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Plant anatomy: an applied approach

Article  in  Annals of Botany · July 2008

DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcn118 · Source: PubMed Central

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Annals of Botany 102: 481 –482, 2008
Available online at www.aob.oxfordjournals.org
Book Review
doi:10.1093/aob/mcn118
Plant anatomy: an applied
approach
Cutler, D. F., Botha, T.,
Stevenson, D. W. 2008.
Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
£29.99 ( paperback) 312 pp.
An appreciation of anatomy is
fundamental to an understand-
ing of many aspects of plant
biology, including the ecologi-
cal and molecular ends of the
spectrum. It is therefore a cause
for concern that plant anatomy
is increasingly marginalized in university biology courses.
One way of trying to stem the decline is to promote an aware-
ness of the wider value of the study of plant structure. This is
what Cutler et al.’s Plant anatomy: an applied approach
attempts.
The ten chapters and two Appendices of this comparatively
slim volume cover much ground despite concentrating mostly
on vegetative anatomy of angiosperms. The topics covered are
as follows. (1) ‘Morphology and tissue systems: the integrated
plant body’ (10 pages) – provides a context for subsequent
more detailed anatomical study and reviews the evolution of
land plants. (2) ‘Meristems and meristematic growth’ (14
pages) – features an interesting section on practical appli-
cations and uses of meristems. (3) ‘The structure of xylem
and phloem’ (20 pages) – concentrates principally on second-
ary tissues with emphasis on use of xylem in identification
and classification. (4) ‘The root’ (8 pages) and (5) ‘The
stem’ (13 pages) – concentrate on primary structures. (6)
‘The leaf’ (50 pages) – the book’s largest section as befits
this most important and variable organ. (7) ‘Flowers, fruits
and seeds’ (14 pages) – concentrates on matters of applied
interest. (8) ‘Adaptive features’ (19 pages) – deals largely
with traditional aspects such as mesophytism, hydrophytism
and xerophytism, but also considers mechanical adaptations.
(9) ‘Economic aspects of applied plant anatomy’ (16 pages) –
features fascinating forensic examples to underline the wider
relevance, importance and application of plant anatomy. (10)
‘Practical microtechnique’ (25 pages) – is an especially
useful section where students (and – more likely – teachers!)
can find details and inspiration to make their own anato-
mical preparations. In addition, there are two appendices
and a CD. Acknowledging that the examples typically used
to illustrate plant anatomy are not readily found worldwide,
Appendix 1 – ‘Selected study material’ (8 pages) – usefully
lists many alternative plant species that are suitable for study-
ing particular anatomical features. Appendix 2 is ‘Practical
# The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved.
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exercises’ – 39 pages of notes and context relating to the
accompanying CD entitled ‘The Virtual Plant’. The book
concludes with an illustrated Glossary (38 pages), Cited refer-
ences (2 pages) for Chapters 6, 8, 10 and Appendix 2, a
section on Further reading (5 pages) that is relevant to all
Chapters, and a substantial Index (16 pages).
But, Cutler et al. is much more than just a book! The
enclosed CD is packed with so many extra features that it
takes the study of plant anatomy to new heights. The CD
includes an online virtual glossary of words and terms com-
monly used in plant anatomy (effectively repeating those in
the book), a bank of high-quality digital images, Factfiles,
and Presentation Files. Without doubt, the CD’s 250
colour images of roots, stems and leaves are amongst
Cutler et al.’s greatest assets [although it is inexcusable
that genera such as Ginkgo (‘Ginko’) should be misspelt!].
Factfiles deal with specific aspects of plant structure and
function (e.g. shoot apex, leaf development, transport
process in plants) and histochemical techniques, and
include links to other resources and citations of more
in-depth articles than those listed in the main text. As
might be expected from Botha’s involvement in this
project, the Factfiles have a bias towards plasmodesmata
and transport-related issues, e.g. cell – cell communication
in plants, phloem loading ecophysiology and phloem trans-
port mechanisms. The Presentation Files are PowerPoint
slideshows introducing key plant structure elements.
Although the authors envisage that the CD does not necess-
arily require access to a microscope – hence its ‘virtual’ tag
– it is debatable how much anatomical learning can take
place in the absence of first-hand experience of looking at
the actual structures.
In a market with several existing plant anatomy texts,
how well does the book under review compare? Although
it covers some similar ground to Dickinson’s Integrative
plant anatomy (2000; for a review see Chaffey, 2001),
Cutler et al. has a distinct edge on price and an abundance
of colour images. Crang and Vassilyev’s Electronic plant
anatomy CD released in 2003 contains similar material
but Cutler et al. has the advantage of an accompanying
printed text. Beck’s An introduction to plant structure
and development (2005; see Peterson, 2006, for a review)
covers a lot more of the sub-cellular aspects of pant
anatomy than Cutler et al., but loses out heavily due to
the lack of colour images and its higher cost. Whilst
Cutler et al. may not have the legendary authority of
Esau’s Plant anatomy (3rd edition; for a review see
Chaffey, 2007), it is much less expensive, has the benefit
of colour images and is in one volume (the second part of
Evert’s revision of ‘Esau’ is still several years away!). In
 482 Book Review
conclusion, Cutler et al.’s Plant anatomy: an applied
approach compares extremely well!
Generally, presentational aspects of the book are of a
high order. However, text images are largely line drawings.
Whilst drawings are OK, they would be more informative if
shown as interpretation diagrams that accompany photo-
micrographs. Also, from an instructional point of view, it
would be useful if illustrations carried scale bars, rather
than just mentioning the magnification in the legend.
It is common practice nowadays for publishers to provide
inks to web resources for their textbooks. Cutler et al. goes
one better by having this additional material supplied with
the book on the enclosed CD. Although the CD’s
PowerPoint presentations are rather basic, as the authors
acknowledge, they can be tailored (possibly using the CD’s
attractive digital images) to the readers’ own particular needs.
The book’s potential market ought to be quite large. The
abundance of pedagogy should appeal to teachers of plant
anatomy in many countries, whilst the deliberate inclusion
of tropical examples should help widen its appeal outside
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Europe and North America. The book is very attractively
priced, benefits from many excellent colour images and
extra material on the enclosed CD, and takes a practical
hands-on approach that will win many friends. Plant
anatomy: an applied approach deserves to do well!
Nigel Chaffey
E-mail n.chaffey@bathspa.ac.uk
L I T E R AT U R E CI T E D
Chaffey NJ. 2001. Putting plant anatomy in its place. Trends in Plant
Science 6: 439– 440.
Chaffey NJ. 2007. Book review: Esau’s plant anatomy, meristems, cells,
and tissues of the plant body: their structure, function, and develop-
ment. Annals of Botany 99: 785–786.
Crang R, Vassilyev A. 2003. Electronic plant anatomy CD-ROM.
Maidenhead, UK: McGraw-Hill.
Peterson CA. 2006. Book review: An introduction to plant structure and
development. Annals of Botany 97: 1158.