A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants Cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and Other Tropical Places

by George W. Staples; Derral R. Herbst

Review by: Rudolf Schmid
Taxon, Vol. 55, No. 1 (Feb., 2006), pp. 252-253
Published by: International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT)
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Schmid Reviews and notices TAXON 55 (1) February 2006: 249-261

guide to mountain flowers of New England by S.K. Harris et al. (147 pp.): morph.; anat, physiol.; repro. biol.;
embryol.; palynol.;
(see Taxon 44: 679), figuring out which lichen was which. The mole, syst.; (d) resources in pi. syst. (42 pp.): ID; nomen.; colls.,
AMC an alpine flower guide, doc; herb., data info systems;
long out-of-print book,
primarily appendices (pi. descr.; bot. ill.; seri
treats only 14 lichen species in a tad over seven pages of small, als in pi. syst.); glossary; index.

dense, detailed text, with nearly three pages of overview. Its pho A new book in plant systematics is always a welcome occa
tos at the end of the book are somewhat spotty. The successor sion, and this work initially much more than most.
impresses Very
AMC book, N.G Slack & A.W Bell's AMCfield guide to theNew reasonably priced for an Elsevier book, it appears to have the right

England alpine summits (1995; for review see R. Schmid, Taxon balance between traditional and modern (molecular) approaches
45: 403), treats 12 lichen species, sports decent photos, but has and thus would a good seem choice for courses in plant systemat

very skimpy text. The undisputed bible of lichens, LM. Brodo et ics. Bruce G Baldwin, who teaches such a course, proclaims on
al.'s Lichens of North America (2001; for review see R. Schmid, the back cover of the book: 'Plant Systematics is a beautifully
Taxon 50: 1290), is fantastic but heavy, weighing considerably illustrated, highly accessible, and meticulously scholarly introduc
more than my ice axe, and so is best left at home. tion to the extraordinary of land plants and the recent
diversity
The new Lichens above treeline, a slim, graphically pleasing revolution in understanding of their suc
relationships. Simpson
volume, fits the field-guide bill splendidly. Its 52 species of li ceeds in capturing the excitement of this rapidly expanding field

chens, one
per page, are grouped into six growth forms (e.g., and in bringing the details of plant morphology to life with his
versus foli?se versus crustose),
stalked and therein ordered by col exceptionally effective use of many spectacular images."
or from light to dark. An excellent overview color photo, with The book is indeedwell illustrated,with 250 original line
scale bar in millimeters, fills the width of the page. Below, wrap drawings and over 1700 excellent color photos. The magic 100

ping around a detail color

(or sometimes is a para families of angiosperms receive I especially like the
photo two), description.
graph or two of defining characteristics and identifying features, copiously illustrated sections on (unit 2) evolution and diversity of
measurements, and habitat preference. Thus we learn that Xan plants and on (unit 3) systematic evidence and descriptive termi
thoriaelegans "seems to crave an alkaline environment and ... can nology (see Contents).
be found on rocks enriched by bird droppings" (p. 29). Further Competing texts are D.W. Woodland's Contemporary plant
notes in synoptic format distinguish for each taxon similar species systematics, 3rd ed. (2000), WS. Judd et al.'s Plant systematics: A
and highlight geographic distribution (outside theNortheast), re phylogenetic approach, 2nd ed. (2002), and G Singh's Plant sys
productive structures, and derivation of the botanical name. Both tematics: An integrated approach, 2nd ed. (2004) (respectively, see
Latin and common English names appear at the top of the page, Taxon 50: 312, 51: 839, 54: 259). Simpson's new text is closer in
while icons representing growth form and substrate border the approach to Judd et al.'s, which is highly, and some would say
outer margin along with a color swatch for ease of navigation. overly, phylogenetic, perhaps even missing the taxonomic forest

Curiously, I could find no mention of British soldiers, Clado with all its phyletic trees. Politically and otherwise, I tend to favor
?
nia cristatella, the common
and "perhaps the best known lichen in the "betwixt and between." Rudolf Schmid, UC
eastern North America" (Brodo et al. 2001, p. 250). Included
instead is the similar but "much rarer" (Ibid., p. 266) C. coccifera. Staples, George W. & Herbst, Derral R. (assist, by Clyde T. Im

Interspersed between the sections on growth forms are eight ada, Katie Anderson, et 33 al.). June 2005. A tropical garden flora:

mini-essays, for instance, how lichens interact with and adapt to Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical
pollution, to radioactivity, and to extreme weather; how lichens are places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu (www.bishopmuseum
used by people and how they are eaten by various animals. A brief .org /press), xxiv, 908 pp., 12 pp. pis. (col), text ill. (B&W exc.
introduction (oddly paginated in roman rather than arabic) sets the col.fp.), 312x240x58 mm, string bookmark, ISBN 1581780397,
?
scene regarding alpine zones and lichen biology, and offers read HB, $59.95. Contents: intro; gardening in Hawaii (4 pts.?see
ing suggestions for further research. review); tax. pt.; ill. glossary; derivations names spp.; biblio.;
Unfortunately, I found the pages to be stiff and had difficulty index.
at times holding the book open and lost my place. [Ed. note: Here is an excellent, gorgeous, oversize, but inexpensive

