Vascular Plants of Minnesota

A Checklist and Atlas

1992
Authors:

Gerald B. Ownbey and Thomas Morley

A definitive reference to the 2,010 vascular plant species (ferns, conifers, and flowering plants) currently found in Minnesota.

A definitive reference to the 2,010 vascular plant species (ferns, conifers, and flowering plants) currently found in Minnesota.

"This most useful publication represents the culmination of many years of study of the vascular plants of Minnesota-indeed the second author began the mapping project in 1962. The text following the introduction, which provides a most useful background is divided into two parts: Checklist and Atlas.

A definitive reference to the 2,010 vascular plant species (ferns, conifers, and flowering plants) currently found in Minnesota. The maps of he Atlas section show the geographic distribution of each plant, allowing the reader to visualize - for the first time - exactly where a species occurs in the state. Historical plant collections as well as records from detailed surveys conducted in the 1970s and 1980s by the Minnesota DNR, The Nature Conservancy, and individual researchers are included in this volume.

The flora of Minnesota is of special interest because it represents the western limits of the vast eastern deciduous forest flora, the northern and eastern boundaries of the flora of the prairies and great plains, and the southwestern limits of the northern coniferous forest. These three contrasting continental floras meet more sharply in Minnesota than in other regions.

The Checklist section provides both an authoritative summary of the nomenclature of Minnesota plants and extensive references to taxonomic literature. As such, it is the most complete list ever prepared for the entire state. Arranged alphabetically, group within group, the Checklist provides both Latin and common names for all species, subspecies, and varieties.

Gerald B. Ownbey is an emeritus professor in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. As the curator of the University Herbarium for more than thirty years, he developed its collection of almost 750,000 specimens to make it the largest in the Midwest. Professor Ownbey is the author of Common Wild Flowers of Minnesota (University of Minnesota Press, 1971).

Thomas Morley is also an emeritus professor in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. In addition to introducing hundreds of students to Minnesota flora in his popular course “Minnesota Plant Life,” he is widely recognized for his pioneering efforts to protect remnants of Minnesota’s native habitats. Professor Morley is the author of Spring Flora in Minnesota (University of Minnesota Press, 1966).

Gerald B. Ownbey is an emeritus professor in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. As the curator of the University Herbarium for more than thirty years, he developed its collection of almost 750,000 specimens to make it the largest in the Midwest. Professor Ownbey is the author of Common Wild Flowers of Minnesota (University of Minnesota Press, 1971).

Thomas Morley was also an emeritus professor in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. In addition to introducing hundreds of students to Minnesota flora in his popular course “Minnesota Plant Life,” he was widely recognized for his pioneering efforts to protect remnants of Minnesota’s native habitats. Professor Morley was the author of Spring Flora in Minnesota (University of Minnesota Press, 1966).

"This most useful publication represents the culmination of many years of study of the vascular plants of Minnesota-indeed the second author began the mapping project in 1962. The text following the introduction, which provides a most useful background is divided into two parts: Checklist and Atlas.