The Flora Novo-Galiciana is intended as an authoritative taxonomic guide to the flowering plants, ferns, and conifers of a biologically rich portion of western Mexico. It provides a working tool for identification of and research on the approximately 7500 species of plants in this region of Jalisco and surrounding areas, ranging from sea beaches and tropical evergreen forest to semi-arid grasslands and mountain peaks that ascend to timberline and above. All species are provided detailed morphological description, an illustration of technical features, full references to literature in which the species have been treated, brief discussion about habitats and geographical range, vernacular names, economic values and uses. There is no complete such account of the plants of any other part of Mexico. Dr. Rogers McVaugh has been working on this inventory for over 40 years, amassing plant collections now deposited in herbaria in Mexico City and in several U.S. institutions. Five volumes have been published thus far, treating the legumes, the orchids, the grasses, the sunflower family, and the bromeliads and some other monocots. Remaining volumes being prepared will treat ferns, conifers, and other dicot flowering plants. The Flora is now used as a standard text in the School of Agriculture of the University of Guadalajara, attesting to its immediate practicality, and is widely cited as a valuable reference work. With assistance from his botanical colleague Dr. William Anderson, Dr. McVaugh continues to oversee the production of this splendid inventory.
