Bookreviews

F. A. L O E W U S and W . T A N N E R (eds.) PLANT

CARBOHYDRATES

I. I N T R A C E L L U L A R

CARBOHYDRATES

Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology, N e w Series. Eds. A. PIRSON, M. H. ZXM~rERMA~r. --

Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg et New York 1982. -- 918 pp., 103 Figs., Price 298 DM. The first volume of P l a n t Carbohydrates of Springer's .Encyclopedia of P l a n t Physiology (Vol. 13 A), Intracellular Carbohydrates, appeared in 1982, while the second one w Exctracelluar Carbohydrates (Vol. 13 B) was published earlier, in 1981. Twenty-eight contributors have elaborated this voluminous book which, logically, exceeds t h e Vol. 13 B. I t s contents are arranged according to the biochemical system of carbohydrates -- from mono- and oligo- to polysaceharides. However, the physiological functioning of all these numerous compounds is discussed from t h e point of view of their occurrence, metabolism and function in the plant cell. The first p a r t includes monomerie and oligomerie sugars and sugar derivates: Aide- (and Keto-) hexoses and uronic acids (D. S. FEr~OOLD). Polyhydroxyaelds a n d hexose phosphate metabolism (by J. T. GA~DER). Amlnosugars in plants and fungi (L. BEEv~I~S). Branched-chain sugars (E. BEck). Sugar alcohols (R. E. BIELESKI).Cyelltols (F. A. LoEwus and D. B. DICKU~soN). Sucrose and other disaccharides (G. AvIo~u). Ollgosaceharides based on sucrose (O. K ~ D I m R a n d H. HoPI~). Glycosides a n d giycosylation of heterosides (G. FBA~Z). -- The second p a r t of t h e volume deals with macromolecular carbohydrates, t h e i r metabolism a n d functioning. J. PREISS discusses the biosynthesis of starch and its regulation. Other reserve polysaecharides in higher plants are described b y H. MEIER and J. S. G. REID. Reserve carbohydrates of algae, fungi a n d lichens are elaborated b y D. J. MAN~.~as a n d R. J. STURO~.O~r. P l a n t glycoproteins are compiled b y R. R. SELVEI~'DRAI~ and M. A. O'NmILL A separate chapter deals w i t h m e m b r a n e glycoproteins (D. J. BOWLES). A. D. EL~.I~ discusses the chapter on glycolipids and other glycosides. The last chapter of t h e systematic p a r t of t h e volume includes sterylglycosldes (M. AxF_~s and C. B. P6aud LEMOEL). The last, t h i r d p a r t of t h e volume, not exceeding 150 pages, deals w i t h t h e proper physiological processes involving carbohydrates. I t contains chapters on sugar t r a n s p o r t (E. KoMol~), the secretion of n e c t a r (N. FnCDLAY), t h e storage of sugars in higher plants (J. WILLY,BRINK), starch storage (C. F. JE~-~.B) a n d control b y external a n d internal factors over the mobilization of reserve carbohydrates in higher plants b y P. HAL~mR a n d J. D. BEWLEY. Interesting is the numerical ratio between t h e alphabethie indexes: The authors index occupies 91 pages, b u t t h e species index only 5 (!) and t h e subject index occupies 23 pages. This ratio documents the extent to which biochemists and physiologists are engaged in the problems of p l a n t carbohydrates, b u t w i t h little invention as to t h e selection of experimental objects in the plant world. B o t h volumes on P l a n t Carbohydrates, especially t h e first one (Vol. 13 A) reappearing in Springer's Encyclopedia after about t w e n t y years, prove t h e enormous development of knowledge in plant physiology a n d biochemistry. They will be indispensable to all those who work in plant physiological and biochemical laboratories. DAGMAR

DYKYJOV,

108

I~OLIA GEOBOTANICA ET PtlYTOTAXONOMICA 19, 1984

W. T~N~.~, F. A. LoEwus (eds.) PLANT

CARBOHYDRATES

II. EXTRACELLULAR

CARBOHYDRATES

Encyclopeclla of P l a n t Physiology, New Series., Eds. A. PIRso~, IV[. H. Z I ~ M E ~ . ger Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg et New York 1981. 7{~9pp., 124 Figs., Price 268 DM.

-- Sprin-

The second volume of P l a n t Carbohydrates, a n extensive work on present knowledge in t h e physiology a n d biochemistry of carbohydrates in fungi and in lower and higher plants summarizes numerous d a t a on extracellular carbohydrates and glycoproteins. I t contains chapters on t h e cell wall components of algae, fungi and higher plants and also deals w i t h the dynamics of synthetic processes: biosynthesis and secretion as well as the functioning of different components in intercellular interactions. The first long chapter on t h e cell walls of higher plants contains the classification of p l a n t polysaccharides, reviewe
109

BOOK]~EVIEWS L. van der PIJL

PRINCIPLES OF DISPERSAL Third revised and expanded edition.

