A flora is a compilation of information about the plant taxa that occur in a region. Information in a flora includes taxonomic names, histories of name usage, descriptive materials of the characteristics of taxa (e.g. keys, descriptions, illustrations, and photographs), spatial extent of taxa, specimen lists, and other relevant data. Because taxonomic information constantly changes as the result of exploration and research, the usefulness of floras decreases with time. The last comprehensive floras for Alaska were published by Eric Hultén in 1968 and Stanley Welsh in 1974. A new Flora of Alaska is therefore timely, especially as numerous species have been introduced or expanded into the region in the last five decades. The known range of many native taxa have been expanded as the result of extensive floristic surveys in remote areas, and the plants of Alaska are experiencing rapidly changing conditions due to anthropogenically induced disturbances, including climate warming.
Methods for managing and presenting information have changed greatly over the last half-century. A modern flora can draw upon and integrate the vast network of systematic, specimen, image, and ecological data that exists in a variety of formats, including the latest monographic work and the readily available internet access to this information. At the same time, floras summarize these data and include a list of accepted taxonomic/nomenclatural names with relevant descriptions and keys, capturing the experience and consensus of regional botanists. Floristic information can be presented in a variety of formats for a variety of audiences from casual users to experts, rather than solely as a single-format printed book.
Unlike most previous floras, the new Flora of Alaska will be a community-driven product inclusive of a broad group of stakeholders and users. An Executive Committee and an Advisory Committee will make decisions about the strategy, content, fundraising, and product format to reflect the needs of a diverse group of Alaskan botanists, vegetation ecologists, wildlife ecologists, natural resource managers, and interested public.