Southwest Australia is a region increasingly recognized for its high levels of biodiversity and endemism, and it is recognized as one of the world's top 25 'biodiversity hotspots, ' based largely on its highly diverse and endemic flora. This book has been assembled with current research and understanding about the southwestern Australian flora, the greatest richness of which is on the sandplains, especially on the most nutrient-impoverished soils. To be able to conserve threatened species, the animals that depend upon them, and the habitats they live in, it is necessary to understand their functioning in the past and present in order to protect them for the future. The book is an updated version of Kwongan: Plant Life of the Sandplain (Pate & Beard, 1984), and it demonstrates how much knowledge and understanding has been gained over the past 30 years. The profound Aboriginal knowledge of kwongan is also included in this beautifully illustrated book. Subject: Australian Studies, Natural History, Botany, Aboriginal Studies]