Under The Microscope

THE MOSSES OF NEW ZEALAND, by Jessica Beever, K. W. Allison & John Child; University of Otago Press, Second edition, 1992; 214 pages, $79.95.

Nominally a revised edition, this is in reality a brand new book  25 of 64 monochrome photographs from the original edition remain; the rest are replaced by a varied selection of colour photos. Now in larger format and softback, little else of the original book survives except its concept.

Mosses are notoriously difficult to draw. All except one of the figures are replaced by manifestly superior illustrations produced by the new author, Jessica Beever. The weakness of Allison and Child's book was what it excluded. Beever has perceived this problem and remedied it. The new version wisely aims to be more comprehensive. Although the number of species fully described with accompanying suites of drawings is, surprisingly, slightly fewer, 75 (cf. 89), the number more briefly treated, with only distinguishing features given, is 386! (cf. 75). Moreover, the diagnostic features of 90 of these are illustrated.

Completeness is achieved by a further list of 99 excessively local, critical or dubious species. Nomenclature is right up to date with, thankfully, essential synonymy included. The identification key is now much more ambitious. Covering 40 pages, it provides a test of character for the novice, but it does work. A new feature is a comprehensive bibliography of more than 150 titles, 85% published since the 1971 edition.

The new author's competence is unmistakable. This is a very fine production, which is indispensable for anyone wanting, or having, to identity New Zealand mosses. Sainsbury's Handbook is nearly 40 years old. Paradoxically, Beever's new book, with its copious fine illustrations and synonymised modern nomenclature, increases the usefulness of Sainsbury today. If, when a full-blown successor to Sainsbury appears, it equals the standard of this new volume, we shall be very lucky.

Professor John Lovis is with the Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences at the University of Canterbury.