Book Reviews

Botany the plant illustrations. The former are Related Processes -Rabinowitch, with useful to trained systematists, but it will each serving its purpose. On December be difficultfor the average reader to dis- 30, 1954, The Evening Star of Washing- MEDICALBOTANY: PLANTS AF- tinguish species using only these descrip- ton, D.C. headlined-" FECTINGMAN'S HEALTH tions. Many of the plant illustrationsare Basis of Life Achieved by U.S. Scien- by Walter H. Lewis and Memory P.F. from John Gerards's "Herball" (1597) tists." Thus, much has gone before, and Elvin-Lewis. 1977. John Wiley and and, although intriguing,they are not the the current book makes you realize that Sons, Inc. (605 Third Avenue, New best representatives of the species in there is much yet to come. York 10006). 515 p. $27.50. Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/39/9/562/36074/4446100.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 question; some did not reproduce well This book starts simply and concisely, Although there are excellent books and many are too sytlized. The range of leading the reader and building as it treating agriculture and evolutionary topics covered in the book is best illus- goes. An early discussion of features of cultivated plants, and other trated by the chapter headings: (1) is good but gives the impression that books which have dictionary-like lists of injurious plants-internal poisons, aller- there are only three forms or types of both tropical and temperate plants used gens, mutagens/teratogens; (2) remedial chloroplasts, those in bacteria, blue-green by man, there has not been available a plants used for cancer, nervous system, algae, and spinach. In reality, nature has general scientific compilation with a heat and circulation, metabolism, eyes/ made many modifications and experi- concentration on medicinally important ears, teeth, gastrointestinal tract, respira- mented more fully. plants (outside of pharmacognosy texts). tory system, urogenital system, skin, As the book gets into the photosyn- This book will fill that void. The authors antibiotics/pesticides, panaceas; (3) thetic process directly, it leads the reader have combined botanical and medical psycoactive plants-stimulants, hallucino- (student) by simple, direct steps. It pro- information in an informative and read- gens, depressants. The main body of the vides discussions of opposing views and able book. It is intended for use by under- book is followed by two appendicies, a leaves open-ended questions. This helps graduates with medical or paramedical glossary, and an index. Appendix I to give "life" to the field and should career aspirations and for those with an includes a phylogenetic and alphabetical stimulate the student of photosynthesis. interest in natural history. It will suit this listing of the plant taxa mentioned in the There is a very good coverage of pig- group well. Others with a strong back- text. Appendix II comprises a bibli- ments involved wholly or partially with ground in will also be interested. ography of herbal medicine (historical photosynthesis. However, the phycobili- The text has 19 chapters which divide and modern sources) with citations nus seem to be given somewhat short plants categorically into 3 major types: arranged alphabeticallywithin geographi- shrift. Are they really only or merely injurious, healing or remedial, and psy- cal areas. The glossary is helpful espe- accessory pigments? The discussion of choactive plants. Each chapter includes cially for medical and botanical terminol- the photosynthetic unit leaves one (1) an introduction comprised of a his- ogy, although it assumes some sophisti- hanging-but perhaps this was deliber- torical and/or statisticalreview plus anec- cation in botany. The index is, as it ate. The discussion and review of the site dotes, (2) a description of the system(s) should be in a book of this nature, exten- of photosynthesis and its operation is in which the plant derivatives act (i.e., sive (32 pp); I found few omissions. quite good. One hopes that the quanta- how do the plants products do what they Although it is rather expensive, I highly some question could soon be answered. are reputed to do?), (3) a list of impor- recommend this book to individuals A fine comparative discussion, with tant and/or representative plant sources, and especially to libraries. It will also new and opposing views, is presented and (4) a list of the literature cited (both serve as a textbook in college courses between oxidative and photosynthetic historical and modern references). In involving plants, health and medicine. phosphorylation. This is followed by general, I found sections (1) and (3) in Gregory J. Anderson thought-provoking sections on the rela- each chapter to be clearly written, infor- Universityof Connecticut tionship between chloroplasts and their mative, and interesting. The authors ad- Storrs cytoplasm, the C pathway (plus others?) mit that this book is not a dictionary, thus and autonomy (?) of the . the lists included in (3) are not complete. These BIOCHEMISTRYOF PHOTOSYN- sections make the reader realize Nevertheless, a wide representation of that THESIS there is much left to learn in spite of plants (from bacteria to flowering plants) my earlier reference to the Washington by Richard P. F. Gregory 2nd ed., is included and a good deal of informa- Evening Star. 1977. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. (605 tion imparted. For example, in various Missing is reference to Mn Third Avenue, New York 10016). relation to lists, the following types of information the 235 p., Price not given. and Sycollate formation, can be found: plant family, scientific but then this is a moot egotistical point of name, common name, brief botanical The late Charles F. Kettering asked the reviewer since he worked in this area. description, illustration,plant parts used, what some viewed as a simplistic ques- It should be noted that throughout the chemical extracts, treatment procedures, tion: "Why is grass green?" We have had book the reader is provided with a rather localities where used, and other notes. Of small concise books such as Photosyn- continuous comparison of photosyn- these features, the only ones I find fault thesis-Robin Hill, and we have had thetic processes between typical higher with are the botanical descriptions and heavy tomes such as Photosynthesis and green plants and Ps-bacteria. Thought-

