Monographs 



93 



DES OVULES AUX GRAINES, aspects cytologiques de la reproduction sexuee chez les plantes 



superieures. 1970. By M. FAVRE-DUCHARTRE 



Masson, Paris. Collection de monographies de botanique et de biologie vegetale, no. 8. 146 pp., 



80 figs., subject index. Fr. 78.— 



The author of this book is an authority on the sexual reproduction of plants with naked 

 ovules. The book deals in strictly comparative manner with the morphological and cytological 

 aspects of the ontogeny of the ovules, gametes, embryos, and seeds of prespermatophytes, 

 gymnosperms, and angiosperms. Phylogenetic aspects are discussed along with the presentation 

 of the data and in a brief conclusion at the end of the book. 



More than two thirds of the book (three chapters) are devoted to the ovule and its com- 

 ponents, female and male gametogenesis, pollination, and fertilization. The two remaining 

 chapters deal with embryogenesis (16 pp.) and seed development proper (17 pp.). 



The book is profusely illustrated with (partially highly schematized) drawings and photo- 

 graphs. It is concluded by a glossary, a brief bibliography, and a combined taxonomic and 

 subject index, of which the latter component hardly merits that name. The frequent use of 

 vernacular plant names is a drawback for non-French readers. The book is inordinately expen- 

 sive. 



94 



DE LA CELLULE A L'ORGANISME (Acrasiales, Myxomycetes, Myxobacteriales). 1970. By J. P. 



LARPENT 



Masson, Paris. Collection de monographies de botanique et de biologie vegetale, no. 7 140 pp., 



81 figs., subject index. Fr. 68.— (paper) 



This monograph aims at a synthesis of our present-day knowledge regarding the biology, 

 physiology, and morphogenesis of three taxonomically widely separate groups of organisms, 

 whose life-cycles have a plasmodial or pseudoplasmodial stage in common. Such a synthesis can 

 be quite valuable if written in a critical spirit on the basis of personal experience. Our opinion 

 is based primarily on the part dealing with the Acrasiales, and from this at least it is quite 

 evident that the present author has little or no first-hand knowledge of the subject. 



The presentation of the research data is often inaccurate or incomplete and their inter- 

 pretation is equally often uncritical. Too much stress is sometimes placed on rather insignifi- 

 cant details, whereas some very important recent work is hardly mentioned at all. Apart 

 from this, many statements are not properly documented, while on the other hand several 

 authors mentioned in the text do not appear in the bibliography. 



The book is in three parts, which deal with the three groups separately. Each part is 

 concluded by a brief taxonomic section. A brief concluding chapter provides an integrative 

 summary which points out the significance of the three groups for the study of morphogenesis 

 and differentiation. 



The book is well illustrated and has a lengthy bibliography which, though incomplete, may 

 be of use to those starting research on these organisms. However, as intimated above, the book 

 should not be used without verification of its contents through the original literature. The 

 price of the book is excessive. 



95 



LA PHYLLOTAXIE. 1969. By J.-E. LOISEAU 



Masson, Paris. Collection de monographies de botanique et de biologie vegetale, no. 4. 232 pp., 



158 figs., combined subject and taxonomic index. Fr. 69 (paper) 



This monograph was written mainly for students and teachers by a leading investigator in 

 the field. He is a representative of the influential "French school", which had one of its origins 

 in the earlier works of L. Plantefol. The author's starting point is Plantefol's theory of multiple 

 helices, and the book has a laudatory preface by this well-known French botanist. 



The book deals consecutively with the following subjects: fundamental concepts of phyllo- 

 taxy; the recognition of leaf helices; the demonstration of helices in the apical meristem; 

 phyllotactic variations and anomalies; the application of surgical techniques to phyllotaxis; 



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