94 FOLIA GEOBOTANICA ET PHYTOTAXONOMICA 19. 1984

B o o k r e v i e w

O. 1~. GOTTLI~.B

M I C R O M O L E C U L A R E V O L U T I O N , S Y S T E M A T I C S A N D E C O L O G Y An Essay into a Novel Botanical Discipline

Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg et New York 1982, 170 pp., 80 Figs. Price US $ 33.

Probably the best characterization of OTTO R. GO,fLIER'S book was given by KLAVS Kv- Brrzxi in i ts foreword: "Professor Gottlieb shows how much can be gained by carefully collating and organizing the available information about the distribution of secondary compounds. I t is indeed embarrassing for plant taxonomists tha t an outsider has achieved what systematists themselves have always claimed as forming the basis for systematics and taxonomy: to bring together in a systematic fashion the available data from different fields of study".

In Chapter 1 -- Allelochemics and systematic markers -- the ideas of the author on micro- molecular systematics are presented and demonstrated at different levels of manifestation of the genotype together with further problems. Chapter 2 is devoted to the principles of micromolecular systematics, basic concepts of micromolecular evolution, and principles of ecogeographical phyto- chemistry. The next has a question as its title: Is integration of allelochemics and morphology systematically relevant? I t is documented by a correlation of major plant taxa and metabolic pathways with biopolymers and secondary metabolites. The relationships between micro- and macromolecular substances are demonstrated on the correlation of "lignosity" versus "alkaloid diversity" for the families of Magnoliidae. Great attention is devoted in Chapter 4 to flavonoids, their skeletal types, occurrence and the function of various taxa. Chapter 5 concerns the biosyn- thetic derivation of systematically significant biogenetic groups of allelochemics in angiosperms, taxa. Since Professor GO~rLIEB is known, inter alia, for his studies on benzyiisoquinoline alkaloids, it is understandable tha t the whole next Chapter is devoted to these compouns. Syrnpetalae are characterized by their content of iridoids and this is the theme of Chapter 7. The recently tho- roughly investigated group of polyacetylenes in Sympetalae is the topic of Chapter 9. A further three chapters concern indole alkaloids in Apocyanaceae and quinolones, or coumarins in Rutaceae and xanthones in Gentianaceae and Gutti]erae. In addition to conclusions concerning systematies, phytogeographic correlations are also presented here. Chapters 12 and 13 are devoted to the chemosystematics of Papilitmoideae (Fabaceae s. str. ). Special attention is paid by Prof. Go~- �9 ~LI~.a to flavonoid compounds in the representatives of the Tephrosieae tribe (Fabaceae), and to metabolic pathways of neolignans and arylpyrones in Aniba (Lauraceae) and the geographic distribution of their representatives containing various types of these compunds. The table of correlations of poUinators from various groups of insects and coloured components of the flavonoids in the flowers of various families is very interesting. The last chapter represents an answer to the question: Is integration of allelochemics, morphology, and ecogeography systematically relevant ? The fact tha t this question is answered positively, even though relatively shortly (only 2.5 pages), cannot surprise one after reading the whole book. I t should be stressed that the phytochemieal data are evaluated statistically, opening a new view on fundamental systematic and taxonomic con- oaptions and ecological applications. The value of the book, small in size and extent, but dense in its content, is increased by the li terature cited with references mostly quite up to date and sometimes difficult to obtain.

The book represents a great contribution to the modern approach to phytosystematic problems and, certainly, many of Professor GO~rLtEB'S deductions will be reflected in the classification and the systematics of Angiospermae.

JA~r ToMAto