A New Edition A.G. Floyd's Classic
Review: Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia
Scientists and nature-lovers in New South Wales and Victoria have long anticipated a revision of this rainforest classic, first published in 1989. The diversity of tree species found in rainforests can make first attempts at identification daunting, but here is a tool to help break down this barrier and understand where and why rainforest species occur in south-eastern Australia. This volume is an essential addition to the bookshelf of any rainforest enthusiast.
Introduction
The introduction describes biogeography, ecology and structural aspects of the rainforests, then the general features of the trees themselves - including a stunning array of bark and trunk variants illustrated with colour photographs. A glossary of botanical terms also demonstrates important fruit types and flower arrangements photