The Grand Canyon’s Green Heart—The Flora of the Grand Canyon
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Ecology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 19
Special Issue Editors
Interests: dryland plant ecology; riparian plants; plant taxonomy; population genetics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The Grand Canyon, recognized as one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World, is internationally well known. However, its botanical diversity—the “green heart” of the Canyon—is generally understudied and underappreciated. Despite its status as a renowned park and the fact that it contains nearly half of the flora of Arizona—a state that ranks third in the U.S.A. in the number of plant species—many aspects of the Canyon’s plants and habitats remain poorly understood. This knowledge gap is due in large part to its formidably rugged terrain, challenging accessibility, and arid climate.
This Special Issue will highlight the Canyon’s botanical diversity, investigate the mechanisms driving floristic richness, and examine the role of the Grand Canyon as a refugium and as an important genetic reservoir. Ongoing efforts to identify and monitor rare and invasive plant species will also be addressed. Special attention will focus on the ecological importance of riparian areas within this dry landscape, including the plant communities of perennial rivers, seeps, and springs. Additionally, it highlights unique collaborations with Indigenous Tribes for whom the Grand Canyon is both culturally and historically of great importance. Based on this collection of knowledge, recommendations for future research will be provided.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Wendy Hodgson for her invaluable contributions to the development of this Special Issue. Her insightful feedback and support have significantly enriched the content and quality of this work.
Dr. Emily C. Palmquist
Dr. Andrew M. Salywon
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- Grand Canyon
- flora
- speciation
- rare species
- riparian communities
- invasive species
- ethnobotany
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