Wildflowers of Unalaska Island
218 pages, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2
215 color plates, 167 halftones, 1 map
Paperback
Release Date:15 Mar 2014
ISBN:9781602232204
Wildflowers of Unalaska Island
A Guide to the Flowering Plants of an Aleutian Island, Second Edition
University of Alaska Press
In the Aleutian Islands, wildflowers are king. Persistent low temperatures mean trees are unable to thrive, and so swaths of open tundra serve as the dramatic stage for a stunning variety of flowers. Wildflowers of Unalaska Island is the only guide to this flora, covering more than 160 species of flowering plants in a backpack-friendly book.
Each species is introduced and clearly defined and is accompanied by a photograph and line drawings. Many of these plants occur across a wide range of coastal Alaska; others are unique to the Aleutians. The introduction includes background on the unique geologic history, climate, and habitats of the archipelago to fully round out the user’s appreciation of the dramatic environment in which these hardy plants thrive.
Each species is introduced and clearly defined and is accompanied by a photograph and line drawings. Many of these plants occur across a wide range of coastal Alaska; others are unique to the Aleutians. The introduction includes background on the unique geologic history, climate, and habitats of the archipelago to fully round out the user’s appreciation of the dramatic environment in which these hardy plants thrive.
The Wildflowers of Unalaska Island will be a significant addition to the popular books available on Alaska flora. Ms. Golodoff obviously is quite knowledgeable about the plants on Unalaska Island, and her style of writing is engaging as well as scholarly. Her descriptive style really gave me a sense of place and an appreciation for the rugged terrain. . . . The illustrations are excellent! I also appreciate the mix of botanical descriptions, the ethnobotanical notes, and the Aleut names and literal translations. This combination adds a dimension that is rarely found in plant identification books.
Wildflower enthusiasts in Alaska and elsewhere will be the audience for this handsome and knowledgeable volume. The climate and geology of Unalaska Island, where Golodoff is a resident, are described in an introduction. Introductions also are provided for each family; a small sampel of the families described is sedge, lily, iris, orchid, willow, birch, primrose, heath, and madder. Each entry includes a color photo of excellent quality as well as one or more line drawings of the plant. The descriptions, some of which are quite lengthy, include information on where and when the plant can be found, and a summary of its range.
Accessible to lay readers and serious botanists alike, Wildflowers of Unalaska Island is an eye-opening glimpse into these hardy yet beautiful Alaskan flora.
Suzi Golodoff has been a resident of Unalaska Island for more than forty years. She teaches locally and offers Aleutian birding and natural history tours.
