Green Plants. Their Origin and Diversity by P. R. Bell; A. R. HemsleyReview by: J. Ch.Folia Geobotanica, Vol. 38, No. 1 (Mar., 2003), p. 107Published by: SpringerStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25133960 .

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Bookreviews 107

SHORT REVIEWS

E. Edgar & H.E. Connor: Flora of New Zealand. VoL 5, Gramineae; Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln, 2000,

650 pp. Price USD 55.-, ISBN 0-478-09331-4. - The present volume completes the Flora of New Zealand series

started in 1961. It covers the family Gramineae, represented in New Zealand by 188 native and 226 naturalized

species. The treatment is based on many studies of particular genera or groups in the target area. The authors also

had close collaboration with many specialists worldwide. The introductory chapters include, among others, a list

of chromosome counts of indigenous grasses (88 species among 21 genera), and a brief overview of

reproductive biology. Rather surprising is a bibliography of taxonomic papers on indigenous New Zealand

Gymnospermae and Angiospermae published from 1987-1996, but similar bibliographies also appeared in

previous volumes. The taxa accounts cover the bulk of the book. They are arranged in a standard manner

including description, distribution and ecological data; wherever necessary, additional comments are provided.

Synonyms are generally only given for endemic or indigenous taxa. A welcome feature of concern to

taxonomists is the typification indicated for all New Zealand endemic and indigenous taxa, type specimens for

11 taxa are firstly designated in this volume. The volume is accompanied by (unfortunately very few) line

drawings and by three tables of photos showing both grasses dominating landscapes and particular species. Since 120 years have elapsed since the last book devoted solely to New Zealand grasses was published, I trust

that the present volume will address a large audience of taxonomists, ecologists, as well as conservationists and

land-use specialists. (JCh)

R.P. Wunderlin & B.F. Hansen: Flora of Florida. Vol. 1, Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms; University Press of Florida, Gainesville etc., 2000,366pp. Price GBP 44.50, ISBN 0-8130-1805-6.

- The flora of Florida is

very rich compared to the other states of the United States (nearly 4,000 taxa of vascular plants). Although some

regional floras and an identification manual have been published in the past decades, there was still the demand

for a detailed treatment of all the state's flora. The present volume is the first of a proposed eight-volume series.

It contains introductory chapters on the physical setting, plant communities, history of botanical exploration, and treatment of pteridophytes (23 families) and gymnosperms (5 families). A traditional and fundamentally conservative taxonomic concept was accepted. A brief description, number of genera and species recognized, distribution (in general terms) and key to genera are provided for each family. Similar data are given for each

genus, species entries include the accepted and common name, synonyms, description, ecological data,

distribution; biological data (chromosome number, mode of reproduction) along with comments on taxonomy,

nomenclature, etc. are given when available and helpful. The volume is an undoubtedly very promising first step to the complete detailed treatment of the state's flora. (JCh)

P.R. Bell & A.R. Hemsley: Green plants. Their Origin and Diversity. 2nd edition; Cambridge University Press, 2000,349pp. Price GBP 19.95, USD 31.95, ISBN0-521-64673-1. - There is undoubtedly an urgent need

for a comprehensive but concise and clearly written summary of the ever-increasing knowledge about the

diversity of plant life. This volume serves this purpose. In comparison with the first edition (published in 1992) this edition has been completely rewritten and reflects recent views on the origin of diversity. It is arranged according to generally accepted classification schemes covering algae, liverworths, hornworths, mosses, fern

allies, ferns, gymnosperms and flowering plants. Various topics are discussed in each section, e.g. morphology, cellular structure, life cycles, and reproduction. The text is accompanied by many line drawings and

photographs, making it clear and readable. Students of botany will surely enjoy this textbook. (JCh)

L. Struwe & V.A. Albert (eds.): Gentianaceae. Systematics and Natural History; Cambridge University Press, 2002, 652pp. Price GBP 95.-, USD 130.-, ISBN0-521-80999-1.

- The volume provides a comprehensive review of the family (which includes over 1,600 species) covering phylogeny, classification, morphology,

biogeography, palynology, and phytochemistry. This new classification of the entire family on a complete worldwide basis generated using a large set of molecular- and morphology-based data is the first since the work

of Gilg in 1895. In the present circumscription, the family is monophyletic and recognition of six tribes is

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