Bookreviews

SOME EAST

NOTES

ON THE

GEOBOTANICAL

M. ZOHA~Y: G E O B O T A N I C A L

FOUNDATIONS

MONOGRAPH OF TttE

OF THE

MIDDLE

MIDDLE

EAST

Geobotanica selecta, 3, -- G. Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, Swets et Zeitlinger, A m s t e r d a m 1973, 2 volumes, 739 pp., 219 Figs. Our knowledge of the flora a n d vegetation of the "Midle E a s t " is still very f r a g m e n t a r y , a l t h o u g h botanical investigation of t h i s region was s t a r t e d in t h e s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y b y L. RA~WOLFF (1583) a n d continued t h r o u g h such renowned b o t a n i s t s as TOURNEFORT, FORSSKAAL, GMELIN, KOTSCttY, BOISSIER, N-~B~LEK a n d m a n y others. I t is a v a s t area w i t h very h i g h m o u n t a i n s a n d deep depressions, with forests as well as deserts, partly very difficult for travelling, p a r t l y nearly inaccessible. On the other hand, some parts of the area are well investigated so t h a t there is some possibility of "interpolation". M. ZOHAR~'S book tries to elucidate the phytogeographical complexity of t h i s area, including Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, Crete, Israel, Jordan, Arabia a n d Egypt. The a u t h o r ' s itineraries cover m o s t of these lands, with the exception of Saudi Arabia a n d U p p e r Egypt. ZOHAR~ discusses first the e n v i r o n m e n t of t h i s area {land forms, climate, soils) presenting several m a p s a n d " h y d r o t h e r m i c curves" (i.e. t h e " K l i m a d i a g r a m m e " of W A L T ~ a n d LIETH). The diversity of the e n v i r o n m e n t of the studied area m a y be illustrated e.g. b y e n u m e r a t i o n of its soil types: c h e s t n u t soils, brown forest soils, terra rossa, rendzina, sierozem, brown steppe soils, h a m m a d a , loess, desert p a v e m e n t s , saline soils, sands, etc, The second chapter discusses t h e Flora of the Middle E a s t , the third deals with some plant- geographical concepts, dividing t h e area into the Eurosiberian region, the Meditcrranian region, the :[rano-Turanian region and the Saharo-Arabian a n d the Sudanian regions. The following five chatpcrs deal with each of these regions in turn. Chapter IX. gives a n interesting m e t h o d for visualising the m a i n characters of, vegetation b y long distance latitudinal or longitudinal transects. Chapter X. deal with endemism, origin a n d migrations, revealing interesting facts a b o u t t h e history of the Flora of the studied area, whose endemies a n d subendemics a m o u n t to 70% of the whole flora. The second volume discusses the vegetation itself, first the edificators of the vegetal landscape and then individual formations, characterizing their ecology and giving a survey of their vegetation classes, orders and alliances, illustrated by "sample records" of associations belonging there (i.e. lists of species without quantitative assessment or inlormation on their constancy). The last chapter brings a very interesting survey of the influence of man on thc vegetation and flora throughout the ages. This is extremely interesting, as the centre of origin of many cultivated plants is situated in the area studied here. Photographs, maps and diagrams illustrate all the chapters of the book well. ZOHARY'S book is an important contribution to knowledge of the vegetation of this little known part of the world, It is clear that it cannot provide equal information about all the lands investigated. As I am familiar only with a small part of the area in question, i.e. with Iraq, i can judge the amount and quality of information in ZOHAI~Y's book only for this parti~.ular area. ZOtIAI~Y'S Geobotanical outline m a p of the Middle E a s t contains the following formations in Iraq: The Kurdo-Zagrossian steppe forest climaxes, I r a n o - t u r a n i a n steppe a n d desert vegeration (Artemisietea herbae-albae rnesopotamica), Saharo-Arabian desert vegetation (At~abasetea articulatae), S u d a n i a n a n d Sub-Sudanian vegetation, Halo- a n d H y d r o p h y t i c vegetation. These vegetation t y p e s cover indeed the bulk of the bioms of Iraq. More information m a y be found in the t e x t a n d in two longitudinal a n d latitudinal transects across t h e whole territory.

FOLIA GEOBOTANICA :ET PHYTOTAXONOMICA, 9, 1974

318

This vegetation picture agrees in its m a i n outlines w i t h m y own observations, requiring one or two a m e n d m e n t s or corrections. The steppe NE, E a n d S of Jebel Sinjar is, according to m y observations, characterized by a c o m m u n i t y d o m i n a t e d b y Pea sinaica with Ranunculus asiaticus, Anemone coronaria etc. T h i s c o m m u n i t y is m e n t i o n e d in ZOHA~Y'S transects, b u t in the s u m m a r i z i n g chapter on the I r a n o - T u r a n i a n territory in I r a q only t h e Pea bulbosa-Ranunculus asiaticus association is discussed. The tropical element in t h e flora a n d vegetatiou of S. I r a q seems to be more represented t h a n ZOHARY'S m o n o g r a p h suggests; we could n a m e e.g. Ceratopteris thalictroides, Torulinium or Cakile arabica etc. I n the SW p a r t of t h e Southern Desert S. of S h u b a i c h a down to the N e u t r a l Zone there e x t e n d s a relatively broad t e r r i t o r y (about 200 • 100 km) of a h a m a d a with Artemisietum herbaealbae, where ZO~ARY'S m a p shows Sahara-Arabian desert vegetation (Anabasetea articulatae). The vegetation of t h e h i g h e r m o u n t a i n s is presented very poorly. It seems t h a t ZOHA~Y does n o t like m o u n t a i n vegetation. Not an unsignificant p a r t of Zagros m o u n t a i n s is covered b y c o m m u n i t i e s of Astragalus sect. Tragacantha, Prangos ferulacea, P. pabularia, etc., where ZOHARY'S m a p s show Q~tercetea Brantii. None the less, t h e m a i n outlines of vegetation types are correct a n d it is clear t h a t ZOHARY'S book will be useful to phytogeographers for m a n y years to come. EMIL HADA~ S[EGH&RD ~VL~CKLER

EINFlYHRUNG

IN

DIE

PFLANZENOKOLOGIE

G. Fischer-Verlag, S t u t t g a r t 1973, 220 S., 80 Abb. Dieses T a s c h e n b u c h v c r s u e h t den heutigen Z u s t a n d dieser sich raseh entwickelnden biologischen Disziplin zu fiberblicken. Dabei n i m m t der Vcrfasscr die m o d e r n s t e n Ergebnisse in Betracht. D a s B u c h ist in drei A b s c h n i t t e gcteilt -- Syn6kologie, Aut6kologie u n d PopulationsSkologie. Diese Absch~itte sind versehieden nicht n u r im U m f a n g sondern a u c h in der Bearbeitung. Der Syn6kologie sind 32 Seiten gewidmet trod dcr T e x t ist in sieben Kapitel geteilt. Die Begriffe 0 k o s y s t e m , N ~ h r u n g s k e t t e u n d N~hrtmgsnetz, P r o d u k t i o n trod Energiefluss sind erl~.utert u n d d u r c h Beispiele illustriert. E i n Kapitel ist den biogeochemischen Kreisl~ufen gewidmet. Ein weiteres Kapitel b e h a n d e l t die Sukzession a n d den K l i m a x . Der A b s e h n i t t fiber Syn6kologie ist m i t d e m Kapitel fiber die U n t e r s u c h u n g s m e t h o d e n abgeschlosscn. Den K e r n des Buches bildet der A b s c h n i t t fiber die Aut6kologie, der 136 Seiten umfa~st u n d viel ausftihrlicher bearbeitet ist. Der T e x t ist traditionell n a e h einzelncn :Faktoren in Kapitel gegliedert, u n d zwar d a s Wasser, die T e m p e r a t u r , das Licht, das S u b s t r a t u n d das Wasser (als 8ubstrat). Zu diesen K a p i t e l n ist das K a p i t e l tiber die gegenseitigen Beeinflussung (Alleopathie, Symbiose, E p i p h y t i s m u s u n d Parasitismus) zugefiigt. Der letztc a n d kleinste A b s e h n i t t ist der PopulationsSkologie gewidmet. E r u m f a s s t n u r 16 Seitea u n d ist den bisher n i c h t allzu sehr d u r c h f o r s c h t e n Problemen der Bioz6nosenentstehung. der Populationseigenschaften u n d der E v o l u t i o n u n d Artbildung gewidmet. Der T e x t ist m i t passenden, verschiedenen W e r k e n e n t n o m m e n c n A b b i l d u n g e n illustriert a n d durch ein u m f a n g r e i c h e s Literaturverzeichnis u n d Sachregister erg&nzt. Der Leser v e r m i s s t einen A b s c h n i t t fiber die LandschaftsSkologie, die sich in den letzten Dczenien zu entwiekeln begann. Die Landsehafts6kologie bildct die Brficke zwischen der Biologie u n d der wissenschaftlichen Regelung der m e n s c h l i c h e n T~tigkeit in der L a n d s c h a f t u n d gewinnt i m m e r m e h r an B e d e u t u n g . JAROSLAV ~ORAVEC

~0OKREV~nWS

319

~ALPH E. CLELAND

OENOTHERA.

