NATURALIZED FLORA

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 45, 16 November 1940, Page 5

NATURALIZED FLORA

New’ Zealand Handbook

From the Scientific and Industrial Research Department has come to hand Bulletin No. 8", entitled "A Handbook of the Naturalized Flora of New Zealand," by Dr. 11. JI. Allan, director of the botany division of the department's plant research bureau. This, comprehensive booklet dealing with over GOO well-estab-lished species and many beyond, is now available to the general publie. As stated in the preface, this work aims to supply the botanical information necessary to students of the problems resulting from the presence in New Zealand of numerous’ alien species of plants in a naturalized state. Previously, such study has been hampered by the fact that, information had to be sought from numerous books and papers, many not easily available and few written specially for the New Zealand reader/ This book should, therefore, receive a welcome from botanists professional and amateur, and those whose business it. is to safeguard the interests of the farmer and pastoralist. Schools and colleges with an agricultural or natural history outlook should also lind it of considerable value, while the numerous illustrations will assist the more general reader. For the major weeds a volume on more popular lines, with full attention to control methods, is in preparation. A brief introduction deals with such topics as the country of origin of the plants, the methods of their entry and

distribution, ami general ecological features. The bulk of the book is taken up with the description of well over 600 wellgstabliplied species while keys are provided by which any plant may be tracked

down ami named. For each species is given the date of first record. ai)d the known distribution, while weeds in the noxious weeds schedule, poisonous plants, •'LU.d plants otherwise injurious to stock are specially noted. A long appendix deals with more casual immigrants. A glossary ami a full index to the species are provided.