The text begins with an introduction to alpine ecosystems. Alpine environments are here described as those that exist above timberline, a rather rich concept in itself as five different kinds of timberline are listed: forest limit (physiognomic forest line), economic forest line (above which trees cannot be economically harvested), tree limit (the elevation above which some species reach tree size), tree species limit (the elevation above which tree species are stunted but present, i.e. krummholz, elfinwood or krupelkiefer), and historic tree line (indicating earlier climatic regimes). The Alpine Flora of the Rocky Mountains is limited to those species growing above the elevation where more or less continuous trees are found (tree limit), trees being defined as arborescent species 3 m or more in height. A few geomorphic processes such as nivation, solifluction, and frost action are then briefly outlined. Next follows a compact but informative discussion of alpine environments. The general introductory material ends with a presentation of the adaptations required of plants living in the often harsh alpine milieu.
Following the general introduction, the Middle Rocky Mountains themselves are examined. The area containing the Middle Rock Mountains includes southwestern Montana, Wyoming, and northeastern Utah. In this section of the book individual mountain ranges and drainage basins are discussed, and included are brief synopses of glacial events, tectonic activity, and mineralology. The author has chosen to include the Medicine Bow Mountains, with the alpine-containing Snowy Range, as part of the Middle Rocky Mountains. Although this stance is controversial - the Medicine Bows are often placed in the Southern Rocky Mountains - the author in large part includes them in the Middle Rocky Mountains so that the book covers all of the alpine areas found in the state of Wyoming (Scott, pers. comm.). Thus possibly the book covers an area defined both vegetationally/physiographically and politically. I would have liked to see a stronger biological or physiographic justification for the inclusion of the Medicine Bow Mountains in the Middle Rocky Mountains. In all, the material that introduces the reader to the alpine zone and to the study area in particular is quite informative and is consistent with the usual material found in large regional floras.
Most of the text, of course, is devoted to the flora. Except for a few personal observations made by the author, this flora was assembled from voucher specimens. The bulk of the specimens examined are housed at the Rocky Mountain Herbarium (RM) at the University of Wyoming. Also consulted, but not so stated in the text, were specimens at Central Wyoming College (CWC), Montana State University (MONT), Teton National Park, and several small U.S. Forest Service herbaria (Scott, pers. comm.). While RM is an excellent and quite complete herbarium, the flora would have been more authoritative and perhaps more complete had the author consulted at least Utah State University (UTC), Brigham Young University (BRY), the University of Montana (MONTU), and the University of Idaho (ID). Because of this limited herbarium consultation, the dot maps in the text are fine for general distributions only.
The author has approached the text as an admitted "lumper" and seems to be rather taxonomically conservative as well. Therefore, the keys and descriptions should easily lead to an acceptable identification, although perhaps a taxonomically conservative one. This is especially true as Scott defines a species as a "good" species if it is "separated from other species by a gap in the variation of observable traits and a [presumably] corresponding barrier to interbreeding." We are not told, however, what "observable" means. Is it by the unaided eye, at 10X magnification, or at some other level of magnification? The flora is user-friendly in its strictly alphabetical arrangement by family, genus, and species, and the keys are clear and easy to follow if the reader already has a grasp of botanical terminology.
Each species is provided with an "accepted" scientific name and author, a reference to the original publication of the specific epithet, a list of synonyms users of western U.S. floras and monographs are likely to encounter, a mostly non-technical description, a brief overall range and habitat description, a dot map, and a line drawing. Unfortunately, the careful observer and collector will occasionally encounter specimens that do not exactly fit the species' description as it is based on what the author deemed to be "typical" of the species, especially as it occurs in alpine zones. The scientific user would much prefer a description that encompasses the known morphological variation in the species, at least in alpine zones. Accompanying line drawings, however, will aid both the professional and amateur botanist. These drawings range from excellent and informative (especially those originally published by the University of Washington and Stanford University presses) to rather oversimplified (e.g., Erigeron melanocephalus), but are mostly quite good or excellent. Common names have been provided for each species. Mostly these names come from "standardized" government sources especially Beetle (1970) but in some cases they are invented de novo by anglicizing the Latin binomial. My personal bias is reflected in wondering why, for example, Payson Bladderpod is "better" for the general public than is Lesquerella paysonii or why Sticky Geranium is better than Geranium viscosissimum? Yarrow for Achillea millefolium doesn't bother me, however, because it is an old name that really was, and is, a common name. If it is a legitimate common name fine, if not why invent one?