CYTOGENETICS

AND

EVOLUTION

A c a d e m i c Press, L o n d o n et N e w Y o r k 1972, 370 p., 69 Figs. (incl. p h o t o s a n d m a p s ) , 29 T a b s . T h i s book is t h e fifth v o l u m e in a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l series of m o n o g r a p h s e n t i t l e d " E x p e r i m e n t a l b o t a n y " : like t h e p r e c e d i n g four v o l u m e s it h a s s u c c e e d e d a d m i r a b l y in t h e p u r p o s e of t h e series. W r i t t e n b y a c o m p e t e n t e x p e r t in t h e c y t o l o g y of t h e e v e n i n g p r i m r o s e s , t h e b o o k r e p r e s e n t s a v e r y r e a d a b l e a c c o u n t of t h e t o p i c covered. Since o n l y little p r i o r k n o w l e d g e of c y t o g e n e t i c s is a s s u m e d , it is a n ideal p u b l i c a t i o n for a wide r a n g e of users; b o t h g e n e t i c i s t s a n d t a x o n o m i s t s , I a m sure, will r e a d t h i s v o l u m e w i t h interest. F o r s o m e n i n e t y y e a r s t h e Oenothera g e n u s (subgen. Oenothera) h a s s e r v e d as a m o d e l u s e d p r i m a r i l y for e x t e n s i v e i n v e s t i g a t i o n of e v o l u t i o n a r y processes w i t h i n a g r o u p of o r g a n i s m s s h o w i n g a r a t h e r u n u s u a l p a t t e r n of i n h e r i t a n c e . T h i s w o r k b e g a n w i t h t h e w e l t - k n o w n discoveries m a d e b y DE VI~IES. H i s o b s e r v a t i o n s a n d especially h i s m u t a t i o n t h e o r y , b e i n g e s s e n t i a l l y b a s e d on t h i s m a t e r i a l , d i r e c t e d t h e a t t e n t i o n of b o t h g e n e t i c i s t s a n d c y t o l o g i s t s to t h e Oenothera s t u d y ( e . g . O . RENNER, P~. 1~,. GATES, B. M. DAVIS, H. H. BARTLETT, A. ~-~AKANSSON, g . H. SHULL, C. D. DARLINGTON, S. H. EMERSON', ]~'. OEHLKERS, D. C. CATCHESIDE, a n d m o r e r e c e n t l y W. ST~'BBE, E. E. STEI•ER, F. SCHOTZ, a. O.). T h e a u t h o r of t h e p r e s e n t m o n o g r a p h , t h e late Professor R. E. CLELAND, h a s c o n t r i b u t e d c o n s i d e r a b l y to t h e e x p l a n a t i o n of a n e x c e p t i o n a l t y p e of c h r o m o s o m e b e h a v i o u r in Oenothera i n c l u d i n g its genetical i m p l i c a t i o n s . H i s f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h d e v e l o p m e n t s t h a t h a v e led to p r e s e n t s t a t e of k n o w l e d g e of Oenothera c y t o g e n e t i c s h a s e n a b l e d h i m to p r o d u c e n o t o n l y a s u r v e y of r e s u l t s b u t also a f a s c i n a t i n g historical o u t l i n e of t h e classical period o f t h e Oenothera research. T h e m a t t e r is n e a t l y p a c k a g e d in f o u r p a r t s w i t h e a c h i t e m in its logical place. T h e r e a s o n for t h e s u b - d i v i s i o n is clear. P a r t I e n t i t l e d " G e n e t i e a l b e h a v i o u r of Oenothera" c o n t a i n s t h r e e c h a p t e r s describing t h e f o u n d a t i o n s , n a m e l y n]~ VRIES' c o n c e p t s of e v o l u t i o n a n d h i s e a r l y genetical e x p e r i m e n t s r e s u l t i n g in t w o s y s t e m s of classification of races a n d m u t a n t s , a n d RENNER'S t h e o r y of c o m p l e x e s . P a r t I I a n d two c h a p t e r s of P a r t I I I (under h e a d i n g s " P h y s i c a l b a s i s of g e n e t i e a l pecularitics of Oenothera" a n d " S p e c i a l a s p e c t s of Oenothera c y t o g e n e t i c s " ) are i n t e n d e d to be e s s e n t i a l l y cytological. T h e former c o n s i s t s of t h r e e c h a p t e r s a n d c o n c e r n s t h e p h e n o m e n o n of c h r o m o s o m e e a t e n a t i o n , e x p l a i n s t h e c a u s e of circle f o r m a t i o n in Oenothera a n d i l l u s t r a t e s t h e m e t h o d s of a n a l y s e s of s e g m e n t a l a r r a n g e m e n t s of t h e complexes. T h u s t h e m a t e r i a l of P a r t I m a y be o m i t t e d o n first r e a d i n g a n d m a y be r e t u r n e d to after P a r t I I h a s been read. T h e a b o v e is followed b y c h a p t e r s ( P a r t I I I ) d e a l i n g w i t h c h r o m o s o m e m o r p h o l o g y , c h r o m o s o m e s t r u c t u r e a n d meiosis. T h e s o m a t i c a n d p a r t l y e v e n t h e meiotic c h r o m o s o m e s of Oenothera m a y h a r d l y be considered as suitable m a t e r i a l for detailed e x a m i n a t i o n ; c o n s e q u e n t l y , o u r k n o w ledge is still r a t h e r poor in t h i s respect. D i a k i n e s i s a n d t h e later s t a g e s of m e i o t i c division are d i s c u s s e d in m o r e d e t a i l i n c l u d i n g t h e possible m e c h a n i s m s of t r a n s l o c a t i o n s . C h a p t e r s t h e n follow c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e m a j o r c o m p l i c a t i o n s i n v o l v e d in t h e g e n e t i c a n a l y s i s of R e n n e r complexes, t h e c r o s s i n g over, t h e p o s i t i o n effect, t h e n a t u r e of s e l f - i n c o m p a t i b i l i t y a n d t h e p l a s t i d b e h a v i o u r in Oenothera. Special a t t e n t i o n is g i v e n to two cases of i n c o n s t a n t c h a r a c t e r s (cruciate a n d m i s s i n g petals); n o t e s h i t h e r t o u n p u b l i s h e d are p r e s e n t e d in t h i s t e x t . T h e l a s t a n d l a r g e s t p a r t o f t h e b o o k is d e v o t e d to e v o l u t i o n a r y c o n s i d e r a t i o n s a n d t a x o n o m i c i m p l i c a t i o n s . T h e n a t u r e of m u t a t i o n s in Oenothera is d i s c u s s e d in t w o c h a p t e r s ; it is well k n o w n t o d a y t h a t v e r y few o f DE VRIES" m u t a n t s were t r u e gone m u t a t i o n s ; m o s t of t h e m were i n d i v i d u a l s w i t h a l t e r e d c h r o m o s o m e n u m b e r s , especially trisomies. P o i n t m u t a t i o n s also occurred rarely in t h e e x p e r i m e n t s w i t h i n d u c e d m u t a t i o n s . T h e h y b r i d origin of O. lamarckiana is t h e topic of c h a p t e r s e v e n t e e n . A large s e c t i o n deals w i t h t h e e v o l u t i o n of N o r t h A m e r i c a n O e n o t h e r a s (subgen. Oenothera). CLELAND e n d s w i t h a s u r v e y of t h e Oenothera flora of E u r o p e b a s e d essentially (with s o m e criticism) on REN~-E~'S studies. A c c o r d i n g to t h e a u t h o r , Oenothera is n o t i n d i g e n o u s to E u r o p e : s o m e of t h e E u r o p e a n t a x a (incl. 0 biennis) were i n t r o d u c e d f r o m t h e w e s t e r n h e m i s p h e r e , s o m e o t h e r s are c o n s i d e r e d to be p r o d u c t s of h y b r i d i z a t i o n (e.g. O. lamarckia*~a. O. renneri, O. rubricaulis, O. suaveolens). CLELAND s t r o n g l y e m p h a s i z e s ,,the i m p o r t a n c e of d e t e r m i n i n g c h r o m o s o m e c o n f i g u r a t i o n s , a n d of a n a l y z i n g s e g m e n t a l a r r a n g e m e n t s in s t u d i e s of Oenothera t a x o n o m y " , a n d c l a i m s : " O n l y w h e n t h i s is d o n e it is possible to d e t e r m i n e t h e origin a n d r e l a t i o n s h i p s of wild r a c e s . "

320

FOLIA G E O B O T A N I C A

ET

:PHYTOTAXONOMICA, 9, 1974

T h e r e are t w o a p p e n d i c e s in t h e book: t h e first is a list of s e g m e n t a l a r r a n g e m e n t s of c o m p l e x e s o f N o r t h A m e r i c a n a n d E u r o p e a n O e n o t h e r a s (subgen. Oenothera), t h e o t h e r is a descript i o n o f m i c r o t e e h n i q u e u s e d in p r e p a r a t i o n o f m i c r o s p o r o c y t e s o f Oe~othera. T h e book is e x q u i s i t e l y produced. JOSE," M~SI(~EK

A. C. JERMY, J. A. CRABSE, B. A. THOMAS (ed.) THE

PHYLOGENY

AND

CLASSIFICATION

OF

THE

FERNS

P u b l i s h e d for t h e L i n n e a n Society o f L o n d o n b y A c a d e m i c Press. Pp. 284. 9 s ( ~ J o u r n a l of t h e L i n n e a n Society, L o n d o n , 67/1973, Suppl. 1).

