Book Review

Apparently stimulated by the success of Hubbard’s “Grasses”, Mr. Jermy and Prof. Tutin have written an excellent counterpart, dealing with the species of Carex in the British Isles. Taxonomists interested in this fascinating and ecologically important, but reputedly difficult genus will find in this paperback a wealth of information which cannot be given in an excursion-flora. Chapters on the structure, ecology and classification of the sedges are followed by an extensive key for the identification of fruiting specimens. Ecologists will warmly welcome the second key to non-flowering plants of Carex and other broadleaved Cyperaceae. The accurate species descriptions are accompanied by 69 instructive plates showing habit and important details. Only two subgenera, Carex and Vignea, are recognized; Kiikenthal’s view that the unispicate species represent a separate, primitive subgenus Primocarex has rightly been abandoned. Further subdivision of the genus into sections has been omitted. The nomenclature follows Dandy’s List of British Vascular plants; fortunately almost complete agreement has been reached as to the names for the European Carices. However, I do not see that the name Carex filiformis L. is the correct one for what is generally called C. tomentosa L. Although some Carices occurring in the Netherlands are not known from the British Isles, the book will be very helpful also to Dutch botanists.