Flowering Plants of the Galápagos

The Galápagos are home to a wide-ranging assortment of unusual plants and animals. The islands became famous as the site of Charles Darwin's research leading to his theory of evolution by natural selection, and their magnificent flora and fauna continue to draw visitors from around the world. Based on the author's 16 years of fieldwork and featuring his exceptional photography, Flowering Plants of the Galápagos is the first accessible, in-depth yet compact guide to the plant life of the area.

An invaluable resource for tourists, natural history enthusiasts, and professionals, the book:

• Introduces the botanical history of the islands and their varied ecological zones
• Allows easy identification of 436 flowering plants (77 families, 192 genera, and 390 species)
• Covers endemic plants found exclusively on the islands; native plants, which grow on the Galápagos and elsewhere; and exotic plants present as a result of human actions
• Offers thorough accounts of the plants which give the scientific, common, and family names; range; islands inhabited; habitat; description; and additional notes of interest
• Is richly illustrated with 266 color photographs of flowering plants and 117 of plant pollinators, vegetation zones, non-flowering plants, and the islands themselves
• Organizes species by form, leaf arrangement, and flower color and includes descriptive plant drawings to aid in identification
• Provides a map of the Galápagos and a list of plants likely to be seen at popular tourist sites

Conley K. McMullen is Assistant Professor of Biology at James Madison University.

This is a well-organized, small, but information-packed book.... It is, however, a valuable reference book for travelers to the Islands.

This book is destined to be a valuable resource for the amateur naturalists who have made the Galápagos their destination of choice.

The field guide should meet the needs of both of its intended audiences.... Large public and academic libraries will find this guide a valuable addition to their collections wherever there is interest in tropical biology or travel.

Darwin visited the Galápagos in 1835, collected plants, and later wrote about the finches. This attractive guide by McMullen will introduce many of the plants Darwin saw (and collected), and it is certain to become an indispensable companion for anyone fortunate enough to visit these islands.... Surprisingly, many introduced and cultivated plants well known throughout the tropics are also featured in this guide, their showy flowers likely to attract the novice botonist.... Brief essays on the history of botanical exploration, vegetation types, and conservation will entertain readers cruising from island to island, or dreaming of visiting this land of giant tortoises.

The format and aids provided will enable less knowledgeable readers to use it and identify plants. It should be of interest to anyone who has visited the Galápagos Islands or plans to in the future or just wants to learn more about the unique and threatened flora.

McMullen's book is a user-friendly guide to the flowering plants of the Galápagos Islands written for the average visitor with a general interest in botany.... This is an excellent book that definitely fills a need. It is a field guide to be recommended to every Galápagos visitor with an interest in plant life.