Grasses of the Texas Hill Country

Brian and Shirley Loflin

Fear grasses no more, no matter where you are, well, in Texas at least! If you’ve been waiting for grass field guide with color photos, wait no more. This book assumes you know nothing about grasses, but are willing to invest a little time learning basic grass seedhead vocabulary (spike, raceme, panicle, spicate for starters). I am especially impressed by the fact that the authors took the time to develop icons to indicate which grasses are natives or exotics, if they can be toxic to cattle or wildlife, grazing response (decreaser, increaser, invader), along with their longevity (annual or perennial) and season of growth. Don’t let the title fool you, this book works outside the Hill Country, loosely defined by I-35 on the east, US 90 to the south, Texas Highway 29 on the north and Texas Highways 55 and 377 on the west. Page 11 shows a number-coded vegetational map of Texas, each species account lists all the areas where the grass is found.

To identify the grass, you need to have the seedhead, and to be able to see how the seeds are attached. There are seven groups, each section is delinated by the icon for the seedhead type, with different color margins. If you require your field guides to be in strict taxonomic order, this book is not for you, stick with Grasses of Texas and it’s offspring, Common Texas Grasses!

Flexicover with flaps, 5 1/2x8 1/2. 208 pp.; 23 illus.; 70 color photos; 1 b&w photo; 7 line art; 2 color maps; Bib. Index. APRIL 2006"