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Review

Review IAWA Bulletin n.s., Vol. 8 (3),1987 Anatomy of the Dicotyledons, Second Edition, only included for a few families is a reflection Vol. III. Magnoliales, Illiciales, and Laurales. of the continued stepmotherly treatment of C. R. Metcalfe, x + 224 pp., illus., 1987. Claren­ these plant parts, organs, or early development­ don Press, Oxford, Price: f, 45.00 (cloth). al stages by anatomists. The contribution by Plant anatomy in this century has had only Richter on the phloem of Lauraceae is one of few historical moments, but the publication of the fortunate exceptions. Taxonomic notes con­ the third volume of edition 2 of 'Anatomy of clude each family treatment, while economic the Dicotyledons' is one ofthem. Followingthe notes and phylogenetic considerations are op­ two introductory volumes published in 1979 tional discussion chapters. The taxonomic notes and 1983, this is the first volume with individ­ are on ce more testimony of the openminded­ ual family treatments, and as such it records ness of the author: anatomical characters are our present day anatomical knowledge on 20 never overemphasised to the cost of morphol­ families, belonging to the orders Magnoliales, ogical, cytological, or chemical ones. Of course Illiciales, and Laurales. More specifically it high­ this impartiality can also lead to unhelpful con­ lights progress in descriptive plant anatomy of clusions that the taxonomic position of a cer­ nearly four decades, because the latest refer­ tain family is not yet weil established, or even ences included in the first edition of 'Metcalfe remains a matter of opinion. However, these & Chalk' published in 1950 date from 1948. conclusions probably reflect the painful truth This third volume is almost entirely from the better than any dogmatic statement based on pen of Dr. C. R. Metcalfe, with contributions characters from vegetative anatomy alone. Ref­ by Christina Faggeter (leaf surface of Laura­ eren ces at the end of each family are separated ceae), Richard Howard (no des and petioles), into lists of literature cited, and lists of 'sugges­ and Jorgo Richter (wood and bark anatomy of tions for furt her reading' containing references Lauraceae). The illustrations are by Hazel P. Wil­ not cited but accompanied by helpful notes on kinson. In his early eighties now, Dr. Metcalfe the nature of their contents. has added another most impressive feather to The illustrations have undergone revolution­ his already well-adorned cap with the publica­ ary changes. Virtually all the line-drawings of tion of this volume. For half a century he has the first edition have been abolished and re­ presided over and actively contributed to the placed by exquisite half-tone photopiates, con­ immense projects 'Anatomy of the Dicotyle­ taining for each family a number of SEM images dons' and 'Anatomy of the Monocotyledons', of leaf surfaccs and light micrographs of mature and the prominent roles of Radlkofer and Sole­ wood and/or young stern and bark anatomy. reder in systematic plant anatomy are outshined These plates are provided with extensive legends, by his achievements. so that in a way they tell their own eloquent A comparison of the firs't and the second edi­ story. tions shows how much our knowledge has in­ The fully justified emphasis on the anatomi­ creased over the last 40 years. Although the cal literature of the last 40 years in the present descriptive style has remained concise each in­ edition implies that for future users, the first dividual family needs 2 to 4 times as much edition, and indeed its predecessor by Solereder printing space in this edition thanks to the avail­ of 1899 and 1908, and the translation by ability of many new data published since 1948. Boodle & Fritsch (1908) will remain valuable This picture of plant anatomical progress is and essential companions. This can best be il­ perhaps flattered by the fact that the orders lustrated with reference to Myristicaceae, where treated here belong to the so-called primitive the present edition provides detailed new infor­ angiosperms and have received more attention mation on Asiatic genera, but the first edition from anatomists and morphologists than most had more anatomical information on thegenera others. from the Neotropics and Africa. Of course the The organisation of family treatments has re­ literature before 1948, not all rc-cited again in mained essentially similar to that of the first the second edition, will also retain its value. I edition. Introductory parts combine informa­ am sure the present author will have found it tion on macromorphology and distribution with a gratifying thought that his latest contribution a very brief anatomical characterisation. The is not areplacement but an extension of his descriptions are compartmen talised into sec­ own earlier work and that by his predecessors. tions on the ieaf, nodes and petioles (by R.A. No plant anatomist or taxonomist should miss this latest exceJlent and typographically Howard), young stern, mature wood, and op­ tional sections on secondary phloem, root, and weil executed volume. seedling anatomy. The fact that the latter are Pieter Baas http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png IAWA Journal Brill

