(Journal of the RNZIH): June 2013, Vol. 16, No.1, Pp. 33-36
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Book Reviews Above the treeline: A nature guide So too with this latest offering. Above this book. The descriptions for each to alpine New Zealand the treeline is a reincarnation of flowering plant, fern and fern ally are By Sir Alan Mark New Zealand alpine plants, published clear and concise. This descriptive Published by Craig Potton Publishing, from 1973, authored by Alan Mark style is nicely followed for lizards 2012 and illustrated by the late botanical (geckos and skinks), but less so for Paperback, colour photos, 472 pages, artist Nancy Adams. the other groups. 215 × 150 mm As emeritus professor of botany at A useful addition is the New Zealand ISBN 978-1-877517-76-1 the University of Otago, Sir Alan threat rankings for endangered $NZ49.99 Mark is well qualified to author this plants, geckos and skinks listed in Reviewed by Murray Dawson book. As a botanist, ecologist and the book. I also like the small sized conservationist, he has spent most text explaining the meanings of the of his career working on the alpine botanical names following each genus vegetation of Otago. He has been and species entry. This is helpful a president of the Royal Forest and and adds a nice touch inherited from Bird Protection Society (1987–1990), New Zealand alpine plants. is a Fellow of the Royal Society of The Preface explains that the New Zealand, and was knighted phylogenetic (evolutionary) (New Zealand Order of Merit) for his relationships outlined in de Lange conservation work in 2009. and Rolfe’s (2010) New Zealand Text from the earlier alpine plant book indigenous vascular plant checklist has been brought across into Above are followed in Above the treeline. the treeline and updated in places to This accounts for the broad groupings accommodate new information and above the family level, and the choice plant name changes. of family names to apply to genera. Although much of the text for the A phylogenetic approach attempts plant entries is similar, the format to group together like with like for a of the new book is quite different. more natural arrangement. However, It is a semi-soft cover rather than I cannot see a basis for the non- the hardback of old and it is smaller alphabetic arrangement of the plant and more field-friendly. Also, the families, genera and species in Above watercolours of Nancy Adams the treeline and its predecessor. A trend of renewal is emerging among are replaced with more than 1000 The great majority of botanical names New Zealand’s plant books and field carefully chosen colour images follow recent and accepted taxonomic guides over the last few years. Earlier contributed by some 70 botanical treatments (such as those on the titles, now out of print and typically photographers. Landcare Research Plant Names with line drawings or botanical Although most of the entries are of Database). However, botanists’ views illustrations, are being replaced and ferns, conifers and flowering plants, are seldom in full agreement and so updated by new offerings formatted reflecting the source work, this new it is for some names chosen in this in a modern style and illustrated with book has been usefully extended book. digital photographs. thanks to contributing writers. The Alan Mark states that opinion is still Hence, to a greater or lesser non-flowering flora is covered, divided on whether to merge Hebe degree, Wilson and Given’s (1989) including mosses and liverworts into an enlarged Veronica – he has Threatened plants of New Zealand (contributed by John Steel), lichens chosen to retain Hebe and related has been replaced by de Lange (David Galloway) and fungi (David genera. As a consequence of this et al.’s (2010) book of the same Orlovich). Fauna of the alpine region decision, there is an additional note name, Lambrechtsen’s (1992) What is also represented – most birds2 (p. 450) making a new combination grass is that? has been replaced (written by Rod Morris), lizards Chionohebe ciliolata subsp. with Champion et al.’s (2012) An (Mandy Tocher), butterflies, moths, fiordensis (Ashwin) de Lange & illustrated guide to common grasses, grasshoppers, beetles and other A.Mark. Although publishing a new sedges and rushes of New Zealand, invertebrates (Brian Patrick) including combination in a guidebook does and Salmon’s (1996) Native trees of spiders (Cor Vink). This then provides not break the botanical rules, it New Zealand has been superseded admirable coverage of more than would have been more appropriate by Dawson and Lucas’s (2011) 850 plants and animals likely to be to formally publish the combination New Zealand’s native trees and encountered in New Zealand’s alpine beforehand in a botanical journal their (2012) lovechild Field guide to environment. aimed at a professional audience. New Zealand’s native trees1. According to the Preface (pp. 13–14), This opinion was also expressed 750 species, subspecies and varieties in reviews of Threatened plants of 3 of vascular alpine plants are listed in New Zealand where de Lange and 1 These newer titles have been reviewed in recent issues of The New Zealand Garden Journal. 