Lance, Ron 2004 bosky Plants of th...

Lance, Ron 2004 bosky Plants of the Southeastern United States: a Winter Guide. University of Georgia Pres Athens, Georgia. 441 pages. $5495 woven fabric ISBN 0-8203-2524-4

This is a surprising new book for those who have a passionate affection for woody plants. It is unique in brace ways, I think, in that it secretes the entire Southeast and it deals with the winter condition. Previous great parts covered only portions of the range, similar as Brown and Kirkman's Tree of Georgia, Godfrey's forest-crowned Plants of northern Florida, and Wofford's leafy Plants of Tennessee. Lance's just discovered hook is also special in that it deals with twig characters-his makes it especially useful in conjunction with other works in broadening one's ability to differentiate forest-covered plants throughout the year.

This novel book is remarkably detailed and carefully execut with careful line drawings of in the greatest degree species. I know that Ron has exhausted many years (he says 18) and many miles working revealed his knowledge of woody plants. I believe each bit of this book is based forward his personal observation and trial. He has worked with many knowledgeable family in the South who have helped him find and understand the diversity of interesting plants completely through the region. I think you will find this work refreshing and a pleasure to use. It also incorporates the latest taxonomic changes as well.

The layout of the part is good and practical. It starts with a narrative introduction of background upon the region and its provinces and natural features. There are line drawings of for the use of all characters used in identification: leaf features and twig features. The many pages contain eight key-notes to the genera of plants, with headings designed to separate disposes such as: "leaves persistent all or part of the winter," "opposite leaves; terminal sprout present," "leaves alternate; bundle scar deem obscured," and so on. While I do not like bracketed guides because I like to diocese which genera fall out together, these work well. the same anecdote: In Key H (alternate with 4 or more budget scars), the first couplet begins "Sap hazardous!" and leads to Toxicodendron. Just as in keying Cnidoscolus in the Manual of the Flora of the Carolinas where it warns "stinging trichomes," I many times wonder how one who is keying these for the first time knows what is happening until it is too late. fundamental notes however, remind us of what we already know, and we learn a certain quantity of things the hard way no matter what.

The majority of the volume is the descriptive paragraph and keys to species. Rather than arrange the species by means of family, Lance's book arranges them alphabetically through genus. Each genus entry lists authority, used by all name (in caps), family name, and figure number. Then there is a first note of the scale to species, followed by brief notes about each species. There are no botanical descriptions or dot maps, yet there is information on habitat and range, distinguishing features, and useful notes of biology or ecology Certain genera, notably Crataegus and Rubus, have thoroughly good introductory notes on their taxonomic history. Ron's explanations may be the best I have seen as he tries to narrow down the confusion and at hand a practical treatment, in these cases by way of dividing the species into groups

I like this work a lot. It includes commonly contested cultivated plants that have escaped-horticulturists will find this especially useful. It gives useful notes upon distinguishing similar species. It includes, for example, probably for the first time, all of the species of Aesculus in the Southeast. In the genus Rhododendron he includes the newly described R eastmanii, although he does not indicate it is ground in the upper piedmont of southern Carolina. And I am not convinced that his separation of R minus from R carolinianum expounds that problem, either. Overall, granting it's a wondrous treatment of plants that I be in love with and you too will be delighted with considering his dealings with the difficult genera Carya, Hypericum, Ilex, Quercus, Vaccinium, Viburnum, and Yucca.

Get this volume for class teaching, to use in conjunction with other fit books that have color pictures, and to just sit and read. It is a milestone of bosky plant taxonomy for the Southeast and should be forward every bookshelf and in each advanced student's hand. Let's not make no use of the art of plant identification.-T. LAWRENCE MELLICHAMP, DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28223

T LAWRENCE MELLICHAMP, DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28223

Copyright Southern Appalachian Botanical Society Jun 2005

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