A compact, user-friendly guide to ecologically significant plant species of the Northwest Coast A keystone species is an organism that defines and supports an entire ecosystem, filling a vital ecological niche. Without these species, ecosystems would be radically altered or even collapse. This full-color, pocket-sized field guide by best-selling naturalist Collin Varner highlights fifty keystone trees, flowering plants, fruit-bearing plants, marine plants, and fungi found across the Pacific Northwest bioregion. Species profiled include Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, large-leafed lupine, wild mint, Salal, salmonberry, marine eelgrass, and red-belted polypore. Each entry features clear photography, etymology, descriptions, habitat information, and risks and warnings. This convenient and easy-to-use reference is perfect for walkers, hikers, campers, and beachcombers and important for raising awareness of the need to conserve and protect these vital species. "This beautiful book is a valuable addition to the library of anyone passionate about the flora of the Pacific Northwest. Covering trees, plants, fungi and marine plants, Varner details the contributions of the included species to the ecosystem they inhabit, which is a refreshing way of exploring these incredible organisms"―Amanda Swinimer, author of The Science and Spirit of Seaweed: Discovering Food, Medicine and Purpose in the Kelp Forests of the Pacific Northwest " 50 Keystone Flora Species is a concise and indispensable guide for anyone curious about the essential plants of the unique ecosystem of the coastal Pacific Northwest―how to identify the plants and their interconnectedness with animals, insects, soil, and water."―Elizabeth Price, author of Native and Ornamental Conifers of the Pacific Northwest: Identification, Botany, and Natural History "Like a keystone itself, this guide helps define an ecosystem: the forests and coasts of the Pacific Northwest. It is an indispensable companion for any ramble or expedition."―Harley Rustad, award-winning and bestselling author of Big Lonely Doug and Lost in the Valley of Death "A good starter book for readers new to plants of the Pacific Northwest. Descriptions are simple to read, while photos of distinctive characteristics assist with identification. Sections on the ecological role of each species lead the reader beyond mere identification."―Edward C. Jensen, Professor Emeritus, Oregon State University and author of Trees to Know in Oregon and Washington A compact, user-friendly guide to ecologically significant plant species of the Nothwest Coast Collin Varner is a horticulturalist/arboriculturalist. Over his forty-year career, he worked at the University of British Columbia's Botanical Garden, assumed responsibility for conserving twenty-five thousand trees across campus, and taught courses in native plant studies. Now retired, Varner is an avid photographer, world traveler, and best-selling author of The Flora and Fauna of the Pacific Northwest , Edible and Medicinal Flora of the West Coast , and Invasive Flora of the West Coast .