Spiral-bound field guides are dandy.] work, indeed a super bargain based on dollar cost per book
Lichens above treeline is to be applauded for its format, 103 weight?roughly $16.50 per kilo. I don't see how Bishop Museum
high-quality photos, range of content, and ease of use. It should Press is making any money on this effort, especially considering
excel as a field guide and find its way into many a pack taken the high mailing costs. It is the same old story: Scientific societies
?
above timberline. Mena Schmid, Somerville, MA <aschmid@ and organizations generally provide high-quality publications at
rcn.com> low cost, whereas the Elseviers, Academic Presses, and many
other private publishers gouge, oft for trash. There are exceptions,

Simpson, Michael G. (George). 2006 (cat. UC Hb., 20 Nov. of course, for instance, Timber Press, but it is doubtful if even this

2005). Plant systematics. Elsevier Academic Press, Amsterdam venerable publisher could match or beat the Hawaiian deal.

(www.elsevier.com). xi, 590 pp., ill. (most col.), 284x224 mm, A tropical garden flora (TGF), and itwould not have been
ISBN 0126444609, HB, US$69.95. ? Contents: 18 chaps, in 4 immodest to call it "The tropical garden flora," begins with a 12

topic areas: (a) syst. (48 pp.): overview

pi. syst.; phylogenetic page introduction (oddly paginated in roman rather than arabic)
syst.; (b) evol., diversity pis. (295 pp.): green, land pis.; vase, pis.; that outlines the history of the project, deals with the scope and
seed pis.; evol. fl. pis.; diversity, class, fl. pis.?Amborellales, format of the work, gives statistics, and provides aids for keying

Nymphaeales, Austrobaileyales, magnoliids, Ceratophyllales, (all topics that could have been usefully listed on the spacious con

mono-; idem?eudicotyledons; (c) syst. evidence, descr. term. pis. tents page). Then ensues a 24-page section entitled "gardening in

252

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TAXON 55 (1) February 2006: 249-261 Schmid Reviews and notices

Hawaii," with four subsections: R.A. Criley providing twelve Cactaceae checklist, 2nd ed.; see Taxon 50: 631, 641; Wolf & Wolf
a very valuable
pithy pages on plant propagation, summary, plus do not cite either
work). The Wolfs's spectacular work on
three shorter sections: D. Ragone on using Hawaiian plants in the Ferocactus is copiously and exquisitely illustrated with 363 color
G.W. on and the current in and fruits, 6 color distribution
garden; Staples gardening landscape photos of habitats, habits, flowers,
idem on the ecological impacts of escaped garden plants. and 30 seed color micrographs Till). The 216
Hawaii; maps, (by Walter
An interlude of twelve plates depicting 87 color photos (some page taxonomic from the 6-paragraph intro
part begins directly
of so-so quality; there is also an attractive color frontispiece paint duction, which is clearly as an overview of the genus.
inadequate
ing o? Cassia xnealiae by G?raldine King Tarn) precedes the mam The 13 species described are alphabetically 6 species
arranged:
moth 746-page taxonomic part, which is divided into the four tra involve 14 subspecies are 5 formal elevations of to
(there variety
ditional megagroups (pteridophytes, gymnosperms, di-, monocot subspecies?pp. 25,93,151,207,218). Information for each taxon

yledons) and alphabetically arranged therein. The statistics (from includes nomenclature
and types, as
etymology (regrettably
p. xv) are most impressive?number families/genera/species de as the errata
"Epinymie" throughout, slip notes), descriptions, gen
scribed in TGF versus total number in the Hawaiian flora: eralized distribution, and a generous array of the excellent color
Each species begins with the Wolfs's narrative
pteridophytes (27 pp.): 19/34/74 versus 31/82/259 photos. bilingual
account of habitat, habit, and selected morphology. Then follows
gymnosperms (23 pp.): 7/20/54 versus 11/40/197
the original in Latin and/or German and English
dicotyledons (498 pp.): 129/710/1373 versus 178/1525/4688 description and,
for the older taxa, a recent description in German and English,
monocotyledons (194 pp.): 31/252/671 versus 41/610/2990
total: 186/1016/2172 versus 261/2257/8134 mostly from G Lindsay's The taxonomy and ecology of the genus
Ferocactus (1996; for extended notice see Taxon 48: 641). It cer
There are keys, usually for families with four or more cultivated
tainly is helpful to have these earlier descriptions readily at hand.
genera, or for genera with four or more treated species, plus fairly
of families, in
The Wolfs's taxonomy undoubtedly will be debated by some spe
detailed descriptions genera, and species. Assisting
cialists, but there is no doubt that this is the most lavishly illus
this effort were 33 contributing authors; K.A. Wilson did the pteri ?
trated work available on this famous genus. Rudolf Schmid, UC
dophytes, while DJ. de Laubenfels did the conifers. Anna Stone
did the B&W illustration. The considerable amount of horticultur
al information included also the "cultivated" in the subti Three more by Aljos Farjon on coni
justifies masterpieces
tle. fers?two updates and one new

