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Lichens (Shire natural history) (Paperback)

by Jack R. Laundon (Author)

3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)

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Product details

Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: Shire Publications Ltd; 1st edition (Sep 1986)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0852638116
ISBN-13: 978-0852638118
Product Dimensions: 20.2 x 14.2 x 0.6 cm

Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 188,350 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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3.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)

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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too technical for the layman. Might suit a student., 2 Nov 2003

By	Sally-Anne "mynameissally" (Leicestershire, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

According to a note on the back of this book, the Shire Natural History series "aims to fill the gap between brief guides of general interest and full-length books for the specialist". They are "... written by experts for the interested layman". I was a bit disappointed with the book. Most of it is too technical and just packed solid with Latin names.

It is set out logically enough and gets off to a good start by explaining how lichens are a species of fungus associated with a species of alga or sometimes cyano-bacteria, and occasionally both in a sort of lichen chimera. Fascinating stuff! If only the whole book had been written as clearly and interestingly as the introduction. There are lots of photographs of different types of lichens. There are diagrams, maps and tables. Subjects covered include: methods of reproduction, habitats, effects of pollution, how to collect and identify lichens. It really should be a riveting read.

Jack Laundon, the author, clearly loves his lichens but somehow has almost managed to make the subject seem dry and uninteresting. This book needs to be rendered down into plain English. It would be improved by a glossary at the very least. Some of the tables and a map of pollution zones could do with some further explanation. He tantalisingly skims over areas of enormous interest, leaving you wanting to know more. For example: " ... they are amongst the most ancient forms of life, similar organisms being known from Pre-Cambrian times when they played a vital part in the formation of gold." That's all he says on the subject. Perhaps, because all these Shire Natural History books are no more than 24 pages (the ones I've read so far at least), he felt there was insufficient space for interesting stuff when there were sooooo many Latin names that absolutely had to be crammed in.

It rates three stars because I think it might suit students studying lichens, possibly at AS or A level. It assumes too much prior knowledge and technical vocabulary to really suit the layman at whom it's supposed to be aimed.

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