Australian palms : biogeography, ecology and systematics /

This long-overdue taxonomic treatment of more than 60 species of Australian palms represents more than 20 years of research conducted by botanist Dowe. H. Wendland and O. Drude's 1875 "Palmae Australasicae" published in the journal Linnaea is the only other work that offers such a breadth of coverage. This volume is divided into two sections and 12 chapters. The first two chapters introduce the topic and provide historical information related to documenting Australian palms. Chapters titled "Historical Biogeography" and "Distribution and Ecology" follow. The second, much longer section focuses on systematics and follows the classification scheme of Genera Palmarum by J. Dransfield et al. (2008). Individual accounts include descriptions of each species and "images of habit, leaves, flowers, fruit and other relevant features." The final chapter is a field identification key for all Australian species. A glossary and "Checklist of Genera and Species" round out the text. Beautifully illustrated with numerous color photographs, well referenced, and thorough in all respects. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Botany collections serving graduate students and researchers/faculty. L. G. Kavaljian California State University, Sacramento