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ASBS Book Reviews

Book Review Editor:

John Clarkson
Principal Botanist
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
PO Box 156
Mareeba  Qld  4880
Australia

Ph: +61 (0)7 40484745
(Mobile) +61 (0)43773248
Fax: +61 (0)7 40922366
Email: john.clarkson@qld.gov.au

Books currently available to review:

Australian Plants as Aboriginal Tools by Philip A. Clarke.  Rosenberg Publishing.
http://www.rosenbergpub.com.au/handleProduct.asp?id=149&catid=7

The Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms by Robert Lee Riffle, Paul Craft and Scott Zona. Timber Press, Portland Oregon courtesy of Capricorn Link.
http://www.timberpress.com/books/encyclopedia_cultivated_palms/riffle/9781604692051

Forensic Botany: A Practical Guide edited by David W. Hall and Jason H. Byrd.  Wiley-Blackwell.
http://au.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470661232.html

Latin for Gardeners: over 3,000 plant names explained and explored by Lorraine Harrison. Allen and Unwin.
http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=94&book=9781743312759

Legumes and Herbs of Coastal NSW by Harry Rose, Carol Rose and Trevor Rose. NSW Department of Primary Industries.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/resources/bookshop/legumes-and-herbs

Pathfinders in Tasmanian Botany by Dick Burns. Tasmanian Arboretum.
http://www.andrewisles.com/all-stock/publication/pathfinders-in-tasmanian-botany

Medicinal Plants: Biodiversity and Drugs edited by Mahendra Raie et al. CRC Press.
http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781578087938

Books currently being reviewed:

Burning Issues. Sustainability and Management of Australia's Southern Forests by Mark Adams & Peter Attiwill. CSIRO Publishing (http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/20/pid/6421.htm)

Flora of Australia Vol 39. Alismatales to Arales CSIRO Publishing (http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/20/pid/6816.htm)

Mistletoes of Southern Australia by David Watson. CSIRO Publishing (http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/20/pid/6436.htm)

Mechanisms of Life History Evolution The Genetics and Physiology of Life History Traits and Trade-Offs edited by Thomas Flatt and Andreas Heyland. Oxford University Press. (http://www.oup.com.au/titles/higher_ed/science/biological_sciences/9780199568772)

The Origins of Evolutionary Innovations A Theory of Transformative Change in Living Systems by Andreas Wagner. Oxford University Press. (http://www.oup.com.au/titles/higher_ed/science/biological_sciences/9780199692606)

Flora of the Liverworts and Hornworts of New Zealand, A, Volume 1 by J.J. Engel and D. Glenny. Missouri Botanical Garden Press (http://www.mbgpress.info/index.php?task=id&id=08071)

Effective Learning in the Life Sciences by David Adams. Wiley (http://au.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470661577.html)

Your Research Project: Designing and Planning Your Work by Nicholas Walliman. Sage Publications (http://www.uk.sagepub.com/books/Book234415#tabview=title)

Doing Your Literature Review by Jill Jesson, Lydia Matheson and Fiona Lacey. Sage Publications (http://www.uk.sagepub.com/books/Book233413)

100 Questions (and Answers) About Research Methods by Neil Salkind. Sage Publications (http://www.sagepub.com/books/Book235517#tabview=title)

The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project by Zina O’Leary. Sage Publications (http://www.uk.sagepub.com/books/Book233310#tabview=title)

Wetland Weeds: Causes, Cures and Compromises by Nick Ramanowski. CSIRO Publishing (http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6579.htm)

The Biology of Island Floras edited by D. Bramwell & J. Caujapé-castells. Cambridge University Press (http://www.cambridge.org/aus/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521118088)

Hardy Heathers from the Northern Hemisphere: the genera Calluna – Deaboecia – Erica by E.C. Nelson. Kew Publishing (www.kewbooks.com/asps/ForthcomingDetails.asp?id=896)

Threatened Plants of New Zealandby P. de Lange, P. Heenan, D. Norton, J. Rolfe & J. Sawyer. Canterbury University Press (http://www.cup.canterbury.ac.nz/catalogue/threatened_plants.shtml)