Review

Baas, Pieter
IAWA Journal , Volume 8 (3): 1 – Jan 1, 1987
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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
Copyright © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0928-1541
eISSN
2294-1932
DOI
10.1163/22941932-90001051
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Abstract

IAWA Bulletin n.s., Vol. 8 (3),1987 Anatomy of the Dicotyledons, Second Edition, only included for a few families is a reflection Vol. III. Magnoliales, Illiciales, and Laurales. of the continued stepmotherly treatment of C. R. Metcalfe, x + 224 pp., illus., 1987. Claren­ these plant parts, organs, or early development­ don Press, Oxford, Price: f, 45.00 (cloth). al stages by anatomists. The contribution by Plant anatomy in this century has had only Richter on the phloem of Lauraceae is one of few historical moments, but the publication of the fortunate exceptions. Taxonomic notes con­ the third volume of edition 2 of 'Anatomy of clude each family treatment, while economic the Dicotyledons' is one ofthem. Followingthe notes and phylogenetic considerations are op­ two introductory volumes published in 1979 tional discussion chapters. The taxonomic notes and 1983, this is the first volume with individ­ are on ce more testimony of the openminded­ ual family treatments, and as such it records ness of the author: anatomical characters are our present day anatomical knowledge on 20 never overemphasised to the cost of morphol­ families, belonging to the orders Magnoliales, ogical, cytological, or chemical ones. Of course Illiciales, and Laurales. More specifically it high­ this impartiality can also lead to unhelpful con­ lights progress in descriptive plant anatomy of clusions that the taxonomic position of a cer­ nearly four decades, because the latest refer­ tain family is not yet weil established, or even ences included in the first edition of 'Metcalfe remains a matter of opinion. However, these & Chalk' published in 1950 date from 1948. conclusions probably reflect the painful truth This third volume is almost entirely from the better than any dogmatic statement based on pen of Dr. C. R. Metcalfe, with contributions characters from vegetative anatomy alone. Ref­ by Christina Faggeter (leaf surface of Laura­ eren ces at the end of each family are separated ceae), Richard Howard (no des and petioles), into lists of literature cited, and lists of 'sugges­ and Jorgo Richter (wood and bark anatomy of tions for furt her reading' containing references Lauraceae). The illustrations are by Hazel P. Wil­ not cited but accompanied by helpful notes on kinson. In his early eighties now, Dr. Metcalfe the nature of their contents. has added another most impressive feather to The illustrations have undergone revolution­ his already well-adorned cap with the publica­ ary changes. Virtually all the line-drawings of tion of this volume. For half a century he has the first edition have been abolished and re­ presided over and actively contributed to the placed by exquisite half-tone photopiates, con­ immense projects 'Anatomy of the Dicotyle­ taining for each family a number of SEM images dons' and 'Anatomy of the Monocotyledons', of leaf surfaccs and light micrographs of mature and the prominent roles of Radlkofer and Sole­ wood and/or young stern and bark anatomy. reder in systematic plant anatomy are outshined These plates are provided with extensive legends, by his achievements. so that in a way they tell their own eloquent A comparison of the firs't and the second edi­ story. tions shows how much our knowledge has in­ The fully justified emphasis on the anatomi­ creased over the last 40 years. Although the cal literature of the last 40 years in the present descriptive style has remained concise each in­ edition implies that for future users, the first dividual family needs 2 to 4 times as much edition, and indeed its predecessor by Solereder printing space in this edition thanks to the avail­ of 1899 and 1908, and the translation by ability of many new data published since 1948. Boodle & Fritsch (1908) will remain valuable This picture of plant anatomical progress is and essential companions. This can best be il­ perhaps flattered by the fact that the orders lustrated with reference to Myristicaceae, where treated here belong to the so-called primitive the present edition provides detailed new infor­ angiosperms and have received more attention mation on Asiatic genera, but the first edition from anatomists and morphologists than most had more anatomical information on thegenera others. from the Neotropics and Africa. Of course the The organisation of family treatments has re­ literature before 1948, not all rc-cited again in mained essentially similar to that of the first the second edition, will also retain its value. I edition. Introductory parts combine informa­ am sure the present author will have found it tion on macromorphology and distribution with a gratifying thought that his latest contribution a very brief anatomical characterisation. The is not areplacement but an extension of his descriptions are compartmen talised into sec­ own earlier work and that by his predecessors. tions on the ieaf, nodes and petioles (by R.A. No plant anatomist or taxonomist should miss this latest exceJlent and typographically Howard), young stern, mature wood, and op­ tional sections on secondary phloem, root, and weil executed volume. seedling anatomy. The fact that the latter are Pieter Baas

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IAWA Journal – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 1987

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