"The plains of this country are covered with a leek-green grass.... Groups of shrubs covered with the most delicious fruit are to be seen in every direction, and nature appears to have exerted herself to beautify the scenery by the variety of flowers." —William Clark

When President Thomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on an expedition in 1804 to explore the Louisiana Territory and then continue to the Pacific Ocean, their goals were to find a water route across North America, meet with Indian tribes and discuss peaceful trade, and map and describe this unknown region. Jefferson also instructed them to notice "the soil and face of the country, its growth and vegetable productions."

Along their route, the explorers, known as the Corps of Discovery, collected and described nearly two hundred species of plants, from small prairie flowers to towering evergreen trees. Many were previously unknown to science. Lewis already possessed a strong interest in and knowledge of plants, and from the Indians they encountered he learned much about their uses as food and as building materials, as well as their healing properties. The plant Lewisia (more commonly known as bitterroot) and the beautiful ragged robin, or Clarkia, were later named after the explorers themselves. Lewis and Clark are now recognized as central figures in the country's westward expansion and as major contributors to its scientific scholarship.

Dorothy Hinshaw Patent and William Munoz's latest collaboration examines the rich array of plant life encountered by Lewis and Clark. Nature lovers and historians alike are sure to be captivated by this visual feast.

From the dust jacket