Southwest Oregon rare plants listed in new book by Forest Service, BLM

“Rare Plants of Southwest Oregon” a newly published interagency book, features specialized information and treasured photos for passionate plant lovers.

The publication is a joint effort by the Bureau of Land Management Medford District and the U.S. Forest Service’s Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest,

Rachel Showalter, BLM botanist for the Glendale Resource Area; and Linda Mullens, botanist for Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, collaborated on organizing and producing this new book. 

This interagency publication has been a concept for many years, as the Klamath-Siskiyou mountains of S.W. Oregon and N.W. California are noted for their diverse flora. The region is rich in endemic and rare species resulting from the unique geologic and climatic history of the area.

“We compiled this book to help increase the awareness of rare plants in our area,” said Showalter. “We geared it to the people who work in the forest or spend a lot of time on public lands, hoping that they may come across -- and now recognize -- rare plants while in the field,” she said.

Showalter and Mullens said that this book is not intended to be a compendium of all the “rare” plants found in S.W. Oregon, but includes those that are of highest priority to locate and protect.

“In ‘Rare Plants of Southwest Oregon,’ readers can peruse more than 350 color photos that accompany the various rare plant descriptions,” said Mullens. 

“It is an excellent resource,” she added, “containing technical information such as scientific names, common names, blooming periods, distinguishing characteristics, similar look-alikes, habitat, and range descriptions.”

The book contains 298 pages, more than 350 color photos, more than 250 line drawings, and an illustrated glossary. It’s priced at $15.

“The federal agencies immensely appreciate the botany community coming together to help us produce this book,” said Showalter. “The bottom line is that this publication would not be what it is without such a (botanical) community effort, and it would not have been financially possible without the support of the BLM State Office selecting this project to receive special funding.”

She said they worked with botanists from around the region to find photos and editing expertise. 

While tempted to list the numerous contributors, Showalter said that she “would inevitably forget someone obvious like Mark Mousseaux (BLM District lead botanist) or Wayne Rolle (Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest lead botanist), so it is just more eloquent to say, ‘You know who you are, and we are extremely grateful for your assistance’.”

More information about common plants in the area can be found in “The Rogue River Trail Flora Guide” which sells for $5. This guide contains 105 pages, features ethnobotanical information, color photos, waterproof paper, and is written in a more casual, nontechnical manner.

Both books are available at the Grants Pass Interagency Office of BLM and USFS Service at 2164 N.E. Spalding Ave. in Grants Pass, or the Medford BLM District Office at 3040 Biddle Road in Medford.