From Introduction: "...It has been our aim to gather together in this book many of the well known herbaceous fall-flowering plants of southern Canada and the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Plants cannot always be designated as blooming only in the spring, summer, or fall. Most of the asters, goldenrods, and gentians restrict their blooming to autumn whereas some plants start to flower in the spring or summer months and continue until frost. Representative species from both of these groups are included as well as a few plants which are conspicuous in the fall because of their fruit. Grasses, rushes, sedges, and plants of tropical United States have not been considered. Over 350 species of fall-flowering plants are keyed and illustrated. Mention is made of others. The range of each species is shown by means of individual distribution maps. Measurements apply to a typical plant of the species...."
