A flora is a reference book that describes the plants of a region and aids in their
identification.
The Flora of Virginia will have the following features:
Taxonomic descriptions
for every plant taxon native to Virginia or well established here, including
family, genus and species, as well as subspecies and varieties.
Identification keys, by which users answer a series of yes-no questions about a plant that narrow the possibilities until it
is identified, to family, genus, or species.
Botanical illustrations Line drawings,
drawn to scale, will accurately depict selected species. Others will eventually
be online. Illustrations will also include plates comparing structures for
difficult characters, as well as helpful didactic illustrations labeling parts
of important structures, such as a grass inflorescence.
Taxonomic synonymies Scientific names change
as research expands our knowledge of plants and clarifies taxonomic relationships.
The Flora of Virginia will be cutting-edge taxonomically. But to ensure that
early research remains usable despite its outmoded taxonomic names, the Flora
will give comprehensive synonymies.
Special sections on the history of botany in
Virginia, vegetational communities, excluded taxa, a glossary, and a bibliography.
Sneak peek
Have a look at an incomplete draft section of the upcoming Flora of Virginia.