Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Monocotyledons

Abstract

EIGHT years have elapsed since the publication of the first volume of “The Families of Flowering Plants”, which dealt with the Di cotyledons. The author, in his preface to this his second volume, dealing with the Monocotyledons, apologises for the delay. At the time of the appearance of the former treatise, he confesses that he had then “only a cursory knowledge of the Monocotyledons as compared with that of the Dicotyledons”. Perhaps if he had%astened the publication of the second volume, he might have produced a work somewhat perfunctory in char acter. As it is, whatever criticism may be brought against it, he cannot be charged with this. In the interval, Mr. Hutchinson has been able to exercise to the full on the Monocotyledons his flair for affinities, with the result that we: have before us a work of much originality.

The Families of Flowering Plants. 2: Monocotyledons; arranged according to a New System based on their probable PJiylogeny.

By J. Hutchinson. Pp. xiii + 243. (London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1934.) 20s. net.