SPEC/REF: BIS species book--mini-review III

The BIS species book arrived this morning and as others on the list have
stated, is somewhat of a dissapointment.  However since my invoice was for
only $39.96, I can't complain!  The book is indeed well worth that price.
However, at the list price of $105.00 it is grossly overpriced.  Those of
us in academics are used to the enormously high prices of academic books,
but this book will be touted to gardeners who will find little practical
advice in it.  But as a reference on the indentification of species it
should serve well.  More illustrations should have been included, but some
species are pictured which have never been illustrated before, so far as I
know.  Sometimes the pictures are misleading; the photo of I. fulva is
certainly far from typical of the species.  The line drawings are
cartoonish, like those in the Waddick book, but the photos are a cut
above--in focus, at least, and no color pictures of bleak plains labelled
"habitat of thus and so"

I'd call it definitely a reference book, but as a botanical treatise it
falls short since a complete bibliography and citations are missing.

Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<bills@tiger.hsc.edu>
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