New England liverworts for the general public Mary SG. Lincoln . 2008. Liverworts of New England: A guide for the amateur naturalist. Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden 99: 1–161. The New York Botanical Garden Press. Bronx, NY. [ISBN 978-0-89327-478-8]. Price US$45. Available from: www.nybgpress.org.

Abstract

Popular identification guides to bryophytes are not at all common, although their numbers are increasing given the ease of capturing decent images with digital cameras. This book is the first of its kind for North America in that it includes many color photographs and treats all species of liverworts found in a multistate region. I do not know Mary S. G. Lincoln, but I suspect that as an amateur bryologist herself, this book was born out of a labor of love. As stated in the introduction, the book is ‘‘a nontechnical introduction to the liverworts and hornworts of New England.’’ The descriptions of species ‘‘emphasize characters that can be seen with a strong hand lens or a dissecting microscope.’’ Though aimed squarely at the beginner, all species of liverworts and hornworts currently or historically known for New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont) are included. I noted only the omission of Pedinophyllum interruptum known from Connecticut and Massachusetts. The hardcover is richly illustrated with attractive photographs of liverworts. While not specifically designed as a field guide, the duplication of the main ‘‘illustrated key to hornworts and liverworts’’ inside the front cover is convenient for field use. Sections preceding the main treatments provide a brief history of regional hepaticology, describe the New England landscape, give an overview of the distributions compiled and explain basic morphology and life cycle characteristics. Given the growing interest in bryophyte conservation, the paragraph on rare and endangered species of liverworts is misleading. It includes the following statement (p. 7): ‘‘Because liverworts are so infrequently studied, no one can really say that a particular species is rare or endangered, either worldwide or in a particular area.’’ The statement is later contradicted in the treatment of species where some are described as ‘‘rare.’’ There are three appendices: a traditional dichotomous key to 24 ‘‘common and easily identified’’ species; a list of ‘‘leafy liverwort genera arranged by size’’ and a list of ‘‘liverworts characteristic of specialized habitats.’’ A glossary of 90 terms, a bibliography and an index to scientific names are included. The main body of the book (pp. 12–142) consists of 15 sections (A–O), each a logical group identified by the two-paged ‘‘illustrated key.’’ For example, section A presents ‘‘complex thalloid liverworts with elevated receptacles,’’ and section I ‘‘leafy liverworts with lobed leaves and succubous insertion.’’ Each section begins with a key diagram to