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 , fern and fern ally are By Sir Alan Mark New Zealand alpine , 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 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 . 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). Threatened plants Auckland urban region lies at a stop variants (including ‘Hook.f’, of New Zealand. Canterbury transition between the subtropical and ‘Hook.f..’, ‘Hook. f.’ and ‘Hook f.’5). University Press, Christchurch. temperate zones. It has a warm and Other authorities are inconsistent de Lange, P.J. and Rolfe, J.R. (2010). moderately wet climate, where frosts and all author names should have New Zealand indigenous vascular are rare and snow has been recorded been abbreviated following the plant checklist. New Zealand just once. internationally recognised standard Plant Conservation Network, (e.g., Brummitt and Powell, 1992). Wellington.

3 The New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 31–32; New Zealand Botanical Society Newsletter 100, June 2010, pp. 21–23; Australasian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 151, June 2012, pp. 42–44. 4 Reviewed in The New Zealand Garden Journal, 2011, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 21–23. 5 ‘Hook.’ is also used but is correct as this abbreviation refers to Joseph Hooker’s father, Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785–1865).

34 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2013, Vol. 16(1) Before forest clearances, and long botanical name in brackets, otherwise but does not detract from the work. before urbanisation, Auckland was readers will need to look up the Auckland’s remarkable urban home to the mighty kauri. Kauri corresponding names in the index, forest concludes with a specialised still grows in bush remnants and in where both are given together. reference list of books, journals and cultivation, but now the peri-urban The majority of botanical names are websites that focus on Auckland’s areas are better known for new weed correct, but I noticed a few minor trees. The GIS draw-and-measure naturalisations (Esler, 2004) and spelling errors, especially in the tool, referred to on pages 7 and Auckland is said to have more weeds index. Also, there are no macrons in 9, could have been referenced than anywhere in the world. the Maˉ ori plant names – this is not here (for the record, it is at http:// Despite deforestation and weed incorrect but it’s perhaps technically maps.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ incursions, much of Auckland’s better to include them. aucklandcouncilviewer/). rural and urban native flora is still Many new names are followed, such I would have also liked the inclusion to be found. Mangroves dominate as Austroderia for native toetoe of the Notable Trees of New Zealand estuaries, there are still broadleaf (instead of ), Leionema (NTNZ) website (www.notabletrees. forests in gullies, and the iconic nudum (instead of Phebalium), org.nz) as a reference. The NZ Tree poˉ hutukawa is found clinging to the Leptecophylla juniperina (instead of Register database allows users to coastal cliff-tops and is common as Cyathodes) and Veronica (instead retrieve records of Auckland’s notable an urban street tree. of Hebe). Other treatments are trees. Mention of this useful resource The lush growing conditions not followed, including Macropiper is also lacking in the Notable Trees also favour semi-tropical exotic melchior which is now Piper melchior, section (Chapter 15) and I hope that species lacking in more southern Pennisetum clandestinum which is the authors’ full lists of individual latitudes. African, Asian, Australian, now Cenchrus clandestinus, and and groups of notable trees (Tables New Caledonian and South American Senecio mikanioides which is now 11–12) will in time be loaded into the tree species are cultivated in Delairea odorata. The Landcare online NTNZ resource. Auckland. Some of these interesting Research Plant Names Database This book is a tremendous exotic species are rare elsewhere in (http://nzflora.landcareresearch. achievement. I really like the concept New Zealand and mentioned in the co.nz) provides an invaluable guide of celebrating trees and other plants book. These include Castanopsis to current taxonomic treatments and of urban Auckland, providing area cuspidata (Japanese chinquapin), names used by them. surveys to assist in their conservation, Dysoxylum pachyphyllum (Lord A great strength of this book is that it and treating native and exotic plants Howe Island apple), Jubaea chilensis does not regurgitate old information. in an even-handed way. (Chilean wine palm) and Phytolacca There are plant books published that References dioica (the ombú from Argentina). represent little more than summarised Dawson, M.I. (2012). Australian As the title states, Auckland has a botanical descriptions with a few in cultivation: remarkable urban forest and author images thrown in. Not so with Species and cultivars. Mike Wilcox systematically explores Auckland’s remarkable urban forest. New Zealand Garden Journal the botanical treasures area by area. Mike Wilcox has spent more than 15(2): 14–22. After the Introduction, following 20 years conducting fieldwork and Esler, A.E. (2004). Wild plants in chapters cover components of the carefully recording his observations Auckland. Auckland University urban forest such as native bush on the plants growing at each Press. remnants, exotic woodland, home location. He should be thoroughly gardens, amenity street trees, parks, congratulated on this meticulous Available from Manaaki Whenua campuses, school grounds and approach. Press. cemeteries. I’m familiar with one example The remaining chapters change gear demonstrating his original research. from an area focus to overviews of The most commonly cultivated different groups, both native and Australian tea-tree in New Zealand exotic. Notable trees and flowering is Leptospermum ‘Copper Sheen’. In trees are covered, as well as climbing his book, Mike Wilcox independently and perching plants, weeds, fungi and arrived at the conclusion that the lichens. correct species for this cultivar is There is a good set of colour L. morrisonii. Coincidentally, I reached photographs throughout, showing the same conclusion in my article both the plants and the places they documenting cultivars of this genus grow. Dates of photographs are (Dawson, 2012). This is the first time provided for a historical context. that Leptospermum morrisonii has Maps, tables and lists in the book been associated with this popular 1 provide useful summary information. dark-leaved cultivar in New Zealand . The main body of the text has a The order of the Summary near the mixture of botanical and common beginning of the book and the CIP names throughout. Sometimes in the (Cataloguing In Publication) page at text a common name is followed by its the back is unconventionally reversed

