Newswise — In 2007, 273 plant species in the state of Kentucky were considered endangered or threatened and an additional 57 were listed under special concern. "Rare Wildflowers of Kentucky," a book co-authored by University of Kentucky professor Thomas G. Barnes and published by the University Press of Kentucky, has captured nearly all the state's flowers in peril.
Barnes and co-authors Deborah White and Marc Evans recognize that these wildflowers are part of Kentucky's natural heritage, using the new book to spread awareness and promote environmental preservation. Likewise "Rare Wildflowers of Kentucky" offers its reader a unique opportunity to view many of the disappearing wildflowers seen infrequently by the average person.
Barnes, a naturalist and award-winning photographer, shot 220 captivating, full-color images for the book. Many of the beautiful images come from his personal garden. "One of the ways that I accomplished some of the photography was to grow some of these rare plants in my garden," said Barnes. "I think that's one thing that the average person can do. There are a number of good native plant nurseries where you can buy native plants that aren't any more difficult to grow than other plants."
"Rare Wildflowers of Kentucky" is more than just a collection of photos, however. The plants are organized by habitat, and each picture is accompanied by a detailed description of the flower's species, its ecological community and specific threats to the species. The authors use this collection as a way to entertain, inform and educate readers by using its pages to suggest concrete steps for conservation and preservation efforts and by including a list of references of the plants' scientific species names and endangered statuses.
A beautiful photographic record of Kentucky's rare plants, the book also is a valuable resource for gardeners, botanists and horticultural professionals. By celebrating these treasures of the state's landscape, the authors urge readers to value natural environmental assets before they are lost forever.
"The ecological repercussions can be pretty incredible and not really all that understood," said Barnes. "But the reality is that every time we lose a species, a link in the cog of life is gone or a link on a spider web, and we cannot accurately predict when the web will collapse."
To find out more about the top 10 endangered wildflowers in Kentucky, Barnes has compiled a list online at www.kentuckypress.com/pkbarnes.cfm under "Disappearing Flora of the Bluegrass."
Barnes is an extension professor of forestry and wildlife specialist with the UK Department of Forestry with a focus in wildlife conservation, biodiversity and habitat restoration. He is also the author of "Gardening for the Birds," "Kentucky's Last Great Places" and "Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky."
Co-authors White and Evans work with the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission. White is a branch manager and senior botanist, and Evans serves as a senior ecologist.
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