Has the author met his objective
of supplying a useful flora for both the professional and amateur
botanist? As a botanist who spends a fair amount of time in alpine
regions of the American West, the answer to the first part of
the question is yes. The book, however, is definitely one that
will not accompany me to the field. At 901 pages and an 8.5 x
11 inch format, it is too large and heavy to be stowed in a backpack.
The descriptions are perhaps a little watered down but are still
very useful as long as I don't collect something not "typical"
- and the synomy is fairly complete. The author has missed the
mark as far as the amateur is concerned. Because the amateur
audience has at their disposal a host of excellent picture books
and smaller format floras (e.g. Arnow et al. 1980; Dorn 1984,
1992; Nelson 1984; Shaw 1989) that would suit their purposes much
better, few amateurs are likely to pay $110 for a book they too
cannot carry in a backpack. Furthermore, amateurs may find the
descriptions and keys too technical and are likely to ignore the
synonymy. Given its cost and bulk (and this is just the first
of a projected three volumes covering the length of the Rocky
Mountains), the author would have done well to focus the text
on a scientific audience. I would, in spite of its shortcomings,
recommend this text to field and herbarium taxonomists and to
dedicated amateur botanists. I'm certain that the text is destined
to become dog-eared in my hands. - Steve L. O'Kane, Jr., Department of Biology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0421
Native Orchids of Belize McLeish, I., N.R. Pearce, B.R. Adams, and J. Briggs, 1995. ISBN 90-5410 6093 xvii + 278 pp. A. A. Balkema Publishers, P.O. Box 1875, Rotterdam, Netherlands- More years ago than it is wise to remember I visited the El Cayo (simply Cayo in this book) and Stann Creek Districts in what was then British Honduras. I was just starting to develop an interest in orchids and found it amazing that so many of them could be seen on trees. My guide, a British agricultural officer, kept drawing my attention to birds and iguanas which according to him made tasty pies, but I kept looking at the orchids without being able to recognize a single one. Should the fates take me back to these districts they will be part of an independent country, Belize. I will probably still be unable to recognize most orchids, but this time my guide will be dedicated to orchids. It will be this book which was written by four people (McLeish, a veterinary officer; Pearce, a medical practitioner; Adams, a tree crop agronomist; and Brings, an agriculturist; I will refer to them as MPAB) who can be best described as Victorian amateurs interested in orchids.
The word amateur has been debased in our time because it has been equated to hobbyist, and/or a person who dabbles superficially in something or other. On the other hand "Victorian amateurs" were/are anything but dabblers. They were/are usually accomplished experts in an area from which they did/do not derive an income. For example many have argued that Darwin falls into this category. MPAB certainly do as is clearly evident form this book. Their preface is in fact a short historical account of orchid collections in Belize and pertinent publications. In addition to providing interesting information the preface sets a serious tone for the book and also makes it clear that the authors are serious scholars and dedicated botanists, not just orchid lovers.
To appreciate the orchid flora of any area one must have an understanding of the geography and climate of the region. MPAB provide that in the introduction. I learned more from this chapter than during my visit long ago. My only quibble is a bad case of "theitis" because I I of 19 paragraphs, some in long sentences, start with "the". The "the...... the," "the..."gets old fast.
Chapter 2, classification and key to genera, is what would have made my visit more informative. It would have allowed me to classify an orchid or two while wondering what iguana pie tastes like. The key uses both vegetative and flora characteristics which should make it easy to use. Most of the book (pp. 13-261) is occupied by species descriptions. The book follows Dressler's classification system and taxa are listed in that order. Each genus is described in enough detail to make recognition possible. An interesting and informative feature is the etymology of generic names. A key is provided for genera which contain more than one species.
The format used to describe species is uniform. A clear and concise description which is easy to read and inclusive is followed by the following headings: general distribution; distribution in Belize; habitat; flowering season; etymology; and, when necessary, notes. Species are illustrated with color photographs (most are good) and/or excellent line drawings. As a result it is very easy to get a "feet" for each orchid.
A checklist of Belize orchids constitutes chapter 4. It lists herbaria which contain orchids collected in Belize (both under its current and colonial names). This check list is also a convenient source of names and correct spellings. A good glossary and an extensive index complete the book.
Geographically this book completes
coverage of a major part of Central America since there are already
books on the orchids of Mexico and Guatemala. It also adds to
the literature on the orchid flora of the Caribbean. For me this
is a useful book which brings back memories of early travel and
first time impressions of the tropics. Of course I refuse to
become involved in the perennial squabbles among taxonomists regarding
the validity of names and accuracy of descriptions. If this was
not the case there is no doubt in my mind that I could find something
to quibble about. As it is i have nothing to argue about and
only offer my compliments to the authors for a first rate book.
With all that I still have a question: what does iguana pie taste
- Joseph Arditti, Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA.