06/19/2026
Meet the authors of the Flora of Saskatchewan! (part 1)
As part of an undergraduate degree in Biology at the U. of S in the 1970’s, Anna Leighton took plant taxonomy classes taught by Vern Harms. After graduating in 1978, she engaged in a 2-year research project on traditional plant use by the Cree People in northern Saskatchewan, spent a number of years as a field botanist on environmental impact studies across the province and participated in a 10-year study of the ecological of Western Red Lily. Around 2010, a group who studied with, or had worked for, Vern Harms got together to support him in writing a Saskatchewan Flora. This had been a dream of his – and he was imminently qualified - when he was a professor in the Biology Department at the University of Saskatchewan. Over time, this group led to the creation of the Flora of Saskatchewan Association and many involved have contributed to the fascicles. Anna has been the primary or co-author for all 6 fascicles published by the Flora of Saskatchewan to date, as well as the 7th fascicle on the Asteraceae family (in production).
