A book review on a wildflower guide may seem odd. A guidebook is not something you curl up with at the beach and read cover to cover. While certainly no plot or storyline is wrapped up in suspense and adventure, good guidebooks excel in disseminating unique information that can be mentally stimulating just the same. The revised and expanded edition of A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina is a book every South Carolinian nature lover should have on their bookshelf and while out in the field in their daypack.

This guidebook identifies nearly 1,000 species, each having at least one photo, description, and location map as well as comments of particular interest. In addition, the first 80 pages cover selected topics ranging from the nature of flora to the natural history and ecology of our state. I only wish they had included what wildlife use or depend on with these plants. Also, it would be helpful to know if the species is native or non-native.

The book divides South Carolina into geographic regions beginning with the mountains and working down through the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, which is further divided into three sub regions: the Fall Line/Sandhills, the Inner/Outer Coastal Plain, and the Maritime Strand. Each region is distinct with specific geographical features that have fostered plant communities prevalent only in those areas. Of course, many plants can be found all over the state, but it is fascinating to learn of the multitude of plants that can only be found in very distinct locations.

An example of one of these is the rare and imperiled Venus flytrap. This unusual plant can only be found along the margins of Carolina bays in the Sandhills and Coastal Plain areas. Carolina bays, of which close to 4,000 exist in South Carolina, are widely distributed throughout North and South Carolina as well as Georgia. Their origin is unknown, but several prevalent theories postulate their creation. One of the more popular theories is that they came into existence from a meteor shower millions of years ago. Another is the idea that they are the result of a sudden formation of artesian springs. None of the theories, however, have conclusively settled the matter, and the scientific community is undetermined in how they developed. The vast majority of these bays have been altered to some extent with less than 10 percent remaining relatively intact. This, along with plant collecting, have imperiled the Venus flytrap.

A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina’s first edition appeared 20 years ago. This revised edition published in 2022 greatly expands the information found in the original with advances in plant taxonomy and ecology. A collaborative effort of Patrick D. McMillan; Richard D. Porcher, Jr.; Douglas Rayner; and photographer David B. White, this wildflower guidebook reflects the extensive knowledge these men have to offer. Patrick McMillan is a botanist and host of the Emmy-Award winning television show Expeditions with Patrick McMillan. Richard Porcher is an emeritus professor of biology at The Citadel and author of several books. Douglas Rayner is an emeritus professor of biology at Wofford College, and David White is a photographer and lead videographer as well as editor of Expeditions with Patrick McMillan.

So, although A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina lacks drama, a plot, witty dialog, or interesting human characters, it does provide hours upon hours of fulfilling identification work and knowledge on the incredibly interesting members of our beautiful state’s wild floral community.