Vibrant red flowers of a native plant species from Burkina Faso and Mali, highlighting regional plant diversity.
A groundbreaking new book, The Illustrated Flora of Burkina Faso and Mali, offers the first complete guide to the plant life of the two West African nations. Compiling 2,631 plant species—many rare or endangered—the French-language volume is the product of more than 40 years of collaboration between African and European botanists. Featuring over 800 photos and detailed illustrations, the guide bridges science and tradition and provides plant names in local languages, including Bambara, Dogon, Sonrai, Sénoufo, and Peulh. The book arrives amid growing environmental insecurity, making its conservation value even more urgent. With several species potentially new to science, this guide is more than a reference—it’s a tool to preserve biodiversity, culture, and ecological resilience in a region under threat.