Botanical Journeys into the Western Australian Deserts

The book contains detailed descriptions of the unique desert environment with particular emphasis on vegetation and the survival strategies of plants. Nine expeditions through the Southwest of Western Australia over a period of 15 years triggered the interest of the authors to explore also some deserts in the region, which led to three further excursions into the sandy dunes of the desert. Observations of plant life in the deserts focused not only on identifying plants, but also on gaining some understanding of the aboriginal desert people of centuries past, and their own survival strategies in such extreme conditions. Also, part of the Canning Stock Route was followed and explored, but the most rewarding and interesting finds were done crisscrossing the desert away from highways, tracks, and paths. The most remote areas showed species richness and surviving strategies which by far exceeded expectations.

Explorers and Botany.- Our expeditions through personal memories.- Flora.- Plant Communities.- Water and Aborigines.- Man and Vegetation { Conservation.- The Pignatti Rockholes.- Sketches.