A comprehensive handbook of Angiosperm orders and families
The tools of the trade
Selective felling in rain forests
Analysing Bhutan's forest roads
Understanding land use
Concerning the trustworthiness of Hephaestus
Re-examining tropical tree breeding
Aerial seeding prospects
Using computers in choosing trees
CROCUS LINNAEUS IRIDACEAE HERALDS THE SPRING it also flavours and colours food
An integrated system of classification of flowering plants, by Arthur Cronquist. New York, Columbia University Press, 1981, xviii, 2162 p., illus. US$100.
There has been a crying need for a comprehensive handbook covering all the orders and families of flowering plants. John Hutchinson's Families of flowering plants (ea. 3, 1973) follows a classification that is no longer acceptable to the critical student and is even less so to the professional taxonomist. Nor does it include much information apart from gross morphology. Engler's Syllabus der Pflanzenfamilien (ea. 12, by H. Melchior, 1964) is also somewhat out of date and rather limited, although it does present the subdivisions of families and the genera in a skeleton survey.
Thus, the publication of Cronquist's new book is welcome. It is the only volume that, within the frame of a modern system of classification, gives comprehensive information on families, including gross morphology, vegetative anatomy, embryology, chemical contents, serology, chromosome numbers, and fossil records. Data of all these kinds are now indispensable for a full understanding of the relationships and biology of the plant groups. Cronquist's book is a veritable mine of information. The extensive references listed in connection with the ordinal descriptions are also well chosen and up to date. There are about 225 plant illustrations of a high standard; as a rule, they show the details of one representative species chosen out of the family.
The great number of pages makes the book rather too coumbersome for convenience, however. A somewhat larger format with two-column text would have reduced it to a little more than half the thickness. In addition, the ordinal and familial descriptions, presented in coherent blocks, may prove too massive for the reader.
Apart from this, my impression of the book is nothing but positive. The information is as accurate as could ever be achieved and is presented in a lucid manner. The immensity of Cronquist's own body of knowledge coupled with his connections with botanists all over the world, including the USSR, and the facilities available to him at the library and herbarium of the New York Botanic Garden has resulted in an admirable wealth and precision of information.
The utilization of this information in the construction of Cronquist's system of classification should also be commented on. There is gradually developing a consensus among the few taxonomists working at the highest levels of classification, with the result that the main features of the current classifications are approaching one another. Further cooperation in the future may reduce to an even greater extent certain unnecessary technical and nomenclatural differences. The increasing similarity in the classifications is largely due to new, unequivocal data. Most of Cronquist's constellations and concepts are undoubtedly wise and have a greater public appeal than those of other classifications, in which the hierarchy is more complicated or the orders and families split into more entities or both. Despite his wealth of knowledge, Cronquist seems somewhat hampered by a conservative or even somewhat reactionary attitude. Thus, in my opinion, the following families are out of place in the orders where they are placed on the basis of superficial resemblance and should be removed from them: Chloranthaceae in Piperales; Nelumbonaceae in Nymphaeales; Coriariaceae in Ranunculales; Sarraceniaceae and Droseraceae in Nepenthales; Fouquieriaceae and Bixaceae in Lamiales; Hippuridaceae and Hydrostachyaceae in Callitrichales; and Poaceae in Cyperales. These few changes alone would make the classification more convincing. A number of other changes would also improve the classification. Being, as I am, responsible for a different system of classification and having somewhat different evaluations, I feel tempted, of course, to put forward divergent points of view.
Cronquist's conservative approach is most obvious in the case of the Liliioflorae. Instead of acknowledging Alliaceae, Hyacinthaceae, Alstroemeriaceae, and a number of other segregate families on the same level, Cronquist includes these in his Liliaceae. This approach is both radical and practical, although important constellations of genera, representing main interest evolutionary lines, are relegated to intrafamilial level in Liliaceae. Surprisingly, within the jungle of generic groups, Cronquist acknowledges a few, such as Cyanastraceae, Aloëaceae, and Iridaceae.