Australian Tropical Plants DVD by G.&N. Sankowsky. Zodiac Publications (http://www.rainforestmagic.com.au/atp.html)

Wildflower Wonders: The 50 Best Wildflower Sites in the World by Bob Gibbons. Princeton University Press (http://press.princeton.edu/titles/9533.html)

The Last Great Plant Hunt: The Story of the Millennium Seed Bank Project by C. Fry, S. Seddon & G. Vines. Kew Publishing (http://www.kewbooks.com/asps/ShowDetails.asp?id=872)

Introduction to Phylogenetic Networks by David Morrison. PJR Productions (http://www.rjr-productions.org/Networks/)

Wildflower Country: Discovering Biodiversity in Australia’s Southwest by Stanley & Kaisa Breeden. Fremantle Press (http://www.fremantlepress.com.au/books/house_garden/1147?keywords=wildflower country&x=11&y=14)

Tropical Plant Collecting: From the Field to the Internet edited by Scott Mori et al.
(http://www.tecceditora.com/available-soon-tropical-plant-collecting-from-the-field-to-the-internet/)

Biological Control of Weeds in Australia by Mic Julien, Rachel McFadyen and Jim Cullen. CSIRO Publishing (http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/21/pid/6509.htm)

Plants of the Victorian High Country A Field Guide for Walkers by John Murphy and Bill Dowling. CSIRO Publishing (http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/21/pid/6831.htm)

Life in a Gall The Biology and Ecology of Insects that Live in Plant Galls by Rosalind Blanche. CSIRO Publishing (http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/21/pid/6814.htm)

Khawa Karpo Tibetian Traditional Knowledge and Biodiversity Conservation by Jan Salick and Robert Moseley. Missouri Botanical garden Press.

The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines Made Australia by Bill Gammage. Allen and Unwin http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=94&book=9781742377483

Native Plants of the Sydney Region from Newcastle to Nowra and west to the Dividing Range by Alan Fairley and Philip Moore. Allen and Unwin http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=94&book=9781741755718

The Flora of Peninsular Malaysia (Series II: Seed Plants, volume 3) Forest Research Institute Malaysia.

Australia's Poisonous Plants, Fungi and Cyanobacteria A Guide to Species of Medical and Veterinary Importance by R. McKenzie. CSIRO Publishing (http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/21/pid/6507.htm)

The Smallest Kingdom: Plants and Plant Collectors at the Cape of Good Hope by M. & L. Fraser Kew Publishing http://www.kewbooks.com/asps/ShowDetails.asp?id=804

A Field Guide to the Eucalypts of the Cape York Peninsula Bioregion by John Clarkson. Queensland Government.

Cape Arid by Philippa and Alex Nikulinsky. Fremantle Press
http://www.fremantlepress.com.au/books/art_and_photography/1320?keywords=Cape Arid&x=27&y=13

A Banksia Album by Alex George. National Library of Australia. http://bookshop.nla.gov.au/book/a-banksia-album.do

Reviews published in Newsletter 151 [link to PDF]

Reframing Darwin: Evolution and Art in Australia by J. Hoorns.Melbourne University Publications (http://catalogue.mup.com.au/978-0-522-85684-2.html)

Microscopic Worlds Volume 3: Bacteria, Fungi, Lichens and Plants by Kerry Swanson. CSIRO Publishing (http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6806.htm)

The Dynamic Genome A Darwinian Approach byAntonio Fontdevila. Oxford University Press. (http://www.oup.com.au/titles/academic/science/biological_sciences/9780199541379)

The Anatomy of Palms Arecaceae – Palmae by P. Barry Tomlinson, James W. Horn & Jack B. Fisher. Oxford University Press (http://www.oup.com.au/titles/academic/science/biological_sciences/9780199558926)

Floodplain Wetland Biota in the Murray-Darling Basin edited by Kerrylee Rogers & Timothy Ralph. CSIRO Publishing (http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6464.htm)

Water Regime for Wetland and Floodplain Plants: A Source Book for the Murray-Darling Basin by Jane Roberts and Frances Marston. National Water Commission (http://nwc.gov.au/publications/topic/environment/water-regime-for-wetland-and-floodplain-plants)

Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants: Identification and Cultivation of over 3000 Tropical Plants by Ahmed Fayaz. UNSW Press (http://www.newsouthbooks.com.au/isbn/9781742232904.htm)

Soul of the Desert by Philippa Nikulinsky. Fremantle Press
(http://www.fremantlepress.com.au/books/house_garden/1274?keywords=soul of the desert&x=21&y=13)

Rainforest Country: An Intimate Portrait of Australia’s Tropical Rainforest by Stanley & Kaisa Breeden. Fremantle Press (http://www.fremantlepress.com.au/books/house_garden/1299?keywords=rainforest country)

A Brilliant Touch, Adam Forster's Wildflower Paintings by Christobel Mattingley. National Library of Australia (http://www.nla.gov.au/media/book-zone/a-brilliant-touch/index.html)

Rare and Curious: The Secret History of Governor Macquarie's Collectors' Chest by E. Ellis. Melbourne University Publications (http://catalogue.mup.com.au/978-0-522-85379-7.html)

Early Flowers and Angiosperm Evolution by Else Marie Friis et al. Cambridge University Press (http://www.cambridge.org/aus/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521592833)

Weeds of Northern Australia by Nicholas Smith. Northern Territory Environment Centre (http://www.ecnt.org/weeds-field-guide)

Common Plants of Australia’s Top End by Diane Napier, Nicholas Smith, Lesley Alford and Jacinda Brown. Gecko Books, South Australia.

Common Plants Victoria River District and Northern Barkly (the Territory’s Savannah Way) by Diane Napier, Nicholas Smith & Lesley Alford. Gecko Books, South Australia.

Common Urban Weeds of North Australia by Michael Schmid and Nicholas Smith. Gecko Books, South Australia.

Reviews published in Newsletter 150 (link to PDF)

Burke and Wills by E.A. Joyce & D.A. McCann. CSIRO Publishing (www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6733.htm)

Reinventing Discovery: The New Era of Networked Science by M. Nielsen. Princeton University Press marketed in Australia by Footprint Books http://press.princeton.edu/titles/9517.html

Ethnobiology edited by E.N. Anderson, D. Pearsall, E. Hunn and N. Turner. Wiley
(http://au.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470547855.html)

A Botanical Journey: The Story of the Western Australian Herbarium by R. Underwood WA. Naturally Publications (http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.dec/product_id,315/
category_id,28/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,1561/
)

Botany for the Artist: An Inspirational Guide to Drawing Plants by Sarah Simblet. Penguin Books (http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9781405332279/botany-artist-inspirational-guide-drawing-plants)

The Ambonese Herbal, Volume 1: Introduction and Book I: Containing All Sorts of Trees, That Bear Edible Fruits, and Are Husbanded by People by G.E. Rumphius; Translated, annotated, and with an introduction by E. M. Beekman. Yale University Press (http://yalebooks.co.uk/display.asp?K=9780300153705&nat=false&sort=%24rank&sf1=keyword&st1=beekman&m=9&dc=9)

A Field Guide to the Eremophilas of Western Australia by A. Brown & B. Buirchell. Wildflowers Society of WA.

Plants of Capricornia by Rhonda Melzer and Joel Plumb. Capricorn Conservation Council (http://www.cccqld.org.au/book.html)

Deceptive Beauties: The World of Wild Orchids by C. Ziegler. University of Chicago Press (http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/D/bo10963532.html)

Recently published reviews (links to PDF of Newsletter)

Newsletter 149 Dec 2011
Publishing in the Life Sciences
A biography of J.D. Hooker
Antarctic palaeontology
South American palaeobotany – the comprehensive account
An updated annotated illustrated guide to south-east Australian weeds
A manual for restoring Perth's coastal flora
A review of the "Flora of Hong Kong" volumes

Newsletter 147-148 June-Sept 2011
Practical computing for biologists
The Flowering of Australia's Rainforests
Scientific Writing = Thinking in Words
Elachistine Moths

Newsletter 144-145 Sept-Dec 2010
Californian mosses
Eponym dictionary of mammals
Beyond cladistics

