary is provided, but the descriptions mostly use non-technical terms. The selected species are the most commonly seen and the single photograph along with the descriptive text will suffice in most cases for identification – there are no keys. The author co-dedicates the book to the memory of Art Kruckeberg.
Excerpted from the Summer 2019 Arboretum Bulletin.