Botanical

M o n o t h e m a t i e s y m p o s i a a r e b e c o m i n g i n c r e a s i n g l y i m p o r t a n t in t h e e x c h a n g e of scientific inf o r m a t i o n . A n u m b e r h a s been organized b y t h e L i n n e a n Society of L o n d o n a n d t h e r e s u l t s published in s u p p l e m e n t s to t h e j o u r n a l s (Biological, B o t a n i c a l , a n d Zoological) o f t h e Society. T h e v o l u m e r e v i e w e d here r e s u l t e d f r o m a s y m p o s i u m h e l d in L o n d o n in April 1972 a n d d e v o t e d to t h e p r o b l e m s of p h y l o g e n y a n d classification of ferns. T h e v o l u m e is n o t o n l y a collection o f p a p e r s r e a d a t t h e m e e t i n g . Some p a p e r s h a v e been a d d e d a n d t h o s e p r e s e n t e d h a v e been c o m p l e t e d to i n c l u d e t h e r e s u l t s of t h e discussion. T h e v o l u m e c o n t a i n s 17 p a p e r s a n d t h e c l o s i n g a d d r e s s b y t h e well k n o w n pteridologist Prof. MAN~'O~. Topics i n c l u d e d p r o b l e m s o f t a x o n o m y , m o r p h o l o g y , g e o g r a p h y , karyology, a n d p h y t o e h e m i s t r y of ferns. A special e m p h a s i s w a s laid on S. E. ~I. s t u d i e s of t h e spore c h a r a c t e r s . Of t h e rich c o n t e n t s of t h e v o l u m e only s o m e p a p e r s m a y be briefly m e n t i o n e d here. i n his i n t r o d u c t o r y p a p e r , HOLTTU~I s t r e s s e d t h e ever i n c r e a s i n g i m p o r t a n c e of m o n o g r a p h i c s t u d i e s b r i n g i n g n e w i n f o r m a t i o n . A t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e m a n y ferns i m p o r t a n t for t h e s o l u t i o n of p h y l o g e n e t i e a l p r o b l e m s are in d a n g e r of e x t i n c t i o n , c a u s i n g a n irreparable loss. PICI:II-SERMOLLI r e v i e w e d t h e fern classifications f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g to t h e p r e s e n t t i m e in a g r e a t detail. H i s a p p r e c i a t i o n of PRESL'S classification proposals will be of interest to Czechoslov a k b o t a n i s t s . H e also e m p h a s i z e d t h e n e c e s s i t y for closer c o n t a c t w i t h p a l e o b o t a n i s t s . VAX COTT~ d e m o n s t r a t e d t h e significance of s t o m ~ t a l t y p e s attd ATI,:INSON t h a t o f g ~ m e t o p h y t e c h a r a c t e r e for t h e s y s t e m a t i e s of ibrns. I t is e v i d e n t f r o m WAI;~ER'S r e p o r t on t h e c y t o l o g y o f f e r n s t h a t t h e progress m a d e in t h e p a s t t w e n t y y e a r s is u n e q u a l l e d in a n y p l a n t grout). A t p r e s e n t , c h r o m o s o m e n u m b e r s are k n o w n for 15 p e r c e n t of species a n d 67 p e r c e n t of g e n e r a o f ferns, i n c l u d i n g m a n ) , tropical t a x a . P r o b l e m s of d e t e r m i n i n g basic c h r o m o s o m e n u m b e r s a r e d i s c u s s e d a n d s o m e n e w c h r o m o s o m e n u m b e r s are reported. SwAIn- a n d COOP)2R-DRIVER e x a m i n e d biochemical d a t a w i t h respect to t h e c'lassification of Filicopsida. E v e n t h o u g h m a n y d a t a h a v e been a c c u m u l a t e d , t h i s t r e n d in fern r e s e a r c h is still in its b e g i n n i n g s . Some r e s u l t s h a v e , however, h e l p e d us to u n d e r s t a n d i n t r i c a t e t a x o n o m i e e o m p l e x e s . F o r i n s t a n c e , k n o w l e d g e of t h e v a r i a t i o n of acylphloroglue.inols in Dryopteris a m t t h a t o f flavonoids in Aspleni~lm revealed i n t r o g r e s s i v e h y b r i d i z a t i o n in t h e s e g r o u p s a n d in Dryopteris it c o n t r i b u t e d to a n e v e n m o r e precise s u b d i v i s i o n t h a n t h a t r e a c h e d b y g e n e m e a n a lysis. T h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f b i f l a v o n y l s s h o w s t h a t t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s b e t w e e n Selagi~ella a n d o t h e r Lycopsida (as well as b e t w e e n Gyrnr~ospermae a n d G~etales) are n o t so close as p r e v i o u s l y believed. R . a n d A. TRu studied the relationships between geographical distribution and morphological v a r i a t i o n of spores in e h e i l a n t h o i d f(~rns. T h i s s t u d y d e m o n s t r a t e s e v o l u t i o n a r y r e l a t i o n s h i p s b e t w e e n t a x a of t h e generie r a n k . Cases of c o n v e r g e n c e h a v e also been recorded. HOLTTV M discusses s o m e f e a t u r e s of t h e Thelypteridaceae from t h e Old W o r l d s h e d d i n g light on t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h i n t h e family. WOOD s t u d i e d t h e v a r i a t i o n of spores in Thelypteridace(~e a n d s t a t e d a fairly clear c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e spore m o r p h o l o g y , karyological d a t a a n d gross m o r p h o l o g y (and also e x c e p t i o n s ) in v a r i o u s g r o u p s in t h i s family. SLEDG~ a n a l y z e d t h e p r o b l e m o f generic a n d f a m i l y l i m i t s in t h e A~'pidiaeeae a n d Athyriaceae; h e q u e s t i o n s t h e v a l i d i t y of t h e c h a r a c t e r s s e p a r a t i n g t h e latter; he r e f u s e s to recognize Athyriaceae a n d i n c l u d e s it in Aspidiaceae. i n t h e o p i n i o n of t h e p r e s e n t r e v i e w e r t h i s n e e d s to be c o n f i r m e d b y f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n . Lows writes on t h e b i o s y s t e m a t i c a p p r o a c h to p h y l o g e n e t i e p r o b l e m s w i t h special r e g a r d to Aspleniaceae. R e s u l t s of s t u d i o s of c h r o m o s o m e n u m b e r s , e h r o m o s o m e m o r p h o l o g y , c h r o m o s o m e

]~OOXaEVlEWS

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p a i r i n g a n d c r o s s - c o m p a t i b i l i t y are reviewed. F o r t h e Aspleniaceae a h i g h n u m b e r o f intergeneric h y b r i d s is c h a r a c t e r i s t i c , i n c l u d i n g e v e n trigeneric ones (e. g. Asplenium • Ceterach • Phyllitis). T h i s is also t h e case in s o m e h i g h l y e v o l v e d families of A n g i o s p e r m s as for i n s t a n c e Orchidaceae, Poaceae a n d Asteraceae. C o n s i d e r i n g t h e special e v o l u t i o n a r y c h a r a c t e r o f t h i s f a m i l y , t h e a u t h o r preferred to m a i n t a i n t h o s e t a x a as s e p a r a t e g e n e r a r a t h e r t h a n to i n c l u d e t h e m in t h e h u g e g e n u s Asplenium. SOTA d e a l s w i t h t h e classification a n d p h y l o g e n y o f t h e Polypodiaceae s. s. T h e g r e a t e s t d i v e r s i t y a n d t h e m o s t p r i m i t i v e t a x a are f o u n d in s o u t h e a s t e r n A s i a where t h e a u t h o r places t h e c e n t r e of origin of t h a t f a m i l y . WA~NEa pleaded for a n ecological a p p r o a c h a n d for t h e e x p l a n a t i o n o f c h a r a c t e r s t a t e s in t e r m s of t h e i r biological m e a n i n g . I n his p a p e r s o m e general p r o b l e m s of t a x o n o m i c work are also m e n t i o n e d , m a i n l y c o n c e r n i n g its s u b j e c t i v e c h a r a c t e r . A l t e r n a t i v e h y p o t h e s e s m u s t be p r e s e n t e d a n d t e s t e d b y t h e r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d . T h e m a i n obstacle h i n d e r i n g t h e e m p l o y m e n t of n u m e r i c a l t a x o n o m y s e e m s to be t h e insufficient a m o u n t of i m p o r t a n t d a t a . T h i s follows also f r o m t h e p a p e r s of several o t h e r a u t h o r s . P a p e r s oil S. E. M. s t u d i e s of spores are a c c o m p a n i e d b y s u p e r b p h o t o g r a p h s . S. E. M. s t u d i e s c e r t a i n l y a r e p r o m i s i n g a n d m a y p r o v e e x t r e m e l y useful for b o t h d i a g n o s t i c p u r p o s e s a n d e v o l u t i o n a r y considerations. T h e book, p u b l i s h e d b y t h e A c a d e m i c Press, L o n d o n , is a d m i r a b l y p r o d u c e d , b o t h as to t h e q u a l i t y of t h e r e p r o d u c t i o n , a n d t h e p a p e r a n d b i n d i n g . I t will be s o u g h t a f t e r n o t o n l y b y fern specialists b u t also b y t h o s e i n t e r e s t e d in t a x o n o m y a n d p h y l o g e n y in general. T h e editors s h o u l d be t h a n k e d for e n a b l i n g o t h e r b o t a n i s t s to g a i n a n i n s i g h t into c o n t e m p o r a r y fern s y s t e m a t i c s , n o t o n l y a t t h e p h e n e t i c (as m i g h t be a n t i c i p a t e d f r o m t h e B r i t i s h Isles) b u t e v e n at t h e p h y l o g e n e t i c level. JOSEF HOLUB

F. A. Nov),K VY~f

ROSTLINY

(TRACHEOPHYTA)

[ H 6 h e r e Pflanzen] A c a d e m i a , P r a h a 1972, 2. Auflage, 2 Bfinde, 988 Seiten, 424 Abb.