IN HIGHER

PLANTS

Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg et New York 1982, 214 pp., 30 Figs., Price US Dol. 27.90o Tl~e third edition of Principles of dispersal in higher plants b y van der I~JL, published b y Springer Verlag, reflects the high success of this book. The first two editions were also reviewed in Folia Ceobotanica et Phytotaxonomica (5: 456, 457; 8: 448). The growing interest in dispersal during the last few years is connected predominantly with the quick development of plant population biology and w i t h island biology. The third edition differs from the second mainly in the number of pages, which has increased b y about 50. Compared w l t h the second edition one chapter concerning "Dispersal and the evolution of grasses" has been added. The growing interest in dispersal is reflected b y t h e fact t h a t more t h a n 100 references have been added. The reviewed book contains abont 370 references at present. I n the reviewed edition, more attention is paid to the ecological problems; this is the field with the highest progress in the 70 ties. This book has a great m a n y cross-references and is therefore not very readable, but it is devoted to study. The main shortcoming of the whole carpobiology is its rather complicated and special glossary. I n van der PXJL~S book this is solved in the introductory sentences to each chapter where terms are shortly explained. The book has the high standard usual for the books published b y Springer Verlag, the high scientific value is reflected b y the fact of a third edition during 13 years. This is not very usual in the scientific world. FRANTIw KRA~ULEC HEIlqRICH WALTER BEKENNTNISSE

EINES

0KOLOGEN

Erlebt in aeht gahrzehnten und auf Forschungsreisen in allen Erdteflen Gustav Fischer Verlag, S t u t t g a r t et New York 1980, 334 pp., 12 Figs., Preis 19 DM. Autobiographies are certainly not predominant in world literature, and are exceptional in scientific literature. The autobiography of Professor H. WALTER, a widely respected botanist and ecologist, is an exception. The author presents in an eminently readable form, the story of his life from his early youth in pre-revolutionary Russia to his retirement from scientific activities for which m a n y honorary, scientific titles and honours have been bestowed upon him. After his graduation from J e n a University, he decided to pursue academic activities in Heidelberg, where he was appointed Associate Professor. I n the following years, he was granted a fellowship in the U.S.A., where he first became acquainted with non-European flora and vegetation. Upon his return to Europe, he took up a lecturing post in the Botanical I n s t i t u t e in Stuttgart and went, from there, on his first excursion to the primeval and mangrove forests of Africa. During World War 2, he was sent to the USSR, as a member of the interpreter corps, first to Kiev and then to the Crimea where he visited the Nikita Garden in the south of the peninsula. After the war, he took up an appointment as botanist at Hohenheim, from where he went on another scientific excursion to SW-Africa (1952). I n 1954--55, he accepted a visiting professorship in t h e University of Ankara from where he made several excursions to the Middle East. Back at Hohenhelm, he decided, after a short stay, to make a journey around t h e world. He realized this plan in 1958, went first to Australia which he crossed from south t o n o r t h and east, from there t o New Zealand and back to Hohenheim. HIS next journey took him to South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile), and in 1968, he went on his last, big journey to Venezuela and Ouyana. A year later, h e accepted an invitation to U t a h (U.S.A.) as a visiting professor. His last visit to SW-Africa was in 1975. The vivid account of his most interesting life, his experience as a botanist who has assembled in the seurse of the years much hitherto unpublished material, all this makes excellent reading of the "confession" of a great botanist and ecologist. I tried to review this book as a botanist. I t m a y be, however, judged from the point of view of a historieian; this kind of review I like to leave to professionals. J I ~ i KOLBEK