Concluding the work are: a 30-page illustrated glossary, its Rudolf Schmid, UC
last 20 pages being the diagrams; a 17-page list of derivations of
Farjon, Aljos. Spring 2005. Pines: Drawings and descriptions of
names of species; a 30-page bibliography of 1641 numbered the genus pinus. 2nd ed. Brill, Leiden 235 pp.,
(www.brill.nl). ill.,
entries; and a 60-page comprehensive index. 324x230 mm, ISBN 9004139168, HB, EUR 88.00. [Ed. 1 1984,
What more can one say? This flora is grand in every ?
respect. 220 pp.] Contents: foreword ed. 1 by G. Bootsman; pref.
? Rudolf Schmid, UC
("foreword") ed. 2 by Farjon; intro; morph., repro.; 183-p. descr.

pt.; phylogeny, class. Pinus; glossary; biblio.; index.

Wolf, Franziska & Wolf, Richard. July 2004. Die Ferokakteen Idem (comp., annot). July 2005. A bibliography of conifers: Se
der Baja California: Eine Pr?sentation der Arten und Unterarten lected literature on taxonomy and related disciplines of the Coni
in ihren Verbreitungsgebieten auf der Halbinsel Niederkalifornien 2nd ed. Royal Botanic Kew
ferales. Gardens, (www.kewbooks
und den im Pazifik und im Golf von Kalifornien Inseln
gelegenen .com), [v], 211 pp., ill. (1 col), 327x227 mm, string bookmark,
=
Theferocacti of Baja California: A presentation of the species ISBN 1842461206, HB, ?75.00. [Ed. 1 1990, 129 pp., series:Reg
and subspecies with their distributions in the Baja num vegetabile, ?
California vol. 122.] Contents: 3-p. intro; 165-p. biblio. in
peninsula and on the adjacent islands in the Pacific Ocean and in 13 topic areas index bot. names, w/ refs. to
(see review); 41-p.
the Gulf of California. Trans, from the Ger. by Gudrun Gielen.
pubis.
Franziska und Richard Wolf, Sulz/Wienerwald Idem.
(frariwo@aon.at). July 2005. A monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys.
240 pp., errata slip, ill. (col), 247x179 mm, ISBN 3200001607, Ibid, [v], 643 pp., ill. (B&W, 1 col), 327x227 mm, string book
? ?
HB, EUR 67.00. Contents (in Ger, Eng): foreword by W Till; ISBN
mark, 1842460684, HB, ?125.00. Contents: pref. (incl.
intro; tax. pt.; maps; seed microgrs.; biblio.; no index. format of work); (a) intro (80 pp.): hist, descr., class.; colls., col
Most Califomians, including some plant taxonomists I know, female cones Cupress.
lectors, herb.; morph., anat.; early ontogeny
have never visited the nearby biological and geological paradise of s.l.?surv. of gen. (by Farjon & S. Ortiz Garcia); phylogeny, evol.;
Baja California. In contrast, the Austrians Franziska and Richard fossil record (R.A. Stockey et al.); distr., ecol.; (b) tax. pt. (503
Wolf have made 30 trips to Baja ashamed to say I've made
(I'm pp.): key to gen.; descrs. gen.; num. list taxa; 28-p. biblio.; (c) ap
only 10 trips, 1968-2001?I guess the next will have to be with pendices (60 pp.): list names in Cupress.; chars., char, states used
my new digital Nikon D70). The Wolfs's intimate knowledge of for phylogenetic analysis; data matrix for idem; fossil record arr.
the peninsula resulted in a superb, illustrated overview
lavishly tax.; list herb, w/ >50 colls, seen; index exs.; index.
published in 1999,Baja California und seine Inseln (Ibid., vii, 424 How does he do it, even in this cut-and-paste age? Aljos
pp., col. ill., 298x221 mm, ISBN 3926573104, HB), which I or edited seven books on conifers
Farjon has authored in the last
enthusiastically reviewed in Taxon 49: 612-613.
15 years, eight books from 1984 on, including three in a second
The Wolfs's most recent Baja book focuses on Ferocactus, a
edition and one in a translation. Besides the three books reviewed
striking barrel cactus with some 29 species distributed in the here there are these five:
deserts of southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico (E.F.
cactus Farjon, Aljos. 1990. Pinaceae: Drawings and descriptions of the
Anderson, 2001, The family; D. Hunt, 1999, CITES

253

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