emphasis placed throughout on the integrated unity of the individual organism. 

 This is a viewpoint that deserves careful reconsideration by botanists and 

 zoologists alike, particularly in these days of overwhelming emphasis on mole- 

 cular biology and detailed investigations of isolated processes. Moreover, the 

 treatment of the subject is of such a high standard that the book should be on the 

 bookshelf of all those who consider themselves true developmental biologists. 

 It is a book that will do much to bridge the wide conceptual gap between botany 

 and zoology ... if only the zoologists read it. 



Two introductory chapters are followed by two chapters dealing with des- 

 criptive and experimental embryology. The ensuing chapters deal successively 

 with all the major plant organs: the shoot apex, leaves and buds, the root system, 

 the inflorescence and the flower. There are special chapters dealing with 

 meristems as such, with phyllotaxis, and with tissue differentiation (including 

 regeneration). Particularly those areas are selected for discussion where recent 

 experimental and analytical work has brought new insight. Of special interest 

 to animal embryologists is the chapter entitled "A brief excursion into lower 

 forms". Among other things, this discusses some remarkable examples of 

 morphogenetic movements, also outside the slime mould group. The book is 

 concluded by a chapter on "whole plant morphogenesis" and a brief Outlook. 



The book is well-printed and profusely illustrated with good line drawings. 

 The photographic plates are of excellent quality. The bibliography numbers 42 

 pages and is up-to-date until 1966. There is a combined subject and taxonomic 

 index, but no author index. (It is curious to the zoologist that the index has no 

 entry for regeneration.) 



51 ESSAYS ON FORM IN PLANTS 



1968 



By C. W. Wardlaw Manchester Univ. Press, Manchester 



413 pp., 50 figs., 5 tbs. Barnes 6 Noble Inc., New York 



Price: 55 s. 



In this book the author, writer of several important books on plant embryo 

 genesis and plant morphogenesis, has brought together thirty essays written 

 during the 26 years of his professorship in the University of Manchester. To all 

 those who know his fundamental work on the experimental morphology of plants, 

 these essays hardly need to be recommended. 



Throughout the book the author views plant morphogenesis as the focal point 

 eminently suited to bring about the desired unification of the vast discipline of 

 general botany. This is precisely the way in which zoologists increasingly tend 

 to view the study of animal morphogenesis. Although in this book no attempts in 

 this direction are made, it would seem altogether possible that the study of 

 morphogenesis as such may one day perform the same function for the whole 

 of biology. At any rate many of the essays in this book make equally fascinating 

 reading for zoologists as for botanists, particularly for those who appreciate a 

 truly scholarly approach. 



The book is in three parts, the second of which contains the essays reprinted 

 in chronological order, with the original illustrations. Part one is an introductory 

 essay which places the others in their proper perspective, and is entitled "The 



42 



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