110

FOLIA GEOBOTANICA ET PHYTOTAXONOMIC/k 19, 1984-

PETER A. FURLEY and WALTEI%W. NEWEY GEOGRAPHY

OF THE BIOSPHEl%E

Butterworths London, 1983, 413 pp. Price s 35,--. This interesting and nice book was written primarily for students of geography. Only a very slight grounding in biology is expected. Hence, a good deal of the book is devoted to clarifying biological backgrounds which are not obviously considered to be a part of biogeography. The book is composed of six parts: P a r t 1. Introduction. Definition of biogeography as a scientific discipline is given. The context, objectives and perspetive are briefly discussed. P a r t 2. Energy and the circulation of matter. Energy flow through ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles is described; special attention is paid t o geographical variation of these processes. Part 3. The component systems. Soil, plant and animal systems are considered. This part m a y be used as an introduction to soil science, to b o t a n y (including plant anatomy, systematics and ecology) and to zoology. The influence of environmental factors on the distribution of plants, animals and soil types is stressed. Part 4. Evolution. Principles of evolution of plants, animals and soils are highlighted. This part is very important for understanding the dynamic nature of biogeography. The present state of the biosphere can not be explained by considering present environmental conditions only. I t must be considered as a result of historical development as influenced by changing environment up to the present. Part. 5. The major biomes. Major biomes of the E a r t h are described. Main attention is paid to their ecological and dynamic properties. Part 6. Mapping the b{osphere. This part gives a survey of traditional and some new methods (e.g. remote sensing, computer processing). These six parts are followed by extensive bibliography and a detailed index. Although considered primarily as a textbook for students of geography, this book provides a great deal of useful information to all dealing with related problems. I t is based on the dynamic point of view in the study of distribution of particular t y p e s of ecosystems. Biogeography is shown to be more than the science of areals of different taxa. The changes of dynamical properties of ecosystems are often more important t h a n changes of their species composition. I n this attractive book we can hardly find any shortcomings. Of these, the erroneous formula of the Shannon index of diversity (p. 129) should be noted. Similarly, the index of species richness l(ii): d = number of species/number of individuals is not acceptable for any ecological community. Stating estimates of ecological variables (e.g. amount or flow of energy) in more t h a n three significant digits is hardly well-founded (e.g. ]Fig. 2.10, p. 22). The reviewed book is nicely aranged and illustrated and represents a textbook of high educational standard and may be recommended for anyone interested in modern t r e a t m e n t of biospheric problems. JAIV LEP~ Jo~

N. R. JEFFEI~S

MODELLING Outline Studies in Ecology. -- Chapman and Hall, London et New York, 1982, 80 pp., 17 Figs. Price s 2.75. This new booklet has appeared in the edition Outline Studies in Ecology. I t performs t h e introduction to mathematical modelling in ecology in t h e widest sense, including the application of all types of dynamic models, statistical models, catastrophe theory etc. Although it is written primarily for undergraduates and beginners, reading of this book m a y be useful even for advanced modellers to remind them of basic objectives and principles of the application of mathematics in ecology. The book consists of six chapters; each of them tries to answer the question, given as the title of the chapter. They are the following: W h a t is a model? W h y do I need a model? How do I start? W h a t help can I expect from mathematics? Do I need a computer? How do I know w h e n to stop ? These chapters are followed b y the appendix: Modelling checklist. There we find 82 questions addressed to anyone trying to build an ecological model. I t m a y be beneficial for both beginners

BOOKREVIEWS

111

and advanced modellers to answer these questions before starting work on the mode[. I t m a y help to avoid m a n y shortcomings in their subsequent work. I recommend this book first of all to ecologists not too familiar with complicated mathematics, who hope to obtain some useful information from mathematical treatment of their problems. JAIq LEPw GERALD W. OLSO~r SOILS AND THE ENVIRONMENT A Guide to Soil Surveys and their Applications Chapman and Hall, New York et London 1981, X I I I -[- 178 pp., 84 Figs., 51 Tabs., Price s 6,50. I n recent years a number of books dedicated to the study problems of land use has been published. The one reviewed is concerned with better use of land through improved application of soil survey. After the foreword (by D. R. COATES) and preface the book is divided into eleven chapters. Chapter i briefly introduces the principles of sell surveys. Chapter 2 describes soil profill and basic properties of soil horizons. Laboratory analyses of soils is the central topic of chapter 3. Chapter 4, soil classification, is limited to Soil Taxonomy system of U.S.A. and serves as a key to translate data to visual understanding. Soil maps and their interpretation are excellent and reflect t h e author's wide activities in soil investigations. Chapter 5 gives necessary information about the sell data bank and information systems in the U.S.A.. The following chapter describes criteria for making ratings of soils for engineering application. Chapter 7 discusses the relation between soil maps and agricultural land classification. Attention is focussed on a persistent problem -- soil erosion in the next chapter. Chapter 9 includes yield correlation to sell maps. Chapter 10 describes some historical examples of land abuse and stresses the importance of the soil as a fragile part off the ecosystem. I n the concluding chapter the author discusses the most important ideas about soil improvements regarding future development. The book is supplemented by conversion factor~ for U.S. and metric units, a useful glossary, a bibliography of 6 pages and a brief subject index. I n the preface the author says t h a t he planned the publication first for laymen, and it should he pointed out t h a t he has been very successful in this respect. Much of the information presented is documented with photographs, maps and graphs. A good feature of the book is the well balanced simplification of definitions and mathematical apparatus. The printing of the publication is very good quality, only some symbols of a few figures are dlfficult to distinquish (e.g. Figs. 37--41). I n a further edition it would be desirable to use unified S. I. units throughout t h e book. I n general this book represents not only attractive reading for the soil scientist but also. a necessary guide for all who are interested in the uses of land. eTA RAtYOK ]31~IAI~ MATH~W THE IRIS B T Batsford Ltd. London 1981, X V I I ~- 186 ~- 16 pp., 38 colour photographs, 32 black and white photographs and 16 line illustrations. Price s 17,50. The book deals with the genus I r i s in its wide sense; Besides the rhizomatous irises it includes also bulbous plants considered by some authors as special genera. I t treats some smaller related genera of the family Iridaceae from the North Hemisphere, too. Unlike t h e literature published up to now it concentrates only on botanical Irises. I t leaves garden Irises apart on purpose. The first chapter analyses single parts of I r i s plants from the point of view of the variability of the genus, and at the same time it gives an outline of cultivation possibilities with respect t o ways of practical use and handling practice. I n the review and the eharacterisation of lower taxonomic units of the genus I r i s as well as in the determination key t h e author uses his own classification based on the systems of LAWRENCE~ RODIONEN:KO and TAYLOR.

