The flora of Britain is in constant flux. While we lose native species from land use changes, trade with other countries has led to a slow infiltration of our flora by species of foreign origin. Quite often these species cause major problems. Think of rhododendrons in Wales or the invasive pond weeds taking over canals and other waters. By the end of the nineteenth century, about 1,000 species of aliens had been identified. Several books had been published by 1928 listing about 2,000 species.
The Botanical Society of the British Isles (BSBI) is the leading national society for those seriously interested in the British flora, both amateur and professional. Its activities include field meetings, conferences and publications, most notably a series of identification handbooks to various plant groups such as crucifers, dandelions and pondweeds. It has also published books on alien plants including a non‐illustrated companion to the book under review (Clement and Foster, 1994). As that excluded grasses, it produced a book on alien grasses that was illustrated (Ryves et al., 1996). These are all of similar format, a thick octavo with an attractive cover and stout binding. They are all authoritative and objective scientific works.
The genesis of this is iconography of British alien species has been long and convoluted, having been started as long ago as the early 1960s by the eminent botanist David McClintock. Sadly he died in 2001 and the task was taken up by other hands. Stace's New Flora of the British Isles (Stace, 1997) contains descriptions of almost all the plants in this book, which meant that the authors were able to reproduce the drawings in an attractive large format. A total of 13 artists have contributed their work.
There are just over 440 black and white drawings, one to a page. Each shows the habit of the plant or, for larger species, a branch with botanical directions and enlargements which allow for identification. Fruits and seeds are figured wherever possible. Scale bars showing size are present. The legend at the foot of each page gives the full scientific name, the authority and the list of plant parts illustrated in the drawing. Next, in parenthesis, is given the origin of the plant figured. Lastly, there is a reference to page numbers in Stace (both editions). The selection of species is explained as they were all drawn on in opportunity basis so this book will, it is hoped, act as a stimulus for artists to fill in the gaps and that a second book of illustrations will emerge in time.
The book will be invaluable to botanists, both amateur and professional, to consultants and to all scientific libraries. It is very reasonably priced and is likely to be consulted for many years. Anyone enjoying plant drawings will get much enjoyment from the lovely, if austere, illustrations.
