The Illustrated Flora of Illinois. Ferns. 2nd ed

1 Pages·2002·0.5 MB·English

by  R James Hickey

American
Fern
Journal 92(3):248 (2002]
Review
The
Illustrated Flora of Illinois. Ferns. 2nd by Robert Mohlenbrock.
ed.,
Southern
Illinois University Press, Carbondale. 240
$39.95.
pp.
Local, illustrated fern provide wonderful by
floras a service providing
a
handy, and
complete,
easy to use reference without the "chatter" of species
not found These
in the area. floras are designed to provide a streamlined,
comprehensive view
of the pteridoflora. Without a doubt, Mohlenbrock's
edition accomplished and The
first this goal more. Introduction provided
a
account
brief of the history of Illinois fern collecting, a brief account of
pteri-
dophyte morphology, and Add
a very nice discussion
of habitats. the
to this
combination
of functional keys, maps,
state detailed species accounts, and
excellent and you have
illustrations a recipe for success. Having said
this,
second
the edition a considerable disappointment. new
is All of the material
packed new
into 45 page Appendix. The
is a taxa are keyed out
separately
from
the "Key
all rest in a section entitled to the Additional Ferns of
Illi-
nois". For a plant not covered
in the edition, one must
first therefore,
first
attempt to identify the species in the main part of the book and then go
to
Appendix
and
the
start over.
Much
Appendix
of the
consists of
a "do-it-yourself"
editing experience,
in
which you
look information provided and
at then go main
into the
part of
and As
the text fix up. an example, on page 180 you name
it are told that the
Lycopodium
for porophilum Lloyd & Underwood
Huperzia
[see p. 24) is po-
Underu
JoDavies, Johnson
Will
things worse, any genus which new
for in taxa have been added
there are
new
keys that should be make
utilized, so please note not to use the ones in
new
The
the 173 pages.
first illustrations while adequate
for identification.
precision of those found
in the
Whil
seems
unreasonable
day
in
this of electronic wizardry
that the changes
found Appendix
in the could not have been
incorporated
w-
into a cohesive
bef> Miami
Oxford, Ohio
versity, 45056.