Cronin's Key Guide: Australian Rainforest Plants [Book Review]

2010·0.26 MB·English

by  Maria Gibson

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