BOOK REVIEW

California mosses. By Bill Malcolm, Nancy Malcolm, Jim Shevock & Dan Norris. 2009. Micro-Optics Press. 430 pp., ISBN 0-9582224-5-2. Price: US $68.00 + postage (hardback). Available from California Native Plant Society (http://www. cnps.org/store.php?crn=52&rn=477& action=show_detail) This book is yet another example of the Malcolms’ magnificent photography. Of the 600+ moss species known to occur in California, about half are illustrated with the sumptuous color photographs we have come to expect from the Malcolms. For smaller genera, only a single species is illustrated but for larger genera (and favorites) additional species are illustrated. For each treated species, there are several photographs, including a habit photo, leaves, and cellular details. For some species a sporophyte is illustrated, but peristome details are not provided because the user is expected to be able to identify the mosses with just a hand-lens. For each treated moss, morphological details are provided, along with commentary on taxa that can be confused. Almost all the remaining 300+ taxa are illustrated with black-andwhite leaf outlines. The plates are arranged following the phylogenetic sequence published in Goffinet et al. (2008). This sequence is a good example of the schizophrenic nature of the book. In an effort to reach the maximum audience, both professional bryologists and amateur nature lovers are targeted. For the professional, the phylogenetic sequence of mosses will help locate taxa, and the comments are useful in tracking down the right species if only a congeneric species is illustrated. For example, the new generic segregates from Bryum and Racomitrium are recognized and having their photos side by

side allows some insights into how to separate these taxa that are difficult to key at best (e.g., see Spence & Ramsay, 2006). The incredibly high level of resolution, especially for photos of cellular detail, gives one the impression of actually looking through the microscope. I only wish I could make such uniformly thin leaf cross-sections! For the bryologically uninitiated, on the upper right corner of each page is a black-and-white leaf outline. In the back of the book, all 600+ taxa of California mosses (excepting a mere five) have the leaf outlines, first arranged by shape, and then taxonomically. These are supposed to be used in the same way that flower color might be used in a wildflower guide. Therefore, mosses with similar shaped leaves, but otherwise with no particular relationship, are clustered together. I personally find this difficult to use, or else I just have a bad attitude about it. For example, it is hard to imagine confusing Tortula and Rosulabryum, yet they are grouped together because of a similar leaf shape. Unfortunately, there are no scale bars on the page upon page of leaf outlines and so without the background knowledge things might look similar in shape but in reality are vastly different in size. Without question this attractive book will raise the profile of mosses in California, and will be a great companion to the keys that the junior authors have already published (Norris & Shevock, 2004). If it is not specifically targeted for professional bryologists, we can’t really complain because most moss floras are just that. For those who have come upon mosses later in life, this book will only ensnare them further with its glorious photographs. It truly emphasizes the morphological diversity found in what might appear to be just shades of green (don’t be fooled by the psychedelic colors of some of the moss photographs) to

Brittonia, 62(3), 2010, pp. 300–301 © 2010, by The New York Botanical Garden Press, Bronx, NY 10458-5126 U.S.A.

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bryological novices. With a well-educated, outdoor-loving California population, this book may well bring mosses more to their deserved spotlight in The Golden State. Certainly it should be on the book shelf not just of every bryologist, but any nature lover. –WILLIAM R. BUCK, INSTITUTE OF SYSTEMATIC BOTANY, THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN, BRONX, NY 10458–5126, U.S.A e-mail: [email protected]

Literature Cited Goffinet, B., W. R. Buck & A. J. Shaw. 2008. Morphology, anatomy, and classification of the Bryophyta. Pages 55–138. In B. Goffinet & A. J. Shaw (eds.), Bryophyte Biology, ed. 2. Cambridge University Press, New York. Norris, D. H. & J. R. Shevock. 2004. Contributions toward a bryoflora of California II. A key to the mosses. Madroño 51: 133–269. Spence, J. R. & H. P. Ramsay. 2006. Bryaceae. In Flora of Australia 51(1): 274–348. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, VIC, Australia.