Carnivorous Plants And Their Habitats Volume One Review
Reviews and Testimonials
“McPherson’s latest opus summarizes information for carnivorous plants worldwide... This work, like McPherson’s four previous ones, is a visual delight. Congratulations on another exemplary work.” -- Rudolf Schmid, TAXON 59 (6) 2010: 1949–1950 (Full text at bottom of page)The second volume with over 1,400 pages covers sticky-leaved insect-eating plants as well as corkscrew plants and bladderworts. Many native plants are featured in this book. An insightful look at the future of natural habitat raises concern for the future of all wild carnivorous plants. Volume 1 and 2 are excellent references for all horticultural teachers, students, botanists and plant collectors of these fascinating plants. -- Paul Plant, subTropical Gardening Volume 1 was reviewed in Issue 22, 2011. Volume 1 was reviewed in Issue 23, 2011.
McPherson’s latest opus summarizes information for carnivorous plants worldwide. A classificatory table (p. 62) lists 5 orders, 12 families, and 20 genera with a total of “at least” 724 species, an increase of 1 family, 2 genera... the 20 genera are described in detail on pages 182–1227. Added in the 2010 work versus the 2009 one are Proboscidea (Martyniaceae) and, more significantly, Philcoxia (Plantaginaceae, pp. 1088–1103), its 3 species endemic to Brazil.
Three miscellaneous points: (1) Examination of the heading and first two text paragraphs will reveal names other than McPherson’s. He has called in reinforcements, including some big guns, to subdue all those carnivorous-plant species. (2) The present work is copiously illustrated with 799 numbered and 5 unnumbered figures, mostly color, and mostly photos. This work, like McPherson’s four previous ones, is a visual delight. (3) The previous paragraph called attention to important nomenclatural matter in the so-called appendix. Its first page contains a table for metric-English conversions, whereas its next 82 pages are five papers of nomenclatural and taxonomic importance.
Well done, Stewart McPherson, congratulations on another exemplary work.”
-- Rudolf Schmid, TAXON 59 (6) 2010: 1949–1950
-- Robert Ziemer, Carnivorous Plant Newsletter Voume 40 (March), 2011
After a brief introduction, the first main chapter provides a historical perspective of the development of ideas about plants as carnivores. Many found the idea of flesh-eating plants difficult to accept, and it took pioneering work by Darwin and others in the late 19th century to overcome the prejudices involved. This is followed by a chapter summarizing the surprisingly widespread occurrence of carnivory (given its rarity) across the angiosperms (see APG III, 2009; Chase et al., 2009). This chapter concludes with a discussion of ‘sub-carnivorous’ plants i.e. those which can/do trap small animals but for which there is no tangible evidence of full carnivory.
A discussion of evolution of carnivorous plants forms the substance of the next chapter. Based on summarized phylogenetic trees, McPherson discusses the number of times that carnivory has evolved or been lost in the major clades including carnivores. Evolution within each of the carnivorous groups is then discussed, with ideas presented about possible evolutionary pathways leading to the different sorts of traps. The general part of the work concludes with a chapter on ‘associated life’ (animals which live on or around carnivorous plants) and a summary of the habitats in which carnivorous plants can be found.
The remaining (and most substantial) part of the work consists of chapters on each of the genera. These are organised by trap type: snap traps, pitchers, sticky leaves, corkscrew traps and bladders. After introductions to each type of trap, all genera receive individual treatment with the exception of Ibicella and Proboscidea (as these are often treated as a single genus, they are treated in the same chapter). For each, information is provided under the following headings: distribution, botanical history, plant structure, habitats and ecology, traditional uses, associated life, cultivation requirements and conservation status. Again, I can’t resist mentioning the rich illustrations that accompany the text in all the chapters, including reproductions of historical plates, habitat shots, stunning close-ups illustrating particular points of interest and photomicrographs depicting details too small to be seen (at least easily) with the naked eye. For the larger genera (Nepenthes, Drosera, Pinguicula), an additional section on species is included.
Expressing his concern for conservation, McPherson concludes the main part of the second volume with a chapter on the future of carnivorous plants and their habitats, covering topics including habitat degradation, over-collection and responsible cultivation. This chapter includes details of several nurseries and their activities related to popularizing and conserving carnivorous plants.
The extensive Appendix mainly comprises five ‘stand alone’ papers. Four are by McPherson and colleagues, in which they describe the new species Nepenthes gantungensis, N. hamiguitanensis, N. holdenii and N. palawensis (each as a separate paper with different authors). These continue the series of spectacular new finds in Nepenthes, including N. attenboroughii (Robinson et al., 2009), described by this group. The fifth paper (by F. S. Mey) provides historical background to the ‘elusive’ N. thorelii and an amended description based on new material. The second volume concludes with a glossary, bibliography and index.
