Dillard presents the seventh part of a compendium of freshwater algae
found in eleven states of the United States. Part 1 and 2 deal with
Chlorophyceae s.l., parts 3-6 with Zygnematophyceae. The treatment of
Cyanophyceae, Dinophyceae, Cryptophyceae, Chrysophyceae and
Xanthoophyceae is planned.
This publication contains 8 genera, 246 species and 45 intraspecific
taxa of pigmented Euglenophyceae. Dillard compiles data from 143 years
of floristic research on Euglenophyceae and gives access to more than
320 publications from the United States and worldwide. The aim of the
compendium is to provide both a check list of algae in the
Southeastern United States and a flora with keys for
determination. All taxa are described in detail and illustrated by
line drawings of varying quality.
In general, there are three methods for authors of floras and
monographs to select figures. The first way is to use reproductions of
the original descriptions (e.g. Hegewald & Silva 1988, Catalogue of
Scenedesmus, Biblioth. Phycol. 80) to show the identity of a described
taxon. The second way is to reproduce figures from the region covered
by the flora (e.g. Ling & Tyler 2000, Australian freshwater algae,
Biblioth. Phycol. 105) to show what researchers really found. The
method of the reviewed flora, as of many other floras, is to select
illustrations "based upon authoritative sources" (p. 1). This is a
good compromise in many cases where figures given in floras are very
similar to the type and a taxon is easily recognisable by a figure. In
few cases, where the figure differs from the original description,
this method is not appropriate. The figure of Phacus pleuronectes
(O. F. Müll.) Dujard., taken from Allegre & Jahn 1943
(Trans. Amer. Microscop. Soc. 62: 233-244), is probably not the same
taxon which was illustrated by Dujardin 1841 (Histoire naturelle des
zoophytes), and surely not the same taxon O. F. Müller saw when
describing the basionym.
Dillard does not follow all new combinations of the last years. so the
number of synonyms is restricted. Phacus aenigmaticus Drezopolski,
e.g., actually is a synonym of Phacus striates France. This was
overlooked in the past because of a wrong interpretation of the
original description by Lemmermann 1913 (Eugleninae in: Pascher, Die
Süßwasser-Flora Deutschlands, Österreichs und der Schweiz
2,2). Trachelomonas scabra Playfair is regarded as a Strombomonas by
many authors. Smile synonyms are ambiguous. as on p. 87:
"Trachelomonas crebea Kellicott [includes v. Iaticollis Weik et
Mohlenbrock]". It is not clear whether this means T. crebea s.l., or
that T crebea var. Iaticollis is synonymous to T. crebea var. crebea.
In the text, especially in the references, there are some small but
annoying errors (Euglena Ehrenb. was described in 1830,. not in
1838. "Skvortzov" and "Skvotzow" are used alternately. and almost all
diacritical signs are ignored ("France" instead of "France", etc.).
The selection of pigmented Euglenophyceae in this book is restricted
to taxa found in the Southeastern United States. The publication of
Weik 1967 (A revision of the genus Phacus Dujardin in Illinois), e.g.,
is not included because Illinois is outside the geographical
scope. There is, however, the possibility that taxa found in states
nearby, or common Euglenophyceae with worldwide distribution, occur
in the Southeastern United States. too. A note on taxa similar to
those included in the Indira, but so fat not known from the region,
would thus have been very helpful Rn users not familiar - with this
group of flagellates.
Dillard presents a conscientiously compiled check list which hopefully
will inspire the floristic research in the Southeastern United
States. Colleagues from other regions. dealing with taxonomic,
floristic and biogeographical research aspects will consult Dillard's
flora additional to other sources. Dillard's keys, easy to follow
without expert knowledge, can be recommended for determination, if the
results are carefully checked against floras containing more taxa
and/or against original descriptions.
Wolf-Henning Kusber