Some comments should also be included on the basic philosophy behind the treatment of the evolution of the angiosperms. Cronquist claims that the earliest angiosperms were probably shrubs of riparian habitats and had monosulcate pollen grains and leaves with irregular pinnate-reticulate venation. His sequence of orders indicates that he favours the so-called Euanthian theory, with Magnoliales as the most archaic existing order of flowering plants. This is in accordance with the general view held today. The connection between monocotyledons and dicotyledons is more vaguely, and in my opinion less satisfactorily, explained. The close relation between Nymphaeales and monocotyledons is emphasized, and, although Cronquist does not suggest that the Nymphaeales are direct ancestors to the monocotyledons as a whole, he concludes that the premonocotyledonous dicotyledons probably somewhat resembled the modern Nymphaeales. Leaf impressions resembling water lilies from Albian times support this view. In the discussion of the affinities of the Nymphaeales, I would have liked to see mentioned sieve-tube plastic conditions, occurrence of perisperm (remarkably similar to that in Piperales), and chemical conditions. A note on alternative views would have been appropriate, for example, that the monocotyledonous Dioscoreales, such as Trichopus, and various members of the dicotyledonous Magnoliales sensu lato exhibit a number of conspicuous similarities.
The book is not, however, meant to be speculative-philosophical or "evolutionary". It is a highly pragmatic presentation of the present groups of angiosperms and their characteristics. It can be strongly recommended for its wealth of exact information, not to mention its attractive appearance, and is far superior to other handbooks of its kind. It should be present in all libraries attached to the botanical departments of universities and available to botanical gardens and secondary schools all over the world. It certainly also deserves to have a place on the shelves of all taxonomists with a broad range of interests.
Rolf Dahlgren
BOTANICAL MUSEUM,
UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN, DENMARK.
(This review is from Science magazine,
Vol. 216, NO. 4551.)
Forestry: equipment planning guide for vocational and technical training and education, programmes. International Labour Office, Geneva, 1980. Softcover. 230 p. In English, with lists of equipment also in French and Spanish.
The format for this practical equipment-buying guide is straightforward and simple. Each piece of forestry equipment included - about 500 in all - is given a code number, a short factual description and a clear descriptive sketch. The entry for a planting auger or semi-circular spade, for instance, includes data on blade width and length, overall length and total weight, and concludes with a brief description: "Semi-circular blade made of quality steel, pointed edge. With tubular steel shaft and round wooden handle." No price is given. What the auger is specifically used for must be deduced from the drawing, the name of the tool, its description, and the fact that it is included in the six-page sub-section on "Tools and machines for seeding and planting" under the major heading "Silvicultural operations and forest protection."
There are, in all, 10 major divisions: (1) felling, cross-cutting, conversion; (2) terrain transport, loading and unloading; (3) road construction and maintenance; (4) long-distance transport; (5) local wood transformation and processing, secondary forest products; (6) silvicultural operations and forest protection; (7) protective equipment; (8) communication systems; (9) workshop equipment; and (10) training equipment. These are further divided into 72 detailed subsections with the result that a user can very easily locate the kind of equipment that would be of interest to him.
The equipment guide was prepared by Mr Saarilahti, a Finnish forest engineer, in conjunction with ILO's Vocational Training Branch and the ILO Technical Cooperation Equipment and Subcontracting Branch. "An attempt has been made," the authors state in the introduction, "to restrict the guide to basic items for which a rather universal demand can be expected. The emphasis is placed on simple tools and machines for which there is a widespread demand in many developing countries. These items may be manufactured locally if supplies from elsewhere are not available or desirable. Too specialized items (such as cable cranes) or too sophisticated items (such as multi-functional harvesting machines) have deliberately not been included."
Tropical rainforest silviculture a research project report, by T.J. Synott. Commonwealth Forestry Institute, Oxford, Occasional Papers No. 10, 1981, 45 p.
T.J. Synott shows that, within certain limits, the use of selective felling or poisoning in stocking and basal areas may accelerate the growth of the remaining trees sufficiently to compensate for the volume lost from the trees removed. His analytic study uses data from Australia, Ghana, Malaysia (Peninsular), Nigeria, Sabah, Sarawak, the Solomon Islands, Uganda and Venezuela. The document is a fine source of ideas for further research on the benefits of controlled logging of primary forests and the tending of residual stands.
Manual on forest roads in Bhutan. Part 1: Planning, surveying, construction and protection works, by R. Heinrich and O. Dedlak. Rome, FAO, 19$1. Softcover. 128 p. Charts, graphs, drawings, black-and-white photos.Manual on forest roads in Bhutan. Part 11: Machinery, maintenance and safety in construction, by W.T. Charke. Rome, FAO 1981. Softcover. 59 p. Charts, graphs drawings, black-and-white photos.