112

FOLIA GEOBOTAlqICA ET PHYTOTAX0]qOMICA 19, 1984

The greatest part of the text is devoted to a treatise on the Iris species. They are grouped according to subspecies and sections or series when suitable. E a c h group is introduced b y botanical characteristic and often complemented b y notes on taxonomic problems and on relation to other groups. This description is accompanied by notes about the plant's needs when cultivated. The description of species belonging to the group follows the description of the group, which takes a few paragraphs or even a few pages, in alphabetic order. Tb~e most important up-to-date information is given and summarized: morphological description accompanied by data on geographical distribution and where appropriate b y ecological remarks or references to problems not yet solved. There are more t h a n 600 taxa described, characterized or mentioned; this part predominates in the text. I t represents the greatest value of the book. Other publications about the genus Iris are based more on garden Irises and wild species usually complement the t e x t s to explain the origin of garden forms, or to illustrate the variability of the whole genus, and to draw attention to further possibilities of use. I n this book by BX~AN 1M~TH~W, on the contrary, the aim is to give as complete information as possible on the genus l r i s solely from the botanical point ef view, although the readers' interest in cultivation is respected to the greatest extent. This task is far from easy. I t must be based on a very good knowledge of botany, special literature and on years of systematical study of herbariums and especially on long experience with a n important p a r t of species studied in the nature, and rich experience gained in cultivation of m a n y types of rare wild Irises demanding special care, some of t h e m being grown for the first time. I t is this approach which makes the book unique. I t is not written for those who are interested specially in garden Irises and species or species hybrids which have already been cultivated. They can find more detailed information in gardening literature. No other book has been published since DYKES' monography which meets the needs of those who are interested in Irises n o t yet been introduced into gardens, and those who want to gain the up-te-date botanical knowledge and to enjoy the beauty of these demanding plants in t h e whole variability given b y nature. The book is accompanied b y 38 perfect colour and 32 black and white photographs often taken in nature. The set of these portraits is as unique as the review of the species in the text. M I L ~ BLA~EK W . HENNIG

PHYLOGENETISCHE

SYSTEMATIK

Verlag Paul Parey, Berlin et H a m b u r g 1982, 246 pp., 69 Figs. The eladistic school of systematics argues t h a t classification should strictly reflect genealogical affinities as far as possible. All descendants of an ancestor should be placed in the same t a x o n or, in other words, all the members of a taxon should stem from the same ancestor. The most i m p o r t a n t work supporting the cladist's view on classification is "Phylogenetic Systematies" b y t h e late WILLI H•NNIG (translated b y D. D. DAVIS and R. Z~OLER? Univ. of Illinois Press, Chicago 1966). The book under review represents t h e German original prepared for publication b y Professor Wor.FaAICG HEmCIG. The author, Professor WrLLI HEro,rio, was the outstanding specialist in Diptera. His book full of examples especially from the animal kingdom can be recomended to all German-speaking research workers and students of systematies (for recent evaluation of the cladistic school see P. D. AS~LOC~, 1974: Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 5: 81--99). R. ] K ~ . r :