562 THEAMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER, DECEMBER 1977 provoking problems and topics for collateralmaterials in orderto set-upand cell organelles, some cytological tech- further discussion are offered. These to runthe labproperly. niques are describedand illustratedas a seem to be geared toward step-by-step To me, this manualis muchmore than part of the program,providing better thought processes-of real value to the a set of instructions.It begins each backgroundand understandingof cell student. exercise with a set of InstructionalOb- structureand function. Perhaps the most valuableaspect of jectivesfollowed by a short,concise dis- Appropriatereview quizzesare given the book (other than the knowledge it cussionof pertinentdata that the student at the end of each unitto assure under- provides)is the continuoustheme that needs to be aware of in orderto do the standing. The ideas and methods are there is much yet to know and that early lab exercise. Therefore, the student clearly presented with the student's theories are open to question and knows the objectivesbefore the exercise fundamentalneeds in mind.Any student change. The study of photosynthesisis begins. with adequateinterest can easily master obviouslyan activearea-and shouldbe. This lab manual has many other ad- the concepts presented in this program This is an all-togethersatisfying book to vantages: on cell biology.With this backgrounda read and should be read by new and 1. The individualexercises can be torn studentis then fullyprepared to continue seriousstudents in thisarea. out withoutmaking a mess of the into more difficultconcepts of cell physi- ThomasE. Brown manual because each page is per- ology. Atlantic Community College forated; A final review quiz closes this very Mays Landing, New Jersey 2.The drawingsare distinctand easy well-organizedreference and allows the to workwith; readerto appraisehis or her comprehen-

AUSTRALIAN Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/39/9/562/36074/4446100.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 FLORA IN COLOUR: 3. This manual can be used either in sion to FLOWERS and/or select some of the areas AND PLANTS OF NEW "auto-tutorial"or "conventionally" thatmay need SOUTH additionalstudy. WALES AND SOUTHERN taughtlaboratories; This QUEENSLAND text is certainly an important 4. Majorterms are in boldprint and are contributionto the by E.R. Rotherham, BarbaraG. study of cellular Briggs, defined. biology. D.F. Blaxell, and R. C. Carolin. 1977. This manual contains 14 excercises ClydeJoel Charles E. Tuttle Company, (P.O. Carpenter that are well designed and incorporate MosesLake Drawer F. Rutland, Vermont 05701). HighSchool new techniques.These exercisescan be MosesLake, Washington 191 p. $32.95. modifiedto be used in a general high A stunning book, artisticand scientific, school biology class. At the end of the it is the type that the trade calls "a coffee manual are found three differentap- ADVENTURESWITH A HAND LENS table prize," but which botanists will also pendicesto helpthe student. by RichardHeadstrom. 1976. Dover call a masterpiece in understanding I recommend this manual for any PublicationsInc. (180 Varick Street, Australian flora. The book is divided instructorteaching a beginning crop New York10014). 220 p. $2.50. into sections corresponding to ecological scienceclass or a generalbiology/botany regions ranging from the littoral to sub- class. This edition,by a formerteacher and alpine. The illustrations are literally HenryL. Savage associate curatorof the New England beautiful,but together with their captions, Buhl High School Museumof NaturalHistory, is an una- constitute definite identification devices. Buhl, Idaho bridged,slightly revised reproductionof However, the essays for each section as the 1962 edition.It is a manualof fifty well as the preliminary ones are master- relativelyeasy exercisesprimarily in the pieces in elegant explanation of ecology areas of insect study, botany,and basic of the zone and the botanical adapta- geology. The only necessary apparatus Cell and Molecular for these exercises is a hand lens or tions. Thus, the book is valuable even for Biology those not living in or magnifyingglass; the study materialsare visiting Australia. readilyavailable outdoors. The price is high, but for those inter- The individual"Adventures" as the ested in Australianflora or even botanical THESTRUCTURE AND FUNCTION taxonomy and OFTHE CELL author refers to them, are well-written, ecology, it will be informa- with tive reading. by Gary Parker,W. Ann Reynolds, easily understood and illustrated simple line drawings.I feel that most of Paul Klinge and Rex Reynolds, 2nd ed., 1977. Educational Methods, (500 North these exercisescould be effectivelyused Indiana University at the juniorhigh school level and, with Bloomington Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60610). 152 p. $3.95. some modification,in the highergrades. Nature counselors at camps or natural This programmedtext is a valuable LABORATORYMANUAL OF CROP historycenters have in thisbook a wealth self-instructionaltool that has a varietyof of simple,single concept exercises, which SCIENCES uses for the biologyteacher and student. by Richard P. Waldren and Stanley would easily fit into their programs. Itsmajor use is to help equatedifferences Teachersseeking simple exercises for the W. Ehler 1976. Burgess Publishing in the backgroundand understandingof Company (7108 Ohms Lane, Min- "OutdoorClassroom" that do not in- students studying the structure and volve much equipment,preparation or neapolis, Minnesota 55435). 90 p. function of cells. This can be accom- $12.95. classtime, will find all thatthey requirein plishedeasily because the programin the thisbook. Most of the lab manuals that I am text has been organizedand revisedwith Unfortunately,the book lacksan index familiarwith are written so that they give this idea in mind. The text enhances and the table of contentsis often vague a sparse amount of introductoryremarks programmedlearning by insertingmicro- as to the purpose of the exercise. "We about the purpose of the exercise and a photographs at appropriate places, Visit Fairyland"(ichens), "We Watch set of directions about how to do the thus keepingthe student'simage of the Some AcrobatsPerform" (amphipoda), exercise without any other information. cell at a more realisticlevel and allowing are examples. Also, the subjectareas of This causes the instructor to bridge the betterassociation of the ideas expressed. the book are poorly organized.Adven- gap between the textbook and other In additionto the photomicrographsof ture two deals with insects, three with

BOOK REVIEWS 563