• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Book Reviews Threatened Plants of New Zealand Botanical, ecological and past-President of the NZPCN By Peter de Lange, Peter Heenan, conservation research during the Ian Spellerberg, and is followed David Norton, Jeremy Rolfe and John intervening decades has changed the by a Preface (pp. 14–15) and Sawyer taxonomic and conservation status Acknowledgements (pp. 16–17). Published by Canterbury University of our threatened plants and this is The Introduction (pp. 18–37) was Press, Christchurch, 2010 comprehensively captured in the new written by David Norton, Peter Hardback, 472 pages, 267 × 200 mm book. de Lange and John Sawyer, and ISBN 978-1-877257-56-8 The layout is excellent and follows ably sets the scene for the main $NZ99.95 much the same format as the fi eld body of the book. The only lack here Reviewed by Murray Dawson guide Wild Orchids of the Lower North is discussion of the taxonomic and Island (reviewed in the New Zealand phylogenetic (DNA-based) concepts Garden Journal, 2008, Vol. 11(1): used (e.g., the classifi cation followed 32–33). Jeremy Rolfe, John Sawyer for the family names or mention of and Peter de Lange are the three debate surrounding use of Hebe Department of Conservation authors versus Veronica). of both books. Under the heading ‘The New Zealand Jeremy Rolfe is a botanist and fl ora and its origins’ it is mentioned photographer. He provided the layout that there are some 2370 native concept for Threatened Plants of New vascular plant species of which Zealand and took most of the close- 82% are endemic (found nowhere up and studio photographs. John else). Biogeography and the age Sawyer is a plant ecologist and the of the New Zealand fl ora are also current secretary of the New Zealand touched upon. The heading ‘What is Plant Conservation Network (NZPCN, threatening New Zealand’s threatened www.nzpcn.org.nz). John and Peter plants?’ is answered by discussion of de Lange promoted the idea of this habitat loss, predation, competition, book back in 2004 and John secured reproductive failure, and (sadly) the funding for its production. human ignorance. Competition Threatened Plants of New Zealand Peter de Lange is a threatened plant of invasive weed species with is a comprehensive and up-to-date scientist based in Auckland, and threatened native plants is one of the account of New Zealand’s six extinct Peter Heenan is a plant taxonomist largest problems. and 184 severely threatened native at Landcare Research, Lincoln. The The Introduction usefully explains the fl ora. two Peters are among New Zealand’s New Zealand Threat Classifi cation The front cover illustrates the most productive botanists and they System, upon which all plants outstanding fl owers of the iconic often collaborate (as evidenced in featured in the main body of the book and popular garden plant Clianthus the book’s reference list). They were (pp. 42–429) are arranged. We are puniceus (kaka beak) and it is a responsible for the comprehensive told that the Threat Classifi cation shock to learn (p. 89) that it is so botanical text (pp. 42–429) which is System is unique to New Zealand endangered that only one plant is copyrighted to them. and has been developed to be more known in the wild. Another 24 species The remaining author, David Norton, meaningful to the patterns of rarity in the book are known in the wild is a botanist and ecologist at the encountered here. The system is from fewer than 200 plants. We are New Zealand School of Forestry, a distinct departure from the IUCN also told (p. 33) that nearly 8% of our University of Canterbury. All fi ve (International Union for Conservation fl ora is regarded as threatened with authors are deeply involved with of Nature) categories followed in the extinction. New Zealand’s threatened plants and pioneering books by David Given and his co-authors. These facts are not widely known this combined depth of knowledge is by the public so this new book is a apparent throughout the book. The New Zealand Threat most welcome and much needed As explained in the Sponsor’s Classifi cation System was fi rst reappraisal of New Zealand’s rare Foreword (p. 11) MWH is an developed by Molloy et al. (2002), and endangered native plants. Earlier infrastructure and environmental revised by Townsend et al. (2008) and books on New Zealand’s threatened company that sets aside some of its followed by regular lists of threatened plants were authored and co-authored profi ts towards conservation projects. and uncommon plants now published by the late David Given and date back This enlightened company should be in the New Zealand Journal of Botanyy. to the 1980s (Given, 1981; Williams fully acknowledged for supporting the As mentioned in the Introduction, and Given, 1981; Wilson and Given, production of this worthy book. the most recent list (de Lange et 1 al., 2009) provides the following 1989 ); these