1 Note that the full name of this New Zealand selection should correctly be Leptospermum morrisonii ‘Copper Sheen’ and not L. morrisonii ‘Burgundy’ as stated in Auckland’s remarkable urban forest. In my article I managed to track down the separate origins of these cultivars that are of a similar appearance.

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2013, Vol. 16(1) 35 Latin for gardeners: Over 3,000 pronunciation spelt out phonetically, of Latinised names used in a binomial plant names explained and gender variants, meaning, an can be misleading and may not explored example of a binomial that uses that always be an accurate reflection of By Lorraine Harrison name and any variations in spellings. the characters of a species to which Published by Crows Nest Books (an they seem applied. I think that this Botanical illustrations are captioned imprint of Allen & Unwin), Australia, warning could have been made up- with their scientific and common 2012 front in the introductory pages. names and intermingled throughout. Hardback, colour illustrations, 224 Latin for gardeners concludes with pages, 173 × 235 mm Narrative on these illustrations a short glossary (of just 34 terms; ISBN 978-1-74331-275-9 appears in a box entitled ‘Latin in p. 222), a well chosen (albeit UK- $NZ40.00 action’. Botanical illustrations are weighted) bibliography (p. 223) and Reviewed by Murray Dawson appropriately placed near to their Latin names (usually the species image credits (p. 224). We are told epithet) in the A–Z listing. Most of the that illustrations are sourced mainly examples named and illustrated have from the RHS Lindley Library but I would have liked to have seen the a Euro-centric bias as this book was original botanical artists credited here written and released in the UK under if known. the title RHS Latin for gardeners. Nevertheless, most of the species This book is certainly more mentioned are also to be found in lightweight compared to William Stearn’s authoritative Botanical Australasia, as garden subjects or as Latin, or of more direct relevance weeds. Stearn’s dictionary of plant names for To maintain the reader’s interest, gardeners which gives the meaning there are tales of botanists and plants and origin of some 6,000 botanical interspersed with the A–Z definitions names encountered by gardeners of botanical Latin. These special and horticulturists. Latin for gardeners interest features are presented on is not intended to be as heavy-duty pastel green pages to set them apart as Stearn’s reference works and from the alphabetic listings that are succeeds admirably in providing a on a cream background. They include concise and approachable primer that should meet most people’s needs. plant profile pages (20 featured You would expect this dictionary-like plants, from Acanthus to Vaccinium), References book of botanical Latin to be about as plant hunter pages (summary Stearn, W.T. (2004). Botanical Latin. appealing as reading a phone book. biographies of the travels and Timber Press, Portland. However, author Lorraine Harrison discoveries of 15 botanical collectors, Stearn, W.T. (1996). Stearn’s has exceeded these expectations including Alexander von Humboldt, dictionary of plant names for and crafted a beautifully presented Sir Joseph Banks, Carl Linnaeus and gardeners: A handbook on and engaging work. There are nice Sir Joseph Hooker) and plant themes the origin and meaning of touches throughout, starting from the the botanical names of some (7 themes: Where Plants Come From; textured and durable hardcover with cultivated plants. Timber Press, Plants: Their Shape and Form; The a nostalgic design that invites the Portland. Colour of Plants; The Qualities of reader in. Within the covers there is a Available from Touchwood bookmark ribbon, excellent and clear Plants; Plants: Their Fragrance and layout, muted colour tones and liberal Taste; Numbers and Plants; Plants Books use of botanical paintings. and Animals). The plant profiles and themes explore the meanings of the The introductory pages (Preface, Latinised names that may allude to How to use this book, A short history Book review archive the plant origins and characters. Our entire archive of book reviews of botanical Latin, Botanical Latin (from the Journal of the Royal New for beginners, An introduction to the The book oft-repeats the important Zealand Institute of Horticulture A–Z listings; pp. 6–13) are brief and message that much can be learned of 1981, under its various names), together with book reviews from well-pitched at the target audience a plant by understanding the meaning the Weekend Gardener magazine of gardeners and horticulturists. The of the Latin names applied to it. It was (from Issue 86, November 2001) writing is at this level rather than that good to also read a few cautions on are available on our website at www.rnzih.org.nz. of a botanical textbook. However, as inferring too much from plant names. a career botanist, I too found plenty of For example, the orchid Dendrobium interest. anosmum has a strong fragrance despite the name ‘anosmum’ meaning As the title indicates, more than 3,000 to lack scent (p. 144). Because of Latinised plant names are listed in enlarged circumscriptions, synonymy alphabetic order (from abbreviatus to and taxonomic vagaries, the meaning zonatus; pp. 14–221), along with their

36 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2013, Vol. 16(1)