an applied approach

An appreciation of anatomy is fundamental to an understanding of many aspects of plant biology, including the ecological and molecular ends of the spectrum. It is therefore a cause for concern that plant anatomy is increasingly marginalized in university biology courses. One way of trying to stem the decline is to promote an awareness of the wider value of the study of plant structure. This is what Cutler et al.’s Plant anatomy: an applied approach attempts. The ten chapters and two Appendices of this comparatively slim volume cover much ground despite concentrating mostly on vegetative anatomy of angiosperms. The topics covered are as follows. (1) ‘Morphology and tissue systems: the integrated plant body’ (10 pages) – provides a context for subsequent more detailed anatomical study and reviews the evolution of land plants. (2) ‘Meristems and meristematic growth’ (14 pages) – features an interesting section on practical applications and uses of meristems. (3) ‘The structure of xylem and phloem’ (20 pages) – concentrates principally on secondary tissues with emphasis on use of xylem in identification and classification. (4) ‘The root’ (8 pages) and (5) ‘The stem’ (13 pages) – concentrate on primary structures. (6) ‘The leaf’ (50 pages) – the book’s largest section as befits this most important and variable organ. (7) ‘Flowers, fruits and seeds’ (14 pages) – concentrates on matters of applied interest. (8) ‘Adaptive features’ (19 pages) – deals largely with traditional aspects such as mesophytism, hydrophytism and xerophytism, but also considers mechanical adaptations. (9) ‘Economic aspects of applied plant anatomy’ (16 pages) – features fascinating forensic examples to underline the wider relevance, importance and application of plant anatomy. (10) ‘Practical microtechnique’ (25 pages) – is an especially useful section where students (and – more likely – teachers! ) can find details and inspiration to make their own anatomical preparations. In addition, there are two appendices and a CD. Acknowledging that the examples typically used to illustrate plant anatomy are not readily found worldwide, Appendix 1 – ‘Selected study material’ (8 pages) – usefully lists many alternative plant species that are suitable for studying particular anatomical features. Appendix 2 is ‘Practical exercises’ – 39 pages of notes and context relating to the accompanying CD entitled ‘The Virtual Plant’. The book concludes with an illustrated Glossary (38 pages), Cited references (2 pages) for Chapters 6, 8, 10 and Appendix 2, a section on Further reading (5 pages) that is relevant to all Chapters, and a substantial Index (16 pages). But, Cutler et al. is much more than just a book! The enclosed CD is packed with so many extra features that it takes the study of plant anatomy to new heights. The CD includes an online virtual glossary of words and terms commonly used in plant anatomy (effectively repeating those in the book), a bank of high-quality digital images, Factfiles, and Presentation Files. Without doubt, the CD’s 250 colour images of roots, stems and leaves are amongst Cutler et al.’s greatest assets [although it is inexcusable that genera such as Ginkgo (‘Ginko’) should be misspelt! ]. Factfiles deal with specific aspects of plant structure and function (e.g. shoot apex, leaf development, transport process in plants) and histochemical techniques, and include links to other resources and citations of more in-depth articles than those listed in the main text. As might be expected from Botha’s involvement in this project, the Factfiles have a bias towards plasmodesmata and transport-related issues, e.g. cell–cell communication in plants, phloem loading ecophysiology and phloem transport mechanisms. The Presentation Files are PowerPoint slideshows introducing key plant structure elements. Although the authors envisage that the CD does not necessarily require access to a microscope – hence its ‘virtual’ tag – it is debatable how much anatomical learning can take place in the absence of first-hand experience of looking at the actual structures. In a market with several existing plant anatomy texts, how well does the book under review compare? Although it covers some similar ground to Dickinson’s Integrative plant anatomy (2000; for a review see Chaffey, 2001), Cutler et al. has a distinct edge on price and an abundance of colour images. Crang and Vassilyev’s Electronic plant anatomy CD released in 2003 contains similar material but Cutler et al. has the advantage of an accompanying printed text. Beck’s An introduction to plant structure and development (2005; see Peterson, 2006, for a review) covers a lot more of the sub-cellular aspects of pant anatomy than Cutler et al., but loses out heavily due to the lack of colour images and its higher cost. Whilst Cutler et al. may not have the legendary authority of Esau’s Plant anatomy (3rd edition; for a review see Chaffey, 2007), it is much less expensive, has the benefit of colour images and is in one volume (the second part of Evert’s revision of ‘Esau’ is still several years away! ). In