When you need information in a hurry, there’s still no better way to find it than a guidebook.

Well designed, packed with information and colorful photos, a guide is worth its weight in, well silver, at least. Fortunately, such text-rich aids are still being ­published on paper, even in this digital world.

If you are looking for information about wildflowers in the Sandhills Region of North Carolina, including the same geologic region in S.C. and Georgia, look no further than Bruce A. Sorrie’s brand-spanking new “Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region,” published by UNC Press in Chapel Hill.

This first edition book, published with assistance from the Sandhills Area Land Trust, includes descriptions of more than 600 wildflowers, flowering shrubs and vines. Every plant is labeled with its biological and common names. Each photo of the flower has text, which includes a general description of the plant, size, habitat, shape of leaves and other distinguishing characteristics. Also included are bloom dates, related family of plants, and where in the range it is found.

The Sandhills is a larger geographic region than just this area of N.C. It’s a narrow area sandwiched between the Coastal Plain and the Piedmont of three states, stretching from roughly Sanford to Columbus, Ga. This ribbon-like region, characterized by porous sandy soils, longleaf pine forests, and blackwater streams, has similar characteristics, terrain and weather throughout, and forms an ecological niche that is home to closely related plants throughout.

This one sets a new standard for ease of use. It’s set up by the type of environment where the plant grows, such as “dry, longleaf pineland” or “turkey oak scrub,” thus speeding up identification in a special locale. There is a useful explanation of how to use the book in the first chapter.

Contact Pat Taylor at pat@thepilot.com.