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Plant Anatomy

This book review summarizes a plant anatomy textbook translated into English. The review provides the following key points: - The textbook aims to serve as both a general university text and reference book on plant anatomy. - It covers major topics like plant tissues, primary and secondary plant structure, and reproductive organs across over 500 pages with illustrations. - While not comprehensive, the book provides clear and concise descriptions of plant structures and their development, as well as discussions of phylogenetic relationships where possible. - The book is recommended for those without specialized knowledge of plant anatomy.

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Farhan Mughal
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96 views

Plant Anatomy

This book review summarizes a plant anatomy textbook translated into English. The review provides the following key points: - The textbook aims to serve as both a general university text and reference book on plant anatomy. - It covers major topics like plant tissues, primary and secondary plant structure, and reproductive organs across over 500 pages with illustrations. - While not comprehensive, the book provides clear and concise descriptions of plant structures and their development, as well as discussions of phylogenetic relationships where possible. - The book is recommended for those without specialized knowledge of plant anatomy.

Uploaded by

Farhan Mughal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Phytochemistry,1969,Vol.8,p.523.

PergamonPress.
PrintedinEngland

BOOK REVIEW

Plant Anatomy: A. FAHN,translated by S. BROIDO-ALTMAN. Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1967.


pp. viii, l-534, figs. 220.75s.
THIS book aims to be a general text in plant anatomy for University courses and, at the same
time, a reference book. To a large extent both. these aims are satisfied. The first part of the
book consists of three chapters which are presented as an introduction to the general structure
of higher plants, the cell and meristems. The rest of the book is divided into four major
sections : mature tissues, primary vegetative body of the plant, secondary body of the plant
and reproductive organs. At the beginning of the section on tissues it is pointed out that with
the accumulation of knowledge it becomes increasingly difficult to give exact definitions of
tissues, but in spite of this clear and concise descriptions of the major tissues are given.
The sections on the primary and secondary vegetative body of the plant take up about a
third of the book. These sections are far from being dry factual accounts, because the struc-
ture and development of specialized and unspecialized organs are described and, where
possible, phylogenetic relationships are discussed. Throughout these sections attempts are
made to relate structures with their functions. In the chapter on secondary xylem it is ex-
plained how one identifies plants according to the structure of their wood; the specimen key
is designed for use in Israel but other keys are cited in the bibliography.
The final section deals with reproductive organs and is divided into three chapters: the
flower, the fruit and the seed. The chapter on the flower not only describes the structure and
ontogeny of floral organs but also gives an account of gametogenesis and sporogenesis. One
can hardly expect a full comprehensive account of the flower in a single chapter of 78 pages
but the material presented is well chosen so that one is not left with the feeling that the flower
is simple but, at the same time, one is not confused by complexities. The part on nectaries is
particularly well presented. The chapters on the fruit and the seed are somewhat terse but an
attempt is made to point out the diversity in form and structure of these reproductive parts.
References are presented at the end of each chapter and as there are twenty-three chapters
this can lead to difficulties in spite of a general author index at the end. The line drawings are
good but many photographs are not as clear as they could be. An annoying feature is that the
figures are often separated from the text by as much as six pages. The glossary of terms is
useful but not entirely comprehensive. The production of this book is good and it is not too
expensive. This book can be recommended to those without specialized knowledge of plant
anatomy.
c. D. K. COOK

523

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