Book excerpt: A thorough study and compilation of the narratives of various individuals who during the period of 1709 to 1850 explored, or traveled in, the Trans-Mississippi West collecting botanical specimens. The work presents the records by decade, beginning with 1786, then 1709-1800, then 1800-1810, and so on, through 1840-1850. The narratives and/or observations, and descriptions by Haenke, Menzies, Lewis and Clark, Bradbury, Nuttall, Eschscholz Baldwin, James, Say, Botta, Berlandier, Douglas, Coulter, Tolmie, Drummon, Wyeth, Maximilian, Beyrich, Hinds, Geyer, Brackenridge, Gambel, Fremont, Burke, Gordon, Spalding, Audubon, Abert, Wislezenus, Harwet Emory, Fendler, Parry, Wright, and many more are recorded here, with extensive footnotes to provide historical context.