Book reviews from early ASBS Newsletters (before PDF versions in 2001)

The Evolution and Classification of Flowering Plants - Arthur Cronquist
An Introduction to Plant Taxonomy - Charles Jeffrey
Plant Taxonomy and Biosystematics - Clive Stace
Plant Taxonomy: The Systematic Evaluation of Comparative Data - Tod F. Stuessy
Grevillea (Proteaceae). A Taxonomic Revision - D.J. McGillivray, assisted by R.O. Makinson
The Names of Acacias of New South Wales. With a Guide to Pronunciation of Botanical Names - Norman Hall and L.A.S. Johnson
Flora of New South Wales, Volume 3 - Gwen Harden (ed.)
The Compleat Cladist: A Primer of Phylogenetic Procedures - E.O. Wiley, D. Siegel-Causey, D.R. Brooks, and V.A. Funk
Cladistics. A Practical Course in Systematics - Peter L. Forey, Christopher J. Humphries, Ian J. Kitching, Robert W. Scotland, Darrell J. Siebert, and David M. Williams
Historical Biogeography of the Southeast Asian Genus Spatholobus (Legum.-Papilionoideae) and its Allies - J.W.A. Ridder-Numan
The Ecology and Biogeography of Nothofagus Forests - Veblen T. T., Hill, R. S. & Read, J. (eds)
Cottoning On - Siobhan McHugh
Malesian Seed Plants. Volume 1 - spot characters. An aid for identification of families and genera - M.M.J. van Balgooy
Black nightshades: Solanum nigrum L. and related species - J.M. Edmonds and J.A. Chweya
Freshwater Algae in Australia. A guide to conspicuous genera - T.J. Entwisle, J.A. Sonneman and S.H. Lewis
The Tree of Liff - Brendan Lepschi
Checklist of the Mosses of Banks Peninsula, New Zealand - B.H. Macmillan
Pre-European Vegetation of Adelaide: a Survey from the Gawler River to Hallett Cove - Darrell N. Kraehenbuehl
Principles and Techniques of Contemporary Taxonomy - Donald L.J. Quicke
Handbook of the Vascular Plants of Ashmore and Cartier Islands - G.D. Pike and G.J. Leach
False Economy - William J. Lines
Worterbuch der Botanik - G. Wagenitz
George Bentham Autobiography 1800 - 1834 - Marion Filipiuk (ed.)
Biological Systematics. The State of the Art - Alessandro Minelli
Botany in the Backblocks, from 1939 - Noel C.W. Beadle
Catalogue of the Benthic Marine Algae of the Indian Ocean - Paul C. Silva et. al.
Contemporary Plant Systematics - Dennis W. Woodland
Eucalyptus - Murray Bail
1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants - K.S. Walter and H.J. Gillett
John Lindley 1799 - 1865, Gardener - Botanist and Pioneer Orchidologist, Bicentenary Celebration Volume - William T. Stearn
Adventrop Doc - Les adventices d'Afrique soudano-sahéliene
EUCLID - Eucalypts of south-eastern Australia - M.I.H. Brooker, J.R. Connors, A.V. Slee
Walker in the Wilderness: The Life of R.J. Anketell - Judith Anketell
Regardfully Yours: Life & letters of Ferdinand von Mueller. Selected Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller. Vol. 1 1840-1859 - R.W. Home, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora and J.H. Voigt
Flora of Australia. Volume 48: Ferns, Gymnosperms and Allied Groups
Do Not Yield to Despair: Frank Hugh Hann's Exploration Diaries in the Arid Interior of Australia 1895-1908 - Mike Donaldson and Ian Elliot
Brilliant Careers: Women collectors and illustrators in Queensland - Judith McKay
Malesian Seed Plants. An aid for identification of families and genera. Vol. 2: Portraits of tree families - M.M.J. van Balgooy
Would a panicle by any other name smell as sweet? Die Infloreszenzen Band II, Teil 2, Monotele und polytele Synfloreszenzen - Focko Weberling & Wilhelm Troll
Flora of Australia Volume 17B, Proteaceae 3, Hakea to Dryandra
Flora of Australia Volume 1: Introduction 2nd Edition

 

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