2 But oddly not including the pipit as David Glenny points out in his insightful review of Above the treeline published in the New Zealand Botanical Society Newsletter, No. 112, June 2013, pp. 21–22. New Zealand Garden Journal, 2013, Vol. 16(1) 33 Barkla published combinations for There are 23 endnotes cited in Lambrechtsen, N.C. (1992). What seven new names used in that book. the Introduction (pp. 15–46) which grass is that? New Zealand I would have liked a bit more use appear in the Notes and References Department of Scientific and of older and alternative names section (pp. 449–450) and in the Industrial Research, Information (synonyms) for readers who may Further Reading (pp. 452–453). Series No. 87. Fourth edition. not be up with the current names. However, references are then Government Printer, Wellington. For example, there is discussion of abandoned in the main species Mark, A.F. and Adams, N.M. hawkweeds and Hieracium (p. 46) entries, where they could have been (1973, 1979, 1986 and 1995). but no mention of the related genus used to validate statements such as New Zealand alpine plants. A.H. Pilosella. Also, the genus Kelleria ‘recent DNA studies mean...’ and ‘a & A.W. Reed, Wellington. (pp. 104–106) is now well accepted, recent revision of...’ This results in Salmon, J.T. (1996). The native trees but it would have been good to refer literature alluded to in the main body of New Zealand. Reed Publishing, to synonyms in Drapetes. but missing or at best disconnected Wellington. from the reading list. For example, Recircumscription of Cyathodes Wilson, C.M. and Given, D.R. David Glenny’s outstanding revision restricts it to Tasmania meaning (1989). Threatened plants of of the New Zealand gentians is the genus is no longer recognised New Zealand. DSIR Field Guide, unreferenced. This illustrates the for New Zealand. Therefore, it is a Wellington. difficulty in achieving an optimal mistake to list it in the Introduction balance between information depth Available from Touchwood (p. 29, 30) and Notes and References and readability of guidebooks. Books and Manaaki Whenua (p. 449) which provides an example Press where information has been pulled Above the treeline essentially delivers from the older book and not updated New Zealand’s first comprehensive Auckland’s remarkable urban for the new. The index and main body guide to understanding the special forest correctly recognises the segregate plants and animals that occupy the genera Androstoma and Montitega. alpine zone. The photos, formatting By Mike Wilcox and overall presentation work really Published by the Auckland Botanical The publishers need to sharpen well. I just wish that the text was a bit Society, 2012 their proof-reading pencils. Editorial more polished. Hardback, colour illustrations, 348 issues were also commented upon pages, 252 × 190 mm by Peter Heenan in his book review References ISBN 978-0-9583447-5-3 of New Zealand’s native trees, again Brummitt, R.K. and Powell, C.E. $NZ60.00 published by Craig Potton4. Likewise, (eds.) (1992). Authors of plant Reviewed by Murray Dawson for Above the treeline, inconsistencies names: a list of authors of and minor errors throughout detract scientific names of plants, from what is otherwise a well with recommended standard presented work. forms of their names, including For example, the ISBN number on abbreviations. Royal Botanic the back outside cover (ISBN 978- Gardens, Kew. 1-877517-76-1) is correct, but the Champion, P.D.; James, T.K.; number on the CIP page (ISBN 978- Popay, A.I.; Ford, K.A. (2012). 1-877333-52-1; p. 4) is wrong. An illustrated guide to common The most jarring errors are in grasses, sedges and rushes the author authorities following of New Zealand. New Zealand each botanical name. Inclusion of Plant Protection Society, Lincoln, authorities is good practice as it Canterbury. provides certainty on exactly who Dawson, J.W. and Lucas, R. (2011). described what plant. For example, New Zealand’s native trees. Craig ‘Hook.f.’ is the standard author Potton Publishing, Nelson. abbreviation for Sir Joseph Dalton Dawson, J.W. and Lucas, R. (2012). Hooker (1817–1911), famous English Field guide to New Zealand’s botanist who named and described native trees. Craig Potton many New Zealand plants. Although Publishing, Nelson. his abbreviation is correct in most de Lange, P.J.; Heenan, P.B.; Auckland has a unique growing instances, Above the treeline has a Norton, D.; Rolfe, J.R.; Sawyer, environment in New Zealand. The range of incorrect space and full- J. (2010).