Cronin's Key Guide: Australian Rainforest Plants [Book Review] PDF
Preview Cronin's Key Guide: Australian Rainforest Plants [Book Review]
BookReviews Cronin’s Key Guide: Australian Rainforest Plants byLeonard Cronin Publisher:Allen & Unwin. 2009, 181pages. ISBN9781741751130. RRP$35.00 ThisisCroninssixthinaseriesofnaturalhisto- each plant type, species are presented within rybooks and features more than 300 common their families, two to a page. Family, species rainforest species of Australia. Cronin writes: name and size head each species contribution. ‘This book is designed as a simple, easy-to-use A common name in larger font is provided field guide and an introduction to some ofthe below this header followed by a description major and most commonlyadmired rainforest ofthe plant, detail of its bark (where appro- flora’. Itisawonderfullittlebookthatleadsthe priate), leaves, flowers and fruits or cones for readeralong the road to awareness and appre- gymnosperms and sporangia for ferns. The ciation ofthegreatdiversityofAustralia’s rain- information foreach plant finisheswith abrief forestplants. account of its habitat. Information provided The book begins with a brief introduction for each species is informative, useful and suf- that describes rainforest characteristics and ficientlydetailed forconfident identification. A identifiesthebroadrainforesttypesbeforecon- distribution map and colour illustration alsois cluding with a section that details how to use provided for each species. The colour illustra- theguide. tions are accurate and sufficiently detailed to Plants are arranged according to type, i.e. further provide the reader with confidence in Trees, Palms, Pandans, Cycads, Banana, Tree their identification, and the illustrators are to Ferns, Ferns, Vines and Wildflowers. Within becommended. Tile text avoids cumbersome scientific lan- guage but some terminology is unavoidable; however, a small but sufficientglossary is pro- vided and includes a pictorial glossary ofleaf shapes, flower parts, flower arrangements and leaf arrangements. These are invaluable. The indexisusefuland providesbothscientificand Australian commonnames. The book is particularly ideal for the trave- Rainforest ler interested in identifyingsomeofAustralia’s rainforest plants. It is conveniently sized, well Plants presented, written and illustrated, and is well worthitscostof$35.00. MariaGibson PlantFxologyResearchUnit SchoolofLifeandEnvironmentalSciences DeakinUniversity,Burwood,Victoria3125 Leonard Cronin 218 TheVictorianNaturalist
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