Review

1 Pages·1993·0.28 MB·English

by  Leenhouts, P W

44 BLUMEA Vol. 38, No. 1, 1993
Review
D.H.LORENCE & R.E.VAUGHAN: Annotatedbibliography ofMascareneplant life.
Including theusefulandornamentalplants oftheregion, covering theperiod 1609-
1990.NationalTropical BotanicalGarden, Lawai, 1992.274pp.,b/w photographs.
Cloth-bound.Price US$29.95. ISBN0-915-809-15-X.
The kernelofthis bookconsistsofanenumerationofsome 1600publications of
importancetothefloraoftheMascarenes(EastofMadagascar; mainislandsRéunion,
Mauritius,Rodrigues), arranged alphabetically by author.Fairly oftenashortnote is
given oncontents andimportance. Counterpart tothis enumerationis an extensive
Subject Indexwhich givesmanydifferententriestothefirstpart.
The practical valueofabooklike thepresentone depends primarilyonits com-
pleteness, secondarily onitsselectivity. As tothefirstpoint, thisis noteasy tocheck.
Comparison withtheliteratureon somefamiliestherevieweris acquainted withgave
the impression thattheenumerationis still (rather?) incomplete. Therefore, we may
hope thatfuture, ever morecomplete editions mayfollow.As to the secondpoint,
the inclusionof someobviousworldwidehandbooks(Index Kewensis, Taxonomic
Literature, Jackson’s Glossary of botanicterms,just to mentiona few) seemsof
doubtfulvalue, though otherpeople maybeofa differentopinion.
Summarizing, and notwithstanding my critical remarks, thisbookhas doubtlessa
high practical valueas anintroductiontothebotanical literatureofitsrestrictedpart
ofthe world.And thereforeweare gratefultoitsauthorsfortheirperseverance.
P.W. Leenhouts