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REVIEWS 



Under Sparganium erectum L. (p. 83), already quoted, three subspecies are recognized, viz. ssp. polyedrum 

 (A. & G.) Sch. & Th., ssp. microcarpum (Neum.), and ssp. neglectum (Beeby) Sch. & Th.; a detailed note in 

 smaller type discusses the validity of this taxonomic treatment, giving valuable information on the apparent 

 interfertility of the forms in different parts of their range, and accurate diagnostic descriptions, with illus- 

 trations, for all three. A purely nomenclatural point of interest is illustrated by this example; ' the author 

 refuses to adopt the ' type subspecies ' rule of the Stockholm International Code (1952), believing it to be 

 impossible to reconcile with sound systematics. 



Phleum pratense L. (p. 336) may be taken as a second example. Here the author has two subspecies» 

 nodosum (L.) and vulgare (Cel.); he discusses the cytological difference but stresses the difficulty of separating 

 morphologically certain forms of the hexaploid from the diploid nodosum. A similar ' conservative ' view 

 is shown in Anthoxanthum (p. 346), where a careful discussion of Love's diploid A. alpinum (quoting also 

 Tutin 1950) shows the author's inability to find the necessary morphological basis for a division into a southern 

 tetraploid and a northern diploid species. 



Other notes on intraspecific variation of particular interest to British botanists include Pteridium (p. 24) 

 where the larger, softer southern Swedish form is said to be very probably identical with the British one 

 and rather strikingly different from the common Scandinavian plant; Ophioglossum (p. 15), under which 

 there is a discussion of the possible identity of the Icelandic variety (occurring around thermal springs) with 

 the British and Atlantic European ssp. polyphyllum (Seub.); and Sesleria (p. 229), in which is illustrated the 

 remarkable microscopic difference in leaf epidermis between the British and Swedish subspecies. 



The choice of text-figures, the majority of which are preproduced from a wide variety of other works 

 (including a few of the excellent drawings from Hyde and Wade, Welsh Ferns), seems on the whole to 

 be a remarkably useful one, although, perhaps inevitably, the treatment of groups is very uneven and certain 

 families, which would have benefited considerably (e.g. Juncaceae) arc not permitted a single illustration. 



The author's very considerably knowledge of the taxonomy and nomenclature of cultivated plants ensures 

 that the treatment given, e.g. to the included non-native Liliaceae, Amaryllidaceae aind Iridaceae, is informative 

 and up-to-date, although naturally less space and smaller type is given to garden escapes, casuals, etc. The 

 general policy of inclusion seems to be not unlike that familiar to British botanists in Clapham, Tutin & 

 Warburg's Flora of the British Isles. 



British botanists will also find refreshingly few points where the nomenclature differs from the new 

 British Flora; there are of course*the perennial sources of disagreement such as Potamogeton pusillus; and the 

 grass genera Bromus and Agropyron arc very differently circumscribed; but there arc very few startling 

 innovations such as Asplenium scolopendrium and Arrhenatherum including Helictotrichon. 



There can be no doubt that Dr. Hylander has set himself a gigantic task which few could hope to discharge 

 with anything like his ability. Volume 2, to contain the rest of the Monocotyledons, and the Dicotyledons up 

 to the Polygonaceae, is well under preparation, and we can only hope that this great and valuable work can 

 be carried through to a successful conclusion with no undue delay. 



S. M. Walters. 