P r e i s 140.-- KSs.

Die erste Aufiage dicses B u s h e s erscbien i m J a h r e 1961 u n d w u r d e sehnell vergriffen, l)er A u t o r , Professor der Khrls-Universiti~t in P r a g , bereitete die zweitc Auflage vor, aber dies~' A r b e i t b e e n d i g t e er IIicht m e h r . N a c h s e i n e m T o d e w u r d e (lie Arbeit y o n Dr. F. STAR~~ g c m c i n s a m m i t d a m w i s s e n s c h a f t l i c h e n IZedakteur Prof. Dr. E. DAI;~IA~'N- n n d m i t d e n Rezensente.,l Dr. I. KL~.~TERSK~ U.tld Dr. J. HOLUB fortgesetzt. D a s M a n u s k r i p t w u r d c s c h o n i m J a h r e 1967 heedingt. I n der zweiten Aufiage w u r d e der allgemeine Tell w c s e n t l i c h erweitert, aber a u c h im spezicll('n Tell w u r d e n zahlreiche ~i.nderungen durchgef(ihrt. Die L i t e r a t u r w u r d e m i t ~muen Pu.blikationen ergtmzt, es blieb jedoch eiii F e h l e r a u s der 1. Auflage u i i b e m e r k t : der A u t o r der A r b e i t a.~ff S. 3(.}9 h e i s s t n i e h t V. VLK. s o n d e r n V. VAL~:NTA. Als N e u h e i t warden s u c h die C h r o m o s o m e u g r u n d z a h l e i i bei F a m i l i e n angefiihrt. Die G l i e d c r u n g des S y s t e m s blieb in (lrmxdziigen (his zu d e n [~iiterabteilungen) dicsclbe wie in erster Auflage u n d ist y o n d e n iiblich benntitzt.en S y s t e m e n r e c h t uIlterschiedlich. 1)is Gef/isspflanzen v e r t e i l t der A u t o r in 8 Untera.bteilungeil: Psilotopbyti~a, Lepidopt~yti~la, Stel,'b.yo. phyti~a, Psygmophyti~a, Co~iferol~hyti~a, Psilopt~yti~a, Phytlophyti~a lind Anqio~pcrmophyti~a. Er m a e h t k e i n e n sch/irferen U n t e r s c h i e d zwisehelx d e n I ' t e r i d o p h y t e n u n d Sp('rmat,.)l)hytcn. die z. B. K. ~I.:~GZ)EFRAU u n d P. EHRENDORFER (STRASSBUR[;EI~;L e h r b u e h der Botanik. e(1. 3~t, J e n a 1971) als A b t e i l u n g e n warren, u n d in der NOVXK'S Uilterabteilullg Phyllophyti~a befinde,t sieh z. B. die Filicatae uiid Cycadophytiz~a der e r w i i h n t c n Autoret~. Diese r c i h e n s u c h ~'OVXK'S Psilophytina u n d Psilotophytina in die K l a s s e Psilophytatae i m R a n g dcr O r d n u n g e n eiii. Die G l i e d e r u n g der K l a s s e n u n d niedrigerer E i n h e i t e n ist teilweise ge~indert. E s k a m e n (tie Dirranophyllopsida h i n z u (vorher w u r d e n sie der K l a s s e Gi~kgoopsida beigcordnet), die Taxopsida stellcn in der ersten Auflage (tie U n t e r k l a s s e Pi~opsida dar. Bei der G l i e d e r u n g in O r d n u n g e n k a m cs zu m e h r e r e n A n d e r u n g e n ; m e h r e r e F a m i l i e n wurder} z. B. zu O r d n u n g e n e r h o b e n , bzw. w u r d e n die F a m i l i e n in a n d e r e Klasseii u m g e r e i h t . Diesen A m l e r u n g e n liegen v o r w i e g e n d die n e u e r e n p h y t o p a l ~ o n t o l o g i s c h e n A r b e i t e n insbesoiidere die y o n N~MEJC, z u g r u n d e .

322

F O L I A G E O B O T A N I C A ET PHYTOTAXO:NOMICA, 9, 1974

I m speziellen Tell s i n d die m e i s t e n A n d e r u n g e n u n d E r g a n z u n g e n in d e n P a r t i e n bis zu d e n A n g i o s p e r m o p h y t i n e n zu finden. A u c h in dieser U n t e r a b t e i l u n g gibt es m e h r e r e n e u e A n g a b e n . i n s b e s o n d e r e w a s die fossilen A r t e n , die G a t t u n g s - u n d A r t e n z a h l a n b e l a n g t . E i n i g e A u f s a t z e s i n d griindlich u m g e a r b e i t e t . V o n d e m endgfiltige~l n a t f i r l i c h e n P f l a n z e n s y s t e m t r e n n t mlS n o c h ein l a n g e r W e g . D e r A u t o r w a r sich dieses U m s t a n d e s r e c h t g u t b e w u s s t . E r ffihrte h a u f i g die A n s i c h t e n a n d e r e r A u t o r e n fiber die V e r w a n d t s c h a f t s b e z i e h u n g e n an, er m a c h t e d a r a u f a u f m e r k s a m , d a s s einige P r o b l e m e b i s h e r n o c h n i c h t bis zu E n d e gel6st w o r d e n s i n d lind d a s s a u s d i e s e m G r u n d much seine E i n g l i e d e r t m g m e h r e r e r G r u p p e n n i c h t als definitiv a n g e s e h e n w e r d e n k a n n . E s ist s e h r zu b e d a u e r n , d a s s Professor Novi~= n i c h t m e h r i m s t a n d e war, die Z u r i c h t u n g des M a n u s k r i p t e s ftir die zweite Auflage selbst d u r c h z u f f i h r e n . E s ist ja s e h r sehwierig, eine solche A r b e i t fortzusetzen, i n s b e s o n d e r e w e n n es sich u m e i n W e r k y o n d i e s e m C h a r a k t e r h a n d e l t . E i n e vollstandige, e i n h e i t l i c h e B e a r b e i t u n g k a n n y o n j e m a n d a n d e r e m k a u m gesichert werden. Dies h a t z u r Folge, d a s s i r g e n d w e l e h e P a r t i e n sich m e h r oder weniger w i e d e r h o l e n oder a u c h e i n a n der w i d e r s p r e c h e n . W a s die N o m e n k l a t u r a n b e l a n g t , w u r d e in dieser Auflage a u f , , n o m i n a f a m i l i a r u m conserv a n d a " R f i c k s i c h t g e n o m m e n , so d a s s einige F a m i l i e n - u n d O r d n u n g s n a m e n g e a n d e r t w u r d e n . D i e A r t e n n a m e n in e i n i g e n F a l l e n s i n d n i c h t richtig, dasselbe gilt a u c h fiber ihre A u t o r e n n a m e n . I c h m 6 c h t e einige Beispiele anffihren: Ulmus glabra, n i e h t U. scabra; Bettda pendula, n i c h t B. cerrucosa; Allium montanum, n i c h t A. senescens; u.s.w. ; Petasites paradoxus (RETZ.) BAUMG., n i e h t BAUMG.; Lycopodium issleri (RouY) DOMIN, n i e h t R o u Y . I n der T s c h e e h o s l o w a k e i w a c h s t n i e h t n u r Veratrum album s u b s p , lobelianum, s o n d e r n a u e h s u b s p , album. Die zweite Auflage w u r d e in der D D R g e d r u c k t . Die T y p e n s i n d e t w a s kleiner als in der e r s t e n Auflage, t r o t z d e m liest sich der T e x t a n g e n e h m . Die l l b e r s i c h t l i e h k e i t der G r u p p e n g l i e d e r u n g wird d u r c h d e n U m s t a n d h e r a b g e s e t z t , d a s s die F a m i l i e n n a m e n m i t k l e i n e r e n T y p e n als die U n t e r f a m i l i e n n a m e n a u s g e s e t z t sind, a u c h die T y p e n in d e m U n t e r k l a s s e n n a m e n s i n d w e n i g e r a u s d r u c k s v o l l als in d e m O r d n u n g s n a m e n . Die F e d e r z e i e h n u n g e n s i n d i m g a n z e n g u t r e p r o d u z i e r t , dasselbe k a n n m a n jedoeh n i c h t v o n allen P h o t o g r a p h i e n s a g e n , die in d e r e r s t e n Auflage w e s e n t l i e h b e s s e r g e r a t e n sind. I m B u c h g i b t e s zahlreiche D r u c k f e h l e r , w a s zweifellos d a d u r c h v e r u r s a c h t ist, d a s s d a s B u c h i m A u s l a n d g e d r u e k t w u r d e u n d die D t t r c h f f i h r u n g y o n K o r r e k t u r e n sehwieriger war. D a s B u c h e n t h a l t eine grosse Menge wertvoller u n d n e u e r A n g a b e n , die n i c h t n u r fiir B o t a niker, s o n d e r n a u c h ffir alle, die sich ftir die P f l a n z e n interessieren, nfitzlieh sind. E s stellt eines d e r m o d e r n s t e n W e r k e a u f d i e s e m F a e h g e b i e t dar, u n d d a s baldige Vergriffen a u e h d e r zweiten Auflage is zu e r w a r t e n . W e n n d a s W e r k a u e h in i r g e n d w e l e h e r W e l t s p r a c h e h e r a u s g e g e b e n wiirde, f a n d e es zweifellos a u c h i m A u s l a n d g u t e n A b s a t z . JAN F U T i K

