Choice Review

A collection of papers from the 1989 Conference on the genetics and conservation of rare plants. Contributors are leading scientific researchers and conservationists; the papers are organized into four sections focusing on problems of ecology and diversity of small plant populations, methods of assessing genetic diversity and maintaining germplasm, conservation of genetic diversity, and discussion of conservation strategies based on application of theory and research presented in the previous chapters. The book reviews and synthesizes the diverse literature on rare plants; there are interesting and instructive case studies of specific problems. There is much information on rare plant populations and on conservation not previously available in book form. An appendix presents guidelines for conservation collections of endangered plants. Comprehensive bibliography. Tables; graphs; maps. A glossary might have been useful to the undergraduate. For professionals as well as graduate students and undergraduates having a background in ecology/population genetics and an interest in conservation.-D. E. Jegla, Kenyon College