Drs. Gary Larson and James Johnson's books Plants of the Black Hills and Bear Lodge Mountains and Grassland Plants of South Dakota and the Northern Great Plains are invaluable resources for plant identification in this region. Designed for both those with a passing interest in botany and those with a technical knowledge, these books contain a great variety of information including plant descriptions and folklore surrounding them.  Dr. Johnson is an extension range management specialist with the Animal and Range Sciences Department, and Dr. Larson is a professor in the Bio/Micro Department. 

Copies of the Black Hills and Grassland Plants books can be obtained in bookstores through out South Dakota and the surrounding region or by contacting the SDSU Bulletin Room at sdsu_bulletinroom@sdstate.edu. See www.abs.sdstate.edu/abs/fgpromo.htm for further details. 

Dorothy is a Ph.D. candidate at South Dakota State University.  She received her M.S. from Frostburg State University, MD, and her B.S. from Penn. State University.