As with his previous works, I recommend these volumes enthusiastically to carnivorous plant enthusiasts in particular and botanists and botanical institutions in general. Full of interesting facts and wonderful illustrations, they are very good value for money, as well as being attractive additions to the literature relating to carnivorous plants."
-- Michael Fay, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society April, 2011
In this book, detailed and up-to-date information is provided for all currently recognised carnivorous angiosperm genera, including a few genera for which the truly carnivorous status remains to be unambiguously shown. In view of the somewhat blurred border between noncarnivorous and carnivorous plants (a situation pointed out at various places throughout the book) the inclusion of candidates with questionable status of carnivory is further testimony to Stewart McPherson’s endeavour to provide a truly complete overview on our current understanding of carnivorous plant diversity. And he clearly delivers.
The first chapter provides the historical background of carnivorous plant research, illustrating the beginnings of carnivorous plant research and the growing of acceptance of the concept of plants as carnivores. Detailed information is provided on the role of Darwin and on the change of the definition of plant carnivory since Darwin‘s time.
The next chapter gives an overview of the present structural diversity of carnivorous plants, introducing the various trap types. The concept of sub-carnivorous plants (also known by the less advisable terms pre- or protocarnivorous plants) is introduced: plants for which no “proof” of carnivory according to the currently accepted definition exists.
The third chapter deals with the evolution of carnivorous plants and was contributed by Andreas Fleischmann. Based on a review of molecular-phylogenetic research of the past two decades, the author covers the stunning number of times that carnivory is believed to have evolved among higher plants (at least 10 times independently) and then focuses on the evolution and putative paths to carnivory and accompanying series of key innovations within each angiosperm order currently known to contain carnivores. The hypothetical and still often incomplete, preliminary or speculative character of our knowledge on carnivorous plant evolution is emphasised. The chapter concludes with notes on detrivores, coprophages and the related somewhat vague circumscription of plant carnivory, and finally briefly discusses the evolutionary success of carnivory among flowering plants.
A chapter on mutualists and infauna follows, again nicely illustrated with photographs e.g. of various arthropods that can be found living on or associated with carnivorous plant species. Remarks follow on how the plants manage to reduce the probability of their pollinators being killed by the own trapping devices. The last chapter in this initial series of chapters on more general topics describes the habitats in which carnivorous plants can be found.
In the following approximately 1000 pages of the book the reader is introduced to all carnivorous genera, ordered by trap type. The decision to sort by trap type rather than phylogenetic relationships or taxonomy may be a good one given the broad audience that the book is aimed at. More likely than not, trap similarity can more easily be appreciated by the non-taxonomist as a backbone structure guiding through several kilograms packed with information.
The remainder of the first volume starts with snap traps and pitchers. The second volume continues with sections on flypaper traps, corkscrew traps and bladder traps. Each section begins with an explanation of trap architecture and function and then continues with a treatment of all genera falling under the trap category at hand. As an exception, Ibicella and Proboscidea are treated in the same chapter, which makes sense given their rather unclear status both taxonomically and with respect to carnivory. Each genus-specific chapter presents information on the geographic range of the genus, plant morphology and ecology (including habitats and associated life). Most chapters also include notes on traditional uses, conservation biology and tips for cultivation. For the larger genera (such as Drosera, Nepenthes, Pinguicula), a section on individual species is added. Throughout these chapters, the latest publications on physiology, taxonomy and phylogenetics of the genera are taken into account. It was a smart choice by Stewart McPherson to hand over the chapters on Genlisea and Utricularia to Andreas Fleischmann, probably the leading expert on Lentibulariaceae in the world. The chapter on Philcoxia was contributed by Caio Guilherme Pereira and Rafael Silva Oliveira. The last chapter of the main part of the book is dedicated to the future of carnivorous plants, discussing threats for the survival of carnivorous plant diversity such as overcollection, habitat loss, or the introduction of non-native organisms. Information on various nurseries and on carnivorous plant conservation concludes the second volume.
Finally, the Appendix comprises four independent taxonomic descriptions of new Nepenthes species by McPherson and colleagues: Nepenthes gantungensis, N. hamiguitanensis, and N. palawanensis from the Philippines and N. holdenii from Cambodia. They are followed by a paper by François Mey that provides historical background and an improved description for N. thorelii. The book also features an index and even a glossary.
In sum, the text is easily understandable for the nonspecialist and at the same time very detailed, always referring to the most recent research. The book is extraordinarily rich in breath-taking photographs, many by Stewart McPherson, many contributed by the editors or co-authors of certain sections of the book, or others. If in search of a complete, up-to-date, lovingly crafted introduction to carnivorous plants of the world, look no further than Stewart McPherson’s Carnivorous plants and their habitats. If you are a carnivorous plant enthusiast already, this book is a must-have. "
-- Kai F. Müller (Münster), Willdenowia 41, 2011,