J1~i VICIIEREK

DIE PFLANZENGESELLSCHAFTEN SUBHALOPHYTENVEGETATION

DEI% H A L O P H Y T E N UND DER TSCHECHOSLOWAKEI

A c a d e m i a , P r a g 1973, 200 S., 41 Abb., 25 T a b . in Beilage. I n der P u b l i k a t i o n s r e i h e ,,Vegetace (~SSR A " e r s c h i e n als fiinfter B a n d die l a n g e r w a r t e t e A r b e i t v o n J. VICHERE~=. I n dieser Studie g e l a n g t in die H~inde der Leser eine a b g e s e h l o s s e n e l~bersicht fiber die P r o b l e m a t i k der t t a l o p h y t e n - u n d S u b h a l o p h y t e n v e g e t a t i o n in der Tschechoslowakei. Die h a l o p h y t i s c h e n Gesellschaften stellen zwar e i n e n e x t r e m e n , spezialisierten V e g e t a t i o n s t y p dar, d o c h -- i n s b e s o n d e r e i m Gebiet d e r p a n n o n i s c h e n F l o r a -- b i l d e n sie a u c h e i n e n b e d e u t s a m e n B e s t a n d t e i l des L a n d s c h a f t s k o m p l e x e s u n d ein O b j e k t d e r w i r t s c h a f t l i c h e n A u s n i i t z u n g . D a m i t d e r I n t e n s i v i e r u n g der L a n d w i r t s c h a f t a u c h der D r u c k a u f die K u l t i v a t i o n der F l ~ c h e n m i t H a l o p h y t e n v e g e t a t i o n z u n i m m t , h a t die A r b e i t n i c h t zuletzt a u c h e i n e n g r o s s e n Dokumentationswert. N a c h der e i n l e i t e n d e n l l b e r s i c h t der b i s h e r i g e n E r f o r s c h u n g der t s c h e c h o s l o w a k i s c h e n s a l z l i e b e n d e n F l o r a u n d V e g e t a t i o n folgt ein K a p i t e l , d a s die B e m e r k ~ m g e n z u r a l l g e m e i n e n P r o b l e m a t i k der K l a s s i f i k a t i o n europ~tischer S a l z v e g e t a t i o n einschliesst. D e r A u t o r g r e n z t die

:BOOK:REVIEWS

323

[Begriffe der H a l o p h y t e n - u n d S u b h a l o p h y t e n v e g e t a t i o n u n d der e n t s p r e c h e n d e n Gesellschaften ab, ffihrt das Problem der Klassifikatioa nitrophiler Gesellschaften a u f SalzbSden an u n d wertet die bisherige s y n t a x o n o m i s c h e Gliederung der Salzvegetation. N a c h einem kurzen methodologischen Kapitel folgt die Charakteristik der N a t u r b e d i n g u n g e n des Gebietes, insbesondere v o m G e s i e h t s p u n k t der 6kologischen D u r c h s e t z u n g einzelner F a k t o r e n bei der E n t s t e h u n g ~md Entwicklm~g der Salzvegetation. Der A u t o r weist dara~ff hin, dass ausser den topographischen, geologisch-pedologischen u n d klimatischen B e d i n g u n g e n der Mensch einen ausschlaggebenden Einfluss a u f die E n t s t e h u n g der meisten Okotope ffir Salzvegetation ausfibte; der Mensch h a t sie eigentlich ausgebildet, u n d in der Gegenwart werden sic im Gegenteil von i h m verniehtet. Besonders b e d e u t u n g s v o l l ist das Kapitel, das sieh m i t der phytogeographischen u n d geobotanischen Stellung der Salzflora u n d der Vegetation des pontisch-pannonisches R a u m e s besch~ftigt. Der Autor ging von den b e s t e h e n d e n Salzflorengebiete E u r o p a s aus, analysierte ihre E n t s t e h t m g u n d ftihrte ihre ausfiihrliche phytogeographische Analyse durch. A u s der eingehenderL fioristischen, historischen u n d 6kologisehen Gegenfiberstellung europi~iseher Salzvegetationsgebiete schliesst er d a n n a u f die Notwendigkeit, selbst~ndige, vikarisierende Klassifikationseinheiten fiir die Salzvegetation des pontisch-panxtonischen u n d des (sub)atlantischen R a u m e s aufzustellen. Den K e r n des ganzen Werkes stellt die ausfiihrliche Beschreibung der Gesellsehaften der Halophyten- u n d S u b h a l o p h y t e n v e g e t a t i o n der Tschechoslowakei dar. Der Autor geht v o n d e m hierarchischen Klassifikationssystem der Ziirich-Montpellier-Sehule aus. Biindiger beschreibt er h6here Einheiten, eingehender n i m m t er die Assoziationen u n d Subassoziationen durch; er ffihrt stets die diakritischen Merkmale u n d die synSkologische u n d synmorphologische Charakteristik m i t Ubersicht der Lokalit~iten u n d Verbreitungskarte in der Tseheehoslowakei an. Die Charaktcristik erg~,nzt er m i t einem S p e k t r u m der Lebensformen, S p e k t r u m der geographischen E l e m e n t e u n d m i t einem Hinweis a u f die bezfigliche Literatur. Die Physiognomie der Besti~nde wird der~ Lesern durch eine Anzahl v o n P h o t o g r a p h i e n nigher gebracht. Die H a l o p h y t e n u n d S u b h a l o p h y t e n v e g e t a t i o n ist in sieben K l a s s e n eingereiht, y o n denen zwei (Crypsidetea acaleatae u n d Thero-Suaedetea) veto Autor als n e u besehrieben werden. Die Aufstellung neuer Klassen ist ziemlich ausffihrlich begriindet. Ausser den neuen Klassen beschreibt der Autor a u c h eine Reihe weiterer neuer S y n t a x a von verschiedenen R a n g s t u f e n u n d ffihrt mehrere andere Klassifikationsverrichtungen u n d -~,nderungen an. W e n n auch n i c h t alle s y n t a x o n o m i s e h e n Verrichtungen akzeptiert werden kSnnen (insbesondere angesichts der n e u festgesetzten nomenklatorischen Regeln), das System des A u t o r s bringt nichtdestoweniger eine vervollst~ndigte [~bersicht der tschechoslowakischen Salzvegetation. Die Publikation ist u m s o bedeutender, dass sie eben zur Zeit erscheint, we die Salzgesellschaften z u m Modcll ffir die Bearbeitung yon phytoz6nologischen D a t e n der europ~ischen Vegetation m i t Hilfe der computer (,,Salt Marsh Project") geworden sind. Sehade nur, dass die Arbeit erst a c h t J a h r e n a c h der Beendigung des Manuskriptes erscheint. Mit einer 1%eihe neuer E r k e n n t n i s s e u n d LSsungen z~hlt sie zu den vordcrsten phytozSnologischen W e r k e n fiber die Salzvegetation Europas. DE~ISA BLA~KOVs

W. LARCI~ER ()KOLOGIE

DER

PFLANZEN

Verlag E u g e n Ulmer, S t u t t g a r t 1973, 320 pp., 150 Figs., 40 Tabs., DM 19.80. The deterioration of e n v i r o n m e n t , increasing population a n d the insufficiency of n a t u r a l resources together known as the ecological crisis, h a v e placed ecology in t h e centre of interest, a n d ecologists are expected to offer a solution. As a result, ecology tends to elaborate synthetic approaches, a n d m a t h e m a t i c a l models are constructed to predict the reactions of ecosystems to various interference b y civilization. Although the conception of total ecosystems requires a synthetic approach, it is still necessary to obtain analytical d a t a which could be used for synthesis. The scantiness of t h i s information n o w a d a y s slows down research into ecosystems to a considerable degree. Field m e t h o d s for the s t u d y of functions of plants in situ a n d q u a n t i t a t i v e d a t a on living

