The Rio Grande Delta is fabulously rich in wildflowers and other plant life. Lying in the geographically and environmentally diverse region common to southern Texas and northern Mexico, it supports plants that also grow in Central America and throughout Mexico, the Gulf Coastal plains, the South Texas Plains, and the Chihuahuan Desert.

Plants of the Rio Grande Delta provides an accessible and reliable identification guide to all of the plants, excluding grasses, of the region—some 823 species. In clear, nontechnical language, Alfred Richardson gives a brief description of each species, along with its range, habitat, and general blooming time. Over two hundred superb color photographs offer quick and easy field identification, while line drawings illustrate notable characteristics of the plants.

This volume expands and updates Alfred Richardson's previous book, Plants of Southernmost Texas, published in 1990 by the Gorgas Science Foundation. It will be an essential field guide for everyone interested in South Texas flora, from winter visitors and Valley residents to professional botanists.

Winner, Carroll Abbott Memorial Award, Native Plant Society of Texas, 2002

Many visitors to Texas beaches see only the sands between the surf and the first low dunes. Because few plants grow there, it's easy to get the impression that Texas beaches consist mostly of barren sand—while just the opposite is true. Beyond the dunes grow an amazing variety and abundance of native plants. Many of them, like Indian Blanket, Goldenrod, and Seaside Gerardia, produce great splashes of flowering color. Others display more modest flowers or are interesting for their growing habits. In all, over seven hundred species of flowering plants grow on Texas beaches and islands.

This handy field guide will aid you in identifying some 275 common and/or noteworthy flowering plants of the Texas beaches and islands from the Rio Grande to the Louisiana border. Each plant is illustrated by a color photograph, accompanied by a description of its appearance, habitat, and blooming time. The plants are grouped by families, which in turn are arranged according to relationships and similarities for easy reference. An introduction to beach habitats and plant life, references for further reading, and a glossary of terms make this book fully useful for everyone who wants a good, general understanding of beach plant life and wildflowers.