are now out of print and The main Foreword (pp. 12–13) categories and numbers of taxa (e.g., outdated. is suitably crafted by immediate species, subspecies, varieties): 1 David Given’s obituary was published in the New Zealand Garden Journal, 2006, Vol. 9(1): 19–20. Wilson and Given’s (1989) book bears the same title as that reviewed here, Threatened Plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13(1) 31 • Extinct (6)2 Extinct species have open circles semi-popular, even ‘coffee table’ style • Threatened (180; comprising 91 denoting historical records and book, yet at the same time it contains Nationally Critical, 45 Nationally threatened species have closed detailed information. Although not Endangered, 44 Nationally (colour-coded) circles showing the particularly cheap at nearly $100, Vulnerable) extant (current) distributions. In my I consider this book a worthwhile • At Risk (651; comprising 83 opinion, addition of open circles to investment considering that it is a Declining, 6 Recovering, 20 Relict, map former distributions of the extant, hardcover volume approaching 500 542 Naturally Uncommon) threatened species would have pages. • Vagrant or Coloniser (25) provided a valuable comparison. As mentioned in the Introduction, the • Data Defi cient (35). All plants are well illustrated with public still perceive threatened plants This book covers only the fi rst two informative and interesting captions. to be less sexy than endangered categories; plants are grouped by The more than 600 photographs birds and other animals. Threatened the six extinct taxa and the 1843 used in this book are credited to Plants of New Zealandd should help threatened taxa, subcategorised over 70 photographers. While a address that difference in perception in three groups as above. Different few of the threatened species are by raising the profi le of New Zealand’s colours are used for the headings showy and well known in gardens threatened fl ora and help the fi ght to of each threat category and within (such as Carmichaelia stevensonii, protect our unique plant heritage. each group the plants featured are Clianthus puniceuss and C. maximus, References arranged alphabetically by genus and Hebe speciosaa and Myosotidium species. hortensium), it would be fair to say de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; This arrangement by threat category that most are less photogenic and Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; is appropriate but it does mean that rather inconspicuous. Nevertheless, Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, related taxa (typically species in the the authors have done well to assemble a superb collection of A.J. (2009). Threatened and same genus) are dispersed between uncommon plants of New Zealand categories. Under Recognition (where photographs that show them at their best. (2008 revision). New Zealand related species are discussed) a Journal of Botany 477: 61–96. cross-reference by page number The book concludes with References Given, D.R. (1981). Rare and would have helped locate near (pp. 430–435), an Appendix with new endangered plants of relatives. combinations (new botanical names New Zealand. Reed, Auckland. or ranks; pp. 436–439), an extensive Two pages are devoted to each Molloy, J.; Bell, B.; Clout, M.; Glossary explaining terms used species except for Cook’s scurvy de Lange, P.; Gibbs, G.; Given, D.; (pp. 440–454), About the Authors grass (Lepidium oleraceum) (pp. 390– Norton, D.; Smith, N.; Stephens, (pp. 455–456), and a combined Index 393), which is deservedly featured T. (2002). Classifying species of common and scientifi c names in four pages to explain the recent according to threat of extinction (pp. 457–471). research and diversity of growth – a system for New Zealand. forms. The Appendix publishes new Threatened Species Occasional Each plant featured contains the combinations for seven new names Publication 22. Biodiversity following information: botanical used in the book. In my view, it would Recovery Unit, Department of name (the main heading), family, have been better to formally publish Conservation, Wellington. common and Mäori name(s, if any), these combinations beforehand and Townsend, A.J.; de Lange, P.J.; conservation status (and qualifi ers), elsewhere in a scientifi c journal. Some Norton, D.A.; Molloy, J.; Miskelly, description (including fl owering and of the other botanical names and C.; Duffy, C. (2008). The fruiting months), recognition (as combinations used in the book are New Zealand Threat Classifi cation coloured text boxes), distribution relatively new and may not be familiar System manual. Department of (and a distribution map), habitat, and to all readers. In some circumstances Conservation, Wellington. threats. it would have been useful to add Williams, G.R. and Given, D.R. key synonyms – not a whole list, Few non-experts will closely read (1981).

Load more

  6

Copy Link