324

FOLIA GEOBOTANICA ET PHYTOTAXONOMICA, 9. 1974

processes in wild.growing plants are lacking. This state of affairs is due to the onesided development of p l a n t physiology, interested in phenomena on cellular to molecular levels, while the physic. logical ecology of n a t u r a l plants has not, for all practical purposes, been developed since the thirties. This period, lasting for a b o u t 40 years, represents a wide gap in the development of the physiological ecology of plants. During the whole period, LUNDEO~aD'S Klima und Boden was t h e only textbook of physiological ecology in Central Europe. Its first edition dates back to t h e year 1925; originally, it was adopted from a course of lectures delivered by the a u t h o r as a guest of Brno University. I t is therefore a very good piece of news to learn t h a t , after this latent period, the ecophysiolo. gical schools which were prominent and progressive in the years 1930 to 1940, have again come forward with synthetic publications. The last decade brought, first of all, a comprehensive study by H. WALTER, still an active ecologist, under the title Die Vegetation der Erde in ~ko-physiologischer Betrachtung, Bd. I, I I (1962, 1968). The book explains the vegetation of the world as viewed by a n experienced p l a n t physiologist, experimenter a n d abserver. From the ecological school of Professor Mt~LLER-STOLL came a n informative h a n d b o o k by G. L~RCH Ffianzen~kologie (1965) designed for students a n d agricultural research. Now it is the school of Professor PISEK of I n n s b r u c k t h a t has entered the field. W. LARCHER has published a not too bulky handbook, highly original in its conception, under the title 0kologie der Pflanzen (1973). Unlike all preceding publications it is based neither on vegetational units nor on the functioning of individual ecological factors, b u t -- quite consistently -- on the functions of plants in the ecosystem. Having iu mind above all organic m a t t e r cycling a n d energetic balance of the ecosystem. the author begins his discussion with a n analysis of solar radiation as a source of energy, its interception by plants and. finally, the process of solar energy fixation through photosynthesis a n d biomass production. From carbon cycling the a u t h o r proceeds to nitrogen a n d mineral-element cyclings. These sections of the book are elaborated n o t only from the point of view of plants, b u t also from t h a t of microoganisms and soil; the ecosystemic approach is especially prominent here. Considerable attaint|on is devoted to the plant.water relation, and a great a m o u n t ,~f information, so far dispersed, on structural a n d functional adaptabilities a n d manifestations of wild.growing plants a n d natural ph3f~ocenoses, is summarized. Extrapolations up to the water balance of landscape a n d biosphere are performed. The following chapter deals with the temperature balance and t h e periodicity of vegetation induced by climatic influences. I n all chapters the author consistently proceeds from the celhdar level through the functions of various organs to analytical s t u d y of plant individuals. Each of the chapters is concluded with the manifcstations of plants a n d cyclings in stands, with an evaluation for the given q,cosystem, and with a n extrapolation of the significance of the studied function for the whole biosphere. This a r r a n g e m e n t is especially valuable an(I stimulating for the readers of the book. The author as a n experienced experimenter uses the terminology of a distinguished physiologist, b u t soon turns his a t t e n t i o n to phytocenoses a n d t~ ecosystems, landscape ecology a n d the flmction . f vegetation in the biosphere. I n this way he provides the reader with bnth a concise textbook of ecophysiology and a key to the tmderstanding, in its whole complexity. of thc r~de which plants play in our biosphere. Tlw extent of the chapters is not fully balanced. The author devotes a considerable p a r t of his b~,ok t~) carbon a n d water cyclings, while nitrogen a n d mineral.clement cyclings arc dealt with in coJwi.~o communications. This a r r a n g e m e n t springs from the a u t h o r ' s personal incli. nnti~,tls. As a t~,p expert in the ecology of photosynthesis a n d plant water relations, he expanded these tw,, chapters and endowed them with m a x i m u m communicative value a n d compactness in the presentation and critical evaluation of a great a m o u n t of substantial information. On the ~th(,r hand, in the chapters on nitrogen and mineral cycling he depends on d a t a from other s0,urc~,~. Conscr he limits their extent a n d refers the reader to critically selected literaturc of more t h a n 250 items. This lack of balance c a n n o t be regarded as a drawback: nevertheless it is the chapt~.r on carbon a n d water cyclings, the proper domain of the author, which chiefly deserve the reader's attention. The book is designed for students a n d experts in biology, for geographers, agriculturalists. foresters, teachers a n d all those who are interested in biology. Most of all it will be appreciated b y research w o r k e ~ in ecology, whether in the analysis of primary data in the ecosystem, or

BOOKREVIEWS

325

in s y n t h e s i s a n d m a t h e m a t i c a l modelling. T h e b o o k will p r o v i d e t h e m w i t h a g u i d e to t h e imp o r t a n c e of v a r i o u s m e a s u r e m e n t s for t h e g i v e n end, t o g e t h e r w i t h d a t a for c o m p a r i s o n to be u s e d in t h e i r o w n a n a l y s e s , a n d will s h o w t h e m m a n y f u n c t i o n a l l i n k s w h i c h c a n be helpful for t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a m o d e l . N o w w h e n biologists p e r f o r m s y n t h e s e s o f t h e I B P a n d s t a r t w o r k o n t h e M A B p r o g r a m m e , a h a n d b o o k like t h i s is o b v i o u s l y m o r e t h a n welcome. MILENA RYCHNOVSKA BENT FREDSKILD STUDIES

IN THE

VEGETATIONAL

HISTORY

OF GREENLAND

P a l a e o b o t a n i c a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n s of s o m e H o l o c e n e lake a n d b o g d e p o s i t s C. A. Reitzels Forlag, K o b e n h a v n 1973, 248 pp., 32 Figs., 24 Tables, 21 P l a t e s ; price n o t indicated. T h e "Meddelelser o m Gronland'" series, vol. 198/4, b r i n g s a r e m a r k a b l e p u b l i c a t i o n b y BeNT FREDSKILD p r e s e t i n g , for t h e first t i m e , a b r o a d view of t h e origin a n d d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e p r e s e n t v e g e t a t i o n in G r e e n l a n d . T h e a u t h o r m a k e s use, a b o v e all, of h i s o w n i n v e s t i g a t i o n carried o u t since 1957. T h e b o o k c o n t a i n s 20 original pollen d i a g r a m s a n d m a n y t a b l e s of m a c r o s c o p i c finds of seeds a n d o t h e r p l a n t r e m a i n s . Besides, in h i s d i s c u s s i o n s a n d conclusions, t h e a u t h o r t a k e s into a c c o u n t t h e w o r k p e r f o r m e d b y o t h e r a u t h o r s . Unlike t h e a u t h o r s of o t h e r palaeoeeologieal p a p e r s p u b l i s h e d so far, EREDSKILD does n o t r e s t r i c t h i s r e s e a r c h to one l i m i t e d n a t u r a l c o m p l e x of Greenlamt. H i s w o r k covers t h e w h o l e deglaciated s o u t h e r n , w e s t e r n a n d n o r t h e r n c o a s t of t h e island a n d s u p p l i e s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e s u c c e s s i o n of p r i n c i p a l v e g e t a t i o n a l t y p e s a n d e v o l u t i o n of m a i n g e o g r a p h i c a l t y p e s in Green land. T h e a u t h o r e l a b o r a t e d several profiles in e a c h area, so t h a t local d e v i a t i o n s c a n be e x c l u d e d . Most d i a g r a m s c o m e f r o m s o u t h e r n G r e e n l a n d (altogether s e v e n localities), t h r e e localities were s t u d i e d in w e s t e r n Greenland. F r o m n o r t h e r n G r e e n l a n d , original d i a g r a m s are p r e s e n t e d f r o m t w o localities ( P e a r y L a n d ) a n d a critical d i s c u s s i o n o f r e c e n t l y p u b l i s h e d d i a g r a m s by HYVhRINEN a n d VASARI f r o m T h u l e a r e a is a p p e n d e d . I n a d d i t i o n , s o m e p a r a g r a p h s in t h e m o n o g r a p h d i s p l a y t h e a u t h o r ' s m o r e or less c a s u a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n s of m a e r o f o s s i l s f r o m t h e c u l t u r e layers of p a s t N o r s e a n d E s k i m o s e t t l e m e n t s . T h e i n t r o d u c t o r y g e n e r a l p a r t of t h e book, d e v o t e d to d e s c r i p t i o n of r e s e a r c h p r o c e d u r e s a n d m e t h o d s , i n c l u d e s a d e t a i l e d s u r v e y of all p a l a e o b o t a n i c a l finds (both pollen g r a i n s a n d macrofossils), concise i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e e x t e n t a n d c o n t e n t of v a r i o u s pollen t y p e s , d e t e r m i n a t i o n notes, etc. I t is to be r e g r e t t e d t h a t t h e a u t h o r , a n e x p e r i e n c e d palynologist, d i d n o t a p p e n d m i c r o p h o t o g r a p h s of t h e less w e l l - k n o w n pollen finds. T h e y w o u l d c e r t a i n l y h e l p o t h e r a u t h o r s to e x t e n d t h e n u m b e r of t h e p o l l e n t y p e s d e t e r m i n e d . I t is possible t h a t s o m e p a r t of t h e pollen flora m a y a p p e a r in t h e Glacial a n d L a t e Glacial s p e c t r a f r o m t h e t e m p e r a t e zones of E u r o p e a n d America. T h e special p a r t of t h e b o o k is d i v i d e d i n t o c h a p t e r s a c c o r d i n g to t h e a r e a s s t u d i e d ( S o u t h G r e e n l a n d , W e s t G r e e n l a n d , N o r t h Greenland). E a c h b e g i n s w i t h r e m a r k s o n c l i m a t e , geology a n d , especially, o n t h e p r e s e n t v e g e t a t i o n ; as a b o t a n i s t , t h e a u t h o r also i n c l u d e s m u c h n e w inform a r i o n a n d m a n y o b s e r v a t i o n s of h i s own. T h e c h a p t e r s c o n t i n u e w i t h a d e s c r i p t i o n o f indiv i d u a l localities, a d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e profile a n d its s e d i m e n t s , w i t h a list a n d a t a b l e of m a c r o f o s s i l finds, w i t h r e m a r k s o n a b s o l u t e 14 C d a t i n g s a n d d e s c r i p t i o n s a n d d i s c u s s i o n s of pollen zones. E a c h c h a p t e r closes w i t h a p a r t i a l s u m m a r y o f t h e v e g e t a t i o n a l a n d c l i m a t i c h i s t o r y o f t h e p a r t o f G r e e n l a n d , c o n c e r n e d w i t h special p a r a g r a p h s on t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d e v o l u t i o n o f local l a c u s t r i n e v e g e t a t i o n . T h e a u t h o r ' s i n v e s t i g a t i o n s also i n e l u d e d m e t h o d o l o g i c a l l y i m p o r t a n t o b s e r v a t i o n s of r e c e n t pollen s e d i m e n t a t i o n , u s i n g TAUB~R'S t r a p s in several places on t h e island. As a b a s i s for t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of a b s o l u t o pollen dia~grams, t h e a u t h o r d e t e r m i n e s t h e s e d i m e n t a t i o n rate in different p e r i o d s a n d lakes. I t m a y be n o t e d h e r e t h a t , as a n i n d i c a t o r of p r o d u c t i v i t y , t h e a s c e r t a i n e d m e a n v a l u e for G r e e n l a n d is o n l y 3.1 m m / y r , while, e.g. for E n g l a n d , it is f r o m 5 to 7.3 m m / y r in different t y p e s of l a c u s t r i n e s e d i m e n t s . T h e w o r k c o n c l u d e s w i t h r e m a r k s on t h e H o l o c e n e v e g e t a t i o n a n d c l i m a t i c c h a n g e s in Greenland. Here t h e a u t h o r c o m p a r e s h i s o w n r e s u l t s w i t h t h o s e f r o m o t h e r regions, especially

