Spores of the Pteridophyta

1 Pages·1991·0.76 MB·English

by  Robbin C Moran

VOLUME NUMBER
AMERICAN FERN JOURNAL:
81
3 (1991)
108
recommend book
homonym Mexican
a later for C. hirsuta Link, a species. I this
and
and Australia adjacent regions
of
those interested in the ferns allies
to
all
now want them
and those seeking vicarious fern experiences; to see "in the
to I
flesh."-ALAN Smith, University Herbarium, University of California,
R.
CA
94720.
Berkeley,
Tryon and Bernard Lugardon. 1991.
by
Spores of the Pteridophyta, Alice F.
New
NY,
+ York, 10010.
x 648 Springer-Verlag, 175 Fifth Ave.,
pp.
ISBN 3-540-97218-8.
+ and
$98.00 $2.50 postage handling,
for
TEM
SEM
and photo-
with superb
This a magniiicent book, filled
is
modern,
worldwide. the
micrographs pteridophyte spores
of It is first
not only surface
comprehensive account spore diversity in ferns, illustrating
of
The book
features but also cross-sections of the wall layers. contains 2,797
figures!
The book divided into two main parts: the introduction and generic
is
The pteridophyte
treatments. introduction explains general characteristics of
and some important fern
spores of the specialized terms. Particularly to
phylogenists will be that part of the introduction dealing with evolutionary
summary
levels of spore wall layers and the of spore diversity in the families
what
of homosporous ferns. This section contains a discussion of are ancestral
versus derived character states in fern spore walls.
The generic treatments compose the bulk of the book. The authors recognize
232 genera in 35 families. Each generic treatment contains a brief discussion of
the genus, a statement of range, a description of the spores, and a discussion of
from
relationships as inferred spores.
new
The book For
contains important data that affect fern classification.
example, shows that the spores of Rumohra are distinctly dryopteroid, not
it
davallioid where Kato (Acta Phytotax GeohoL 26:52-57. 1974) has argued that
the genus should be placed. The spores of OJeandra and Arthroptens support
own
a classification of these genera in their family, rather than the Davalliaceae.
some
In cases, however, the evidence from spores has not been well-assessed
An
which
nor used example ArgyTochosma,
to test conflicting classifications.
is
Windham
(Amer. Fern/. 77:37-41. 1987) pointed out was more closely related
to Pellaea than to Notholeana, where placed in the present book. This
was book was Windham's work
relationship not considered in the nor cited.
Another example Lellinger's (Amer. Fern 77:90-94, 1987) work on
is
J.
He
American
tree ferns. argued that Tiichipteris and Sphaeropteris subgen.
Schiephropteris should be placed in Cyathea. But Lellinger's arguments are not
on work
assessed the basis of spore evidence nor his
cited.
is
These criticisms are minor. Overall, the book excellent and will be used by
is
Much
pteridologists worldwide. thinking remains be done on spore data in
to
book
relation to fern phylogeny. This will stimulate interest in the field and,
it
will doubtless be, for decades to come, the standard reference on pteridophyte
spores.-RoEBiN C. Moran, Missouri Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, Louis,
St.
Missouri 63166-0299.