Plant

Library Journal

Marinelli (director of publishing, Brooklyn Botanic Garden) has assembled an excellent team of international (but largely British) contributors and consultants to organize this massive, colorful, and delightful guide to the plant kingdom. Boasting a well-written text and stunning photographs and illustrations, the work takes the latest approach to the world's flora by emphasizing plant conservation and the ecological significance of plants. The first two parts-"The World of Plants" and "Global Habitats"-fill a mere 85 pages and are written for flora neophytes but offer plenty of surprises for know-it-alls. The third section is the actual "Plant Encyclopedia," which describes thousands of endangered plants, broken down into 12 categories and including trees and shrubs, conifers, herbaceous plants, climbing plants, bulbous plants, grasses and bamboos, alpine plants, ferns, cacti and succulents, palms and cycads, orchids and bromeliads, and carnivorous plants. The conservation status of each species is noted, with a distribution map and brief, nontechnical description. The fourth and final section provides information on a variety of invasive plants and their ecological impact. The book ends with a list of addresses and web sites, further details on plant conservation, a glossary, and an index. Bottom Line Plant should find its way into the reference collections of a wide variety of libraries, including most public and academic libraries, as well as school libraries (especially those with active gardening programs). At $50, it is a bargain and a treat for both mind and eye.-Edward J. Valauskas, Chicago Botanic Garden Lib., Glencoe Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.