K W Allison and John Child
THIS TITLE IS OUT OF PRINT
This is the first comprehensive book on the liverworts of New Zealand. Nearly 200 species are dealt with in detail, with notes on habitat and distribution, as well as description of the features which can be recognized in the field with a hand lens.
Liverworts are small green plants, closely related to mosses. The continuous green carpet on the floors of our forests, covering old logs, streamside banks, and the trunks of the trees, is composed mainly of mosses and liverworts. In many areas, especially those with a high rain-fall, the liverworts are likely to be more common than mosses.
Most of the species are illustrated with line drawings of the main parts; these, together with the forty photographs should enable the field naturalist to recognize most of the larger species, and (if he is keen) many of the smaller ones.
For the separation of some species. however, microscopic examination of leaf structure is necessary, and sufficient detail of smaller structures (cells. spores and elaters) is included to enable this to be done.
As most of the genera, and a number of the species dealt with in this book are also found in south-eastern Australia, the book will be useful as an interim reference work for Australian naturalists.
Keys to genera, and within the larger genera to species, are based on characters visible with a hand lens.
The authors, K. W. Allison and John Child, admit that there are still several genera which need much more study before the species can be satisfactorily established; this book opens a wide area for further research.
By the same authors of The Mosses of New Zealand.
Authors
K. W. Allison spent most of his working life in the New Zealand Forest Service, being stationed at various times at Rotorua, Waipoua, Naseby and Berwick. For over 25 years he assiduously collected mosses and liverworts, exchanging specimens with overseas experts and corresponding regularly with Mrs A. E. Hodgson, who published over 20 papers on liverworts of New Zealand. Allison's collection of some 7,000 liverwort specimens, has been donated recently to the National Herbarium.
John Child studied economics at both the University of Otago and Oxford University. He then spent ten years lecturing at the University of New South Wales, in Sydney. During this time he pursued his interest in natural history, and wrote a number of introductory books on plants and animals of Australia. Since his return to New Zealand in 1967 he has written a number of books on New Zealand natural history. He collaborated with K. W. Allison in The Mosses of New Zealand, University of Otago Press, 1971.
The authors then continued their work together; The Liverworts of New Zealand is the outcome of their endeavours.
Publication details
ISBN 9780908569052
RRP $12.50
Published in 1975
OUT OF PRINT