**ARCHIVED POST **
I have long awaited the arrival of this plant book. I know George Clendenin and the caliber of work that he does so I knew this book would be great. It does not disappoint and in fact it will be a favorite of those that buy a copy. Published in 2016 by Texas A&M University Press, this 590 page book describes 212 of what George calls, “the most significant plants in the Concho Valley of West Central Texas. Measuring a bit over 7 inches by 10 inches in a flexi-binding that combines a soft folded cover with sewn sections. It looks like it will stand up to hard use.
The book is organized alphabetically by plant families and then by genus within each family. This method makes it easy to compare similar plants within a family and makes identification easier. What many will find appealing is the excellent, high resolution color photos that accompany each plant. The photos are on the left page and the accompanying details are on the right page so the images are large and full of detail.
Historical accounts of the vegetation of the area is covered and is very interesting to read what those who saw the land between 1683 and 1858. Rangeland management guidance is covered and is vital information for all that graze rangeland. A section on prescribed burning is covered and many acres of range are burned each year for land improvement in this region of the state. Management of the often overlooked riparian areas are also covered. There is a section on wildlife management in West Central Texas that is covered by Steve Nelle, retired wildlife biologist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Value of the plants for different classes of livestock, along with various wildlife species is provided for each plant. Management tips to maintain or increase the plant upon your land is also covered. This is a great resource and more than just a plant identification book.
Don’t let the title of Rangeland Plants of West Central Texas lead you to believe that this book will not be of value to those of you outside of the West Central Texas area. Many of the plants in this great book will also be found in other vegetational regions of the state. You can buy a copy online or if you happen to be passing through the San Angelo, Texas area you can stop in at one of the NRCS offices in the Concho Valley and buy a copy from these local Soil and Water Conservation Districts: Concho SWCD (Eden), Runnels SWCD (Ballinger), Schleicher SWCD (Eldorado), Sonora SWCD and Menard SWCD.
**ARCHIVED POST**
**ARCHIVED POST LINKS & PICTURES MAY NOT WORK**
**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: rickylinex
