Aquatic Plants of Pennsylvania: A Complete Reference Guide by Timothy A. Block, Ann Fowler Rhoads

2013·0.59 MB·English

by  Review By: Helen Jeude

Research Institute of Texas
Journal of the Botanical 7|1)
BOOK REVIEW
A
Complete
PennsyKania: Reference
Ann Aquatic Plants of
Block and Fowler Rhoads. 2011.
Timothy A.
Hopkins Fulfillment
978-0-8122-4306-2, University of Pennsylvania Press, Ser-
Guide. (ISBN; cloth).
www.upenn.edu/
Box Hampden Baltimore, Maryland 21211, U.S.A. (Orders:
50370, Station,
vices, P.O.
93 508 b/w 7" x 10'.
1-800-537-5487, 1-410-516-6998 fax). $59.95, 320 color illus., illus.,
pennpress, pp.,
Most flower enthusiasts love the plants they know and spend hours tending to their personal gardens and
we
and more
Many herbarium and surroundings. a Labor of Love, are
spend time helping their local It’s
yards.
Book
than willing to help in any ways we can. The authors of this volume carefully explain the “Purpose of the
Ecology—
we and and
In very short time, are in Chapter Evolution
opening paragraph of the Preface. 1.
in the
— —
The
more and
we are totally “hooked.” {Fascination is probably a accurate scholarly! designation.) resultis
when
We intrigued by this book. Your hubby or wife calls to you, asking dinner will be
same. are definitely
the
put
The engrossed reader responds with “Uh, Honey, there’s a big frozen pizza in the ‘fridge’— it in the
ready.
wonder how many of our readers will immediately identify with that
oven and we’ll have that for supper!” (I
While many of us have probably seen a few water lilies and bulrushes and perhaps curly pondweed, most
how
of us are not at all familiar with the plants, their habits, and they actually grow. In addition to the usual
and drawing
descriptions of the various plants, the authors utilize line drawings, color photographs, a of the
Pennsylvania, with a red line indicating the route being examined and a “fill in” of dark blue dots to
of
state
Such maps are also used to show the routes and places in Pennsylvania where
the presence of lakes.
indicate
were
plants located.
specific
management
They explain the types of ecosystems, the of aquatic ecosystems (endangered, threat-
also
watch by the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program
undetermined candidate), or list (at that
ened,
rare,
and Rare Aquatic
Endangered, Threatened, Plants of Pennsylvania. In addition, the
the
time). Table 1.2 lists
Non-native, Invasive Aquatic Plants in Pennsylvania as well as a proliferation of “over-
authors created a table of
abundant native species.”
Keys
Chapter the authors have created Identification for the Aquatic Plants of Pennsylvania. They
In
2,
how
system they have devised and to use the keys they have developed. In addition, they include
explain the
The
more keys
drawings in areas that might be difficult to visualize. are designed to be as helpful as pos-
line
may
The authors really did a great job. These keys not appear to be the keys you’ve been accustomed to
sible.
approach which probably works a
using, but they do a terrific “either/or” lot better for this type of identifica-
The balance of the volume describes the various types of plants, their family, the species, accompanying
map Pennsylvania showing
drawings of the plant described, and the of the route, the locations, and some-
line
comment.
an accompanying
times
This volume is fun to peruse, beautiful to see the color photos, easy to use the keys, easy to understand the
drawings, and also creates an urgent desire in the reader to go immediately to Pennsylvania and travel
line
&
Botanical Research
those map routes!—Helen Jeude, Volunteer Associate Editor, Institute of Texas, Fort Worth,
USA.
Texas,