Between 12 March and 7 September 1979 the Bhutan Forest School at Taba conducted its first training course on "Forest road planning and construction in mountainous areas in Bhutan." A three-man consulting team, the authors of these two volumes, worked with the training course as part of the FAO project entitled "Forestry development in selected areas of Western Bhutan," conducted in conjunction with UNDP and the Royal Government of Bhutan.
About 70 percent of Bhutan is forested and the potential annual allowable cut has been estimated at nine million cubic metres, but at present the cut is only about 200000 cubic metres. Recognizing that increased production could benefit the country, the Government embarked upon the FAO project as a means of carrying it out. The manual, in two volumes, is the result of the 1979 training course and work programme and, while it focuses on basics, it contains enough information to allow forest supervisors to plan and carry out a road construction programme. This manual could be useful for training in road building, especially in hilly and mountainous country anywhere in the world.
Assessing tropical forest lands, their suit ability for sustainable uses. Edited by Richard A. Carpenter. Dublin, Ireland, Tycooly International Publishing Ltd. 1981, 337 p. Price hardback US$55.00; soft-cover US$38.75. Discounts granted to individuals and organizations in developing countries.
The findings of the recent Joint FAO/UNEP Tropical Forest Resources Assessment Project show that around 11.9 million hectares of closed tropical forest are altered each year and that open tree formations are being cleared at a yearly rate of 3.8 million hectares. This process of deforestation is the result of land being converted to other uses such as agriculture or urban sprawl or results from over-exploitation, over-grazing and burning. This changing of the tropical forest cover unfortunately can lead to erosion, soil degradation, flooding, desertification, etc. Therefore, it is more important than ever that foresters and others become more knowledgeable about assessing or comparing land for forestry or alternative uses in the planning and implementation processes.
This book addresses itself to this subject at a time when there is increasing consciousness of the need for better land management, especially in the tropics. It is the third in a series of eight volumes on natural resources and the environment and reports on the proceedings of the June 1979 Conference on Forest Land Assessment and Management for Sustainable Uses, held at the Environment and Policy Institute of the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The book is presented in two parts. Part I includes sections on the land-use planning process, a procedure for land capability classification, suitability assessment, special tropical considerations, constraints and opportunities and recommendations for further multi-national collaboration. Part II contains background information and defines the terms used in the land assessment approach, and is made up of papers presented at the Conference. While the studies draw mainly from the Asia-Pacific region, there is also a discussion on the biophysical land classification in Canada and reference to assessment in other global areas.
Even though the examples called upon are drawn from the tropical forest environments, the outlined principles and methods are applicable throughout the world. Forest managers and planners certainly need to become thoroughly acquainted with practical approaches to classifying and assessing land for forest resource use. In becoming more familiar with how to utilize the environmental characteristics of landscapes, foresters will help people to avoid misuse of the land and contribute greatly to allocating land to uses within its capability.
M.S. STEVENS
Rome
The god that limps: science and technology in the eighties, by Colin Norman. W.W. Norton and Co., 1981, 224 pages.
Ironically, the only imperfect Greek god was the one responsible for the perfect and smooth running of society.
Hephaestus, god of fire and metalworking, had a limp and was ugly and irascible. He was twice cast out of Olympus. Yet, he remained eagerly sought after because he had many technical skills and was entrusted with the development and maintenance of key technologies.
The story of Hephaestus provides symbols for the roles of modern science and technology. In provocative analysis of present technological trends, Norman demonstrates the gravity with which we must consider the resulting social impact. No doubt technology has brought many benefits to society, yet its power and versatility are marred by crippling effects. We ask: if we can go to the moon, why can't science solve the problems of poverty and unemployment?
Norman states that the continued emphasis on technology development incurs social and environmental costs that may long outlive the more immediate benefits. Science and technology have become deeply intertwined with the workings of society, but have been developed primarily for profit or political interests with little effort being devoted to improving society as a whole. The gap between rich and poor may widen rapidly unless future goals are reassessed. Norman writes, "... the key to technological development lies in the environment in which technological changes take place... the social, economic, political, and physical environment." All these factors must be taken into account to assure evolutionary balance and stability.
ADELYN M. JONES
Sierra Club Bulletin
A philosophy of breeding strategy for tropical forest trees, by G. Namkoong, R.D. Barnes and 1. Burley. Commonwealth Forestry Institute, Oxford, Tropical Forestry Papers No. 16, 1981, 67 p.
