Abstract
IN order to fill the gap in botanical literature left by the absence of any up-to-date account of the British seaweeds, Dr. A. B. Rendle, formerly keeper of the Department of Botany of the British Museum, arranged with Dr. L. Batten, now Prof. Newton, to prepare this handbook. The basis of the arrangement is the “Catalogue of the British Marine Algæ”, by E. A. L. Batters, which has long been out of print. In all, about 260 genera and 750 species are described. The drawings were mostly made by the late Mr. Percy Highley, though some are by Prof. Newton. The aid of members of the staff of the Department of Botany of the British Museum is freely acknowledged, thanks being especially due to Mr. G. Tandy for his help on the taxonomy and nomenclature. This very useful book starts with an account of methods of collection, preservation, and of the distribution and ecological relationships of algæ. An outline of the classification is given, also some data on economic uses. It may be remarked that the account of the preparation of iodine from kelp sounds like a translation from the German, and, according to the construction of the English, is incorrect.
A Handbook of the British Seaweeds.
By Prof. Lily. Newton. Pp. xiii + 478. (London: British Museum (Natural History), 1931.)
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A Handbook of the British Seaweeds . Nature 129, 563 (1932). https://doi.org/10.1038/129563b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/129563b0