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F O L I A G E O B O T A N I C A ET P t I Y T O T A X O N O M I C A , 9, 1974

f r o m t h e C a n a d i a n Arctic a n d Subarctic. H e joins t h e d i s c u s s i o n on t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of p l a n t s u r v i v a l o n n u n n a t a k s a n d m a i n t a i n s t h a t only t h e m o s t r e s i s t a n t p l a n t species c o u l d s u r v i v e t h e l a s t g l a c i a t i o n in Greenland. FI~EDSKILD~S b o o k is i n d i s p u t a b l y a n o u t s t a n d i n g c o n t r i b u t i o n to h i s t o r i c a l g e o b o t a n y . I t s p u b l i c a t i o n will m o s t l y a s s i s t in f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n s of t h e A r c t i c a n d S u b a r c t i c regions, b u t it is n o t w i t h o u t i n t e r e s t for r e s e a r c h work e v e n in o t h e r regions. Some p o i n t s c o n c e r a i n g m e t h o d s a n d c o n c e p t i o n s -- s u c h as t h e u s e a n d p o s s i b i l i t y of c o m p a r i n g t h e t w o t y p e s of pollen d i a g r a m s (the a b s o l u t e a n d t h e relative), s e n s i t i v e biological a n d b o t a n i c a p p r o a c h to t h e e v a l u a t i o n of results, a p o s s i b i l i t y of c o m p a r i n g t h e c h a r a c t e r of pollen s p e c t r a f r o m deglaciated a r e a s w i t h t h o s e f r o m t h e Glacial a n d L a t e Glacial in t e m p e r a t e zones, etc. -- m a k e it a v a l u a b l e w o r k for a m u c h wider circle of r e s e a r c h workers. KAMIL RYBNI(~EK G. PHILIPPI

MOOSFLORA UND MOOSVEGETATION (SUDOST-SPITZBERGEN)

DES

FI~EEMAN-SUND-GEBIETES

F r a n z Steiner Verlag G m b H , W i e s b a d e n 1973, 83 S., 8 Fig., 2 K a r t e n , P r e i s b r o s c h . 2 4 , - - DM. D e r A u t o r der b e s p r o c h e n e n A r b e i t b e s u c h t e i m S o m m e r 1967 d e n s~idSstlichen Teil Spitzbergens, u. zw. d a s Gebiet des F r e e m a n - S u n d e s , d a s d e n Sfidteil dcr B a r e n t s - u n d d e n Nordteil der E d g e - I n s e l u m f a s s t . Als Mitglied einer v o n Prof. B~)DEL geleiteten E x p e d i t i o n w i d m e t e er sich d e m S t u d i u m der M o o s g e w ~ e h s e n i e h t n u r v o m floristischen, s o n d e r n v o r a l l e m a u c h yore p h y t o z S n o l o g i s c h e n G e s i c h t s p u n k t ; die E r g e b n i s s e seiner S t u d i e n s i n d in dieser A r b e i t z u s a m mengefasst. W i e es in d e n A r b e i t e n y o n a h n l i c h e m C h a r a k t e r iiblich ist, legt der A u t o r z u e r s t eine I n f o r m a t i o n fiber die Lage, die Geologic, d a s K l i m a u n d die V e g e t a t i o n des t m t e r s u c h t e n Gebietes vor. Die n a c h f o l g e n d e l l b e r s i c h t der i m u n t e r s u c h t e n Gebiet u n d in seiner U m g e b u n g g e s a m m e l t e n B r y o p h y t e n ( i n s g e s a m t 26 L e b e r m o o s - u n d 90 L a u b m o o s a r t e n ) b r i n g t -- a u s s e r der L i s t e cinzelner L o k a l i t ~ t e n -- a u c h 5kologisehe trod stellenweise a u c h t a x o n o m i s c h e B e m e r k t m g e n (es ist a u c h eine n e u e Variet~t, Timmia austriaca var. papillosa, beschrieben). D e r A u t o r fiihrt a u c h eine p h y t o g e o g r a p h i s c h e A n a l y s e der i m u n t e r s u e h t e n Gebiet g e f u n d e n e n A r t e n d u t c h , u. zw. einerseits n a c h ihrer v e r t i k a l e n V e r t r e t u n g , a n d e r e r s e i t s n a e h i h r e m G e s a m t a r e a l , wobei er die A r t e n in vier G r u p p e n verteilt: arktische, a r k t i s c h - b o r e a l e , a r k t i s c h - b o r e a l - t e m p e r a t e (alpine) u n d a r k t i s c h . b o r e a l - t e m p e r a t e (kolline bis alpine) A r t e n . Der f l o r i s t i s e h - p h y t o g e o g r a p h i s c h e Teil der A r b e i t ist m i t e i n e m Vergleich y o n Bryofiora des u n t e r s u c h t e n Gebietes m i t zwei a n d e r e n neulich eingehender bryologisch untersuchten Gebieten Spitzbergens (Kongsfjord und Hornsund) abgeschlossen. Der H a u p t t e i l der A r b e i t b e s c h a f t i g t sich m i t der :Besehreibtmg der : B r y o p h y t e n - G e s e l l s c h a f t e n lind ist m i t e i n e m r e i e h l i c h e n A u f n a h m e m a t e r i a l erg~nzt. Die B r y o p h y t e n - G e s e l l s c h a f t e n werden nach den Standortsbedingungen folgendermassen geordnet: Moosgesellschaften nasser u n d f e u e h t e r S t a n d o r t e (7 Gesellschaften), M o o s t u n d r e n (4 Gesellsehaften), Gesellschaft m i t f i b e r w i e g e n d e m Racomitrium lan~ginosum, t e r r e s t r i s c h e Gesellschaften oftener E r d t e i l e (5 Gesellsehaften}, Gesellschaft m i t iiberwiegenden Sphenolobus minutus, Gesellschaft m i t i i b e r w i e g e n d e m Aplodon wormslejoldii u n d Gesellsehaften der Wassermoosgew~ichse. I m g a n z e n k S n n e n z u r b e s p r o e h e n e n A r b e i t n u t r e c h t geringe B e m e r k u n g e n beigefiigt w e r d e n , y o n d e n e n i c h hier n u r zwei a n f i i h r e n will: Die v e t o A u t o r z u r Solenostoma atrovirens ( ~ J~ngermannia atrovirens) b e i g e o r d n e t e n Belege g e h 6 r e n g a n z b e s t i m m t , a u f g r u n d der a n g e g e b e n e n 0kologie, der d i s k u t i e r t e n Solenostoma polaris ( = Jungermannia polaris) a n ; d a s A r e a l der A r t Jungermannia atrovirens sehliesst d a s Gebiet v o n S p i t z b e r g e n n i c h t ein. ])as T a x o n Blepharostoma trichophyllum e a r . brevirete sollte n i c h t u n t e r die a r k t i s c h e n , s o n d e r n u n t e r die a r k t i s c h - b o r e a l e n A r t e n eingereiht werden. Die Arbeit, w e n n a u c h n i c h t v o n zu g r o s s e m U m f a n g , stellt eine s e h r ausfiihrliche u n d sorgf/~ltige B e a r b e i t u n g der B r y o p h y t e n - V e g e t a t i o n d e s u n t e r s u c h t e n Gebietes Spitzbergens dar. JIf~i VA~A

