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(Edited by A. Marshall)

R. Kiew, R. C. K. Chung, L. G. Saw & E. Soepadmo. Flora of Peninsular Malaysia Series II: Seed Plants, Vol. 5. Pp. 319, 52 colour plates, many line drawings & maps. Malaysia: Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Kepong, 2015. Available from: NHBS www.nhbs.com. ISBN 978-967-0622-39-2. Price £105.

Production of the Flora of Peninsular Malaysia (FPM) continues steadily, and this new volume treats 8 families, 28 genera and 123 species: Aristolochiaceae (2 genera: 22 species), Buxaceae (1: 3), Convolvulaceae (16: 79), Droseraceae (1: 3), Nymphaeaceae (2: 5), Phytolaccaceae (2: 2), Podostemaceae (1:1), Viscaceae (3: 8). The Flora treatments account for the bulk of the book, but there is an introductory chapter on the conservation status of the taxa treated in this volume and a section of colour photographs at the back. The latter has 52 colour plates with 211 colour photographs of many of the taxa treated in the volume, giving an excellent understanding of the groups in the field. In the Flora treatments, each family has a description, keys to genera, full generic descriptions, keys to species and full species descriptions. In addition to the colour plates, each taxon is represented in a distribution map, and there are many black and white line drawings in each family, with a high proportion of the taxa illustrated; for example, 33 figures are presented for the Convolvulaceae. For native taxa a conservation status is given but for introduced species, e.g., the many Ipomoea species naturalised throughout Peninsular Malaysia, these are obviously omitted. As in previous volumes, the content is very logically arranged with a clear layout, and comprehensive, with detailed notes on distribution and ecology for the family and genera. Full descriptions are provided with diagnostic characters italicised, with additional notes on distribution, ecology and uses given for each species. Production is very high quality with glossy hardboard covers and printed on thick, glossy paper. The FPM is produced at a very consistently high standard with much useful information for a wide range of users, not just botanists, wanting to know more about the plant diversity of this region. This volume is a valuable addition to the series and to our knowledge of the flora of South-East Asia.

T. M. A. Utteridge