This new study develops a strategy by which tree breeders can select and plant trees quickly and easily with long-range production that meets or goes beyond the needs of even very large populations. The three co-authors call for eliminating the stereotyped status quo breeding format which depends upon three factors: (1) selection based on comparisons of "plus trees" with their neighbours; (2) progeny tests open-tested and planted on a few sites with few management conditions tested; and (3) operating seed orchards without provision for incorporating newly selected material. Instead, the emphasis here is upon developing proper procedures applied over many generations that preserve a variety of future options. Treated in the report are species and provenance trials, breeding programmes for a single species, strategies for handling multiple populations and administrative and logistical considerations for national and international programmes.
Sowing forests from the air. Report of an Ad Hoc Panel of the Advisory Committee on Technology Innovation, Board on Science and Technology for international Development, Commission on International Relations, National Research Council. Washington, D.C., National Academy Press, 1981. Softcover. 61 p. Black-and-white photographs. Price: free to institutionally affiliated recipients.
No further documentation is needed to convince either foresters or the general public that reforestation is lagging dramatically behind the annual rate of forest destruction or conversion, even in developed nations. This situation, according to the international panel which produced this report, means that simpler reforestation techniques ought to be seriously considered on a large scale. "If even a fraction of such (destroyed) forest areas is to be restored, existing planting techniques should be supplemented with methods that require less organization, less infrastructure, less capital investment, and that enable rapid reforestation over vast areas."
This book discusses such methods as direct or "broadcast" aerial seeding by plane or helicopter. It is based on experience in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. "Aerial seeding," the panel concludes, "is unproven in the tropics," although a short chapter on tropical seeding experiments, primarily in Indonesia, is included. The book is intended neither as a textbook nor as a practical guide on aerial seeding. Rather it is designed to convince administrators and foresters that the technique can work on appropriate sites and to encourage further aerial-seeding trials, particularly in the tropics.
A guide to species selection for tropical and sub-tropical plantations, by D.B. Webb P.J. Wood and J. Smith. Commonwealth Forestry Institute, Oxford, Tropical Forestry Papers No. 15, 1981, 342 p.
This book is a compendium of basic information on 125 species, varieties and provenances drawn from a retrievable data bank. It is intended for use primarily in local trials prior to final selection for extensive planting. Information is included on taxonomy, natural occurrence, climate, soils, silviculture, production, protection, plantings, timber, utilization, nursery, principal pests and diseases, and a variety of other subjects. Also included are techniques for using the data, specifically the tabulation of species requirements, a perforated card system or computer retrieval.
|
unasylva an international journal of forestry and forest industries | ||||
|
ORDER FORM to be mailed to: or to any of the FAO Sales Agents listed on the inside back cover. |
Distribution and Sales Section FAO - Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome - Italy | |||
|
Please enter my subscription to unasylva for a period of one year (price: $8.00*) | ||||
|
Name.............................................................................................. |
Street.................................................................. | |||
|
Occupation......................................... |
City............................................. |
Country................................................ | ||
|
Edition required: |
English |
French |
Spanish |
|
|
Form of payment: |
Cheque enclosed |
Bank order |
Unesco coupons |
On receipt of invoice |
|
* For subscription rates in your currency check with your local FAO Sales Agent | ||||
DOCUMENTS ON FORESTRY
FOREST INDUSTRY
FORESTRY EDUCATION
ADMINISTRATION
ENVIRONMENT
WILDLIFE
WOOD ENERGY
OTHER RELATED FORESTRY SUBJECTSVolume 1: Annotated bibliography
Volume 1: Author and subject indexPublications and document for the period 1967-73 - 33350 index references - 917 pages
If out of print, all FAO publications available on MICROFICHE Size 105 X 150 mm. Up to 60 document pages per card.
Price: US$ 1.00
Orders to be send to:
Distribution and Sales Section FAO Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome, Italy
Eucalypts are especially important for developing countries because of their fast growth, wide adaptability from semi-desert to cold temperate environments and their many uses - sawnwood, pulpwood, wood-based panels, utility timber, environmental and amenity planting and for fast growing fuelwood plantations.The new FAO edition of Eucalypts for planting has been completely rewritten. Eucalypts for planting belongs on the shelves of libraries and forest services and in the private collection of anyone who wants the basics of eucalypt planting and management in one handy volume.
FAO, Distribution and Sales Section FAO Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome, Italy
