Under The Microscope

WHICH NATIVE FOREST PLANT? and WHICH NATIVE TREE?, by Andrew Crowe; Viking Pacific/Penguin, 1994/92; 64 pages; $19.95

If you're the sort of person who wants to look at things while tramping in the bush, instead of charging madly along, try taking one of these small books with you. Aptly subtitled "A Simple Guide", they'll give you a good excuse to stop, catch your breath, and learn something interesting about the plants and trees around you. The identification keys and the colour-coded "conspicuous flowers and berries" diagram really do make things simple, which is a refreshing change, and there's even a built-in ruler on the cover for measuring leaf lengths.

The text is well worth reading as it provides a surprisingly diverse range of information, from Maori medicinal uses to industrial applications. The plant book includes cultivation notes, though I hope this doesn't inspire the errant tramper to take illicit cuttings for the home garden.

Vicki Hyde, NZSM

Vicki Hyde is the editor of New Zealand Science Monthly.