Along the San Marcos River, in and surrounding Palmetto
State Park in south central Texas, lie more than five square kilometers
of relict ecosystem known as the Ottine Wetlands. A lowland counterpart
of the Lost Pines, this rich and fascinating area of swamps, marshes,
and ponds is situated on the 98th meridian--the biogeographical divide
separating the eastern plants and animals of the United States from
their western counterparts--and also along a similar ecological
boundary separating subtropical species from their more northern,
temperate counterparts..
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A companion to
the authors' Invertebrates
of Central Texas Wetlands, this volume describes the plants of this
important but little-studied region.
The authors have catalogued more than 500 species, ranging from mosses
and liverworts to flowering plants, gleaned from published and
unpublished reports, collection records, and their own extensive
exploration of the park and surrounding private properties. Photographs
and detailed descriptions of more than 275 species aid in field
recognition; for those species not treated in the text, checklists are
provided. |
An in-depth introductory chapter covers the region's geology and soils,
climate, postglacial history, plant communities, and biogeography and
also serves as a guide to Palmetto State Park and its easily accessible
nature trails. An extensive bibliography, glossary, and index round out
the volume.
Scientific researchers and nature enthusiasts alike will appreciate
this expert guide to one of the nation s most distinctive ecosystems.
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Plants Of Central Texas Wetlands
by Scott B. Fleenor and Stephen Welton Taber
Texas
Tech University
Press,
2009
Order
a copy
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