Book excerpt: Playa Lakes are unique, freshwater wetlands found in Southeastern Colorado, Southwestern Kansas, Western Oklahoma, Eastern New Mexico, and Northwest Texas. These wetlands provide the principal remaining native habitat for wildlife in this area. More that three hundred species of plants have been identified from the twenty-five to thirty thousand Playa wetlands occurring throughout the High Plains Region of the Southern Great Plains. This guide provides quick, accurate identification of seventy-two of the most common plants occurring in the Playa wetlands. More than 140 color photographs highlight key field identification characteristics for each species description. An introduction to the ecology of Playa Lakes, complete list of all known plant species, and a glossary of terms will make this a valuable reference for amateur and professional alike.