~0OKR~VlEWS

327

GERHARD LANG

DIE VEGETATION

DES WESTLICHEN

BODENSEEGEBIETES

Pfianzensoziologie, Bd. 17, VEB Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena 1973. 415 S., 9 Graphe, 31 Abb., 31 Photos, 85 Tabellen. Des Bodenseegehiet erfreut sieh seit vielen Jahren der A~ffmerksamkeit der botanisehen Forschungen, insbesondere was die Erforsehung des Sees und seines Litorals anbelangt. Wir wollen bier nur an die Arbeiten yon SCm~0TEI~et KIRCI~--~I~(,,Die Vegetation des Bodensees", 189(i I. Bd., 1902 II. Bd.) erinnern, art die die klassisehe hydrobotanische Arbeit BAU~ANNS (,,Die Vegetation des Untersees [Bodensee], 1911) ankniipfte und die dutch zahlreiche Arbeiten im Zeitraum 1920-- 1940 ergi~nzt wurden. LANG widmete der Erforsehung dieses Gebietes eine reeht lange Zeit, a n d wie es sich aus der Bibliographie ergibt, publizierte eine grSssere Anzahl Arbeiten dartiber. Zwei devon sind yon monographischem Charakter: ,,Die Ufervegetation des westliehen Bodenseegebietes" (1967) und ,,Die Makrophytenvegetation in der Uferzone des Bodensees" (1973), die in der Tatsache an die erwghnte Arbeit BAU~A~N~S unmittelbar anknfipfen. Wghrend die erwghntcn Publikationen aus 1967 und 1973 vet allem auf die Ufervegetation gerichtet warden, ist die Vegetationsanalyse im besproehenen Buche in den I<_ontext der breiteren Seeumgebung eingegliedert. Sie sehliesst den ganzen Komplex der Pflanzengescllschaften ein, yon den PionierzSnosen des Litorals tiber die synanthrope Vegetation yon Feldern und Siedlungen bis zu den Felsband- n n d Mauerfugengesellsehaften. Der Autor widmet weiter der Krautvegetation yon Wiesen und xerothermen Standorten seine Aufmerksamkeit. Er verfolgt aueh die Vegetation der Gebiisehe, nattirlichen Wglder und ktinstlichen Aufforstungen. In der Monographie begegnet man jedoch nicht nur der synthetischen Auswertung des breiten Komplexes von Vegetationseinheiten. Auchflie geobotanische Kartiemmg, auf Flugaufnahmen beruhend, findet in dem Buch ihren Platz. Viel Zeit opferte der Autor aueh der auf palynologischer Erforschung der Moore bcgrtindeten Entwickhmgsgeschichte der Vegetation, Die Vergangenheit des Bodensees spiegelt sich im gegenw~rtigen Zustand der Vegetationseinheiten wider und in dan Schlusspartien des Werkes ist auf die Fragen des Natttr- und Landschaftsschutzes geriehtet. Den Hauptteil des Buches n i m m t allerdings die Charaktcristik der Vegetationseinheiten ein. Ws in den erwahnten Arbeiten fiber die Vegetation des Sees und seiner Ufer 21 Einheiten im Rang der Assoziation angefi;thrt sind, betr~gt die Gesamtzahl der Einheiten in diesem Buch 74, die iibersiehtlieh auf S. 41--46 angegeben sind. Jede Assoziation ist mit einer synthetisehen Tabelle und mit zutreffender Abkdrzungsbesehreibung belegt. W o e s mSglich war, ist die Assoziation in Subassoziationen weiter gegliedert. LA~G gibt in der Assoziationsbenennung den Namen des Autors, der die Einheit aufgestellt hat, nicht an; im Text dagegen betont er immer, yon welchem Autor die Assoziation zum erstenmal beschrieben wurde. Auf interessante Weise werden die Assoziationstabellen gelSst. I m Text ist bei jeder Assoziation die synthetisehe Tabelle angeffihrt, w~hrend in den Tabellenbeilagett hinter dem Text die Assoziationstabellen mit einzelnen Aufnahmen beigeff~gt sind. Ieh halte diese LSsung fiir sehr geeignet. Der Text ist mit Graphs, Abbildungen und sehr guten sehwarzweissen Photographien (die ebenso in der Beilage zu finden sind) reiehlich illustriert. SLA'qO MIL ~-[EJ N ~

S. W A P P L E R

PHILOSOPHISCHE UND EVOLUTION

STUDIEN

ZU~I PROBLEMKREIS

GENETIK

V E B Gustav Fischer Ver]ag, J e n a 1973, 116 pp., 2 fig., price 11.50 I%1. In the last ten years, G. Fischer Publishing House in Jena has published nearly 10 books dedicated to the philospohical problems of modern biology. These works represent mostly

328

FOLIA GEOBOTANICA

ET PttYTOTAXONOMICA,

9, 1974

shorter studies covering less t h a n 200 pages, with t h e exception of the book by F. ~i~EK a n d D. HoDA~ov)- ,,Evolution als Selbstregulation" (1971, 316 pp.). The e v o l u t i o n a r y theories provide favourable subjects for analysis from methodological a n d philosophical points of view, According to the subtitle, WA~'PLER'S book h a s been dedicated m a i n l y to the analysis of macroevolutionary theories. The m a i n objective of the book appears to be the constructive analysis of SCKINDEWOLF'S evolutionary theory, from the point of view of dialectical materialism. O. H. SC~NDEWOLF Was a very famous sholar in German zoopaleontology (~ J u n e 10th, 1971). H i s interpretation of paleontological materials led h i m to conclude t h a t evolution is a discontinuous process in which large structural changes -- typostrophic m u t a t i o n s -- are p r i m a r y p h e n o m e n a , a n d successive specialization into genera, species a n d subspecific t a x a is only a secondary process, because it takes place within the framework of changes of the basic type (Bauplan). On t h e other hand, the m a j o r i t y of c o n t e m p o r a r y biologists agree t h a t , essentially, the s a m e genetic a n d selective factors are responsible for evolutionary changes a t both the specific a n d the transpecific levels. The manifestations of macroevolution are, of course, in m a n y respects different from those of microevolution, even t h o u g h the underlying m e c h a n i s m s are the same. WAPPLER briefly discusses the history of evolutionary theories a n d problems of d e t e r m i n i s m in biology. He e x a m i n e s some concepts which are i m p o r t a n t in this study, e.g. factor, Gross- a n d K l e i n m u t a t i o n , cause a n d condition, type, species, etc., and successively shows the e x t e n t to which SCHI~DEWOLF overestimated discontinuous m o m e n t s in the evolutionary process. He confronts the opinions a n d concept s y s t e m of SCRINDEWOLF with those of Tlz. DOBZ~ANSKY, G. G. SIMPSON a n d I. I. SC~MALHAUSE~~.

I t is to be regreted t h a t the author did n o t t a k e into account the i m p o r t a n t analysis b y M. G~tENE in The British J o u r n a l for thc Philosophy of Science (1958) which covered the s a m e topic (methodological confrontation of SCHINDEWOLF a n d SIMPso~), a n d the following discussion published in the s a m e journal five years later. Various contributions to t h e s a m e subject in R u s s i a n (KAPRALOVA et LUKINA 1970), Czech (DRAGAN 1966) ~nd Polish (KU~.NICKI et U R B A ~ K 1970) were also worth mentioning. In eonneetiou with criticism of SC~INDEWOLF'S theory a discussion with the similar macroevolutionary explanation of H. G. CANNONwould be desirable. An i m p o r t a n t parallel to SCHINDEWOLF'S a n d CANNON'S opinions, in the field of botany, is represented b y the treatises of M. DEVL (1950, Studia Bot. (~echoslov. l l : 245--261; 1955, Sbor. NAt. Musea l l : 3--143; 1957, Ib. 13: -~ 1969 in V. 1~ov$~:, ed., I-Iistorick~ v:~voj organismfl, p. 195--260, 301--361). WAPPLER'S book can be considered as a n i m p o r t a n t reminder of the contradictions a n d methodically uncertain procedures in the formation of evolutionary theories. ~ A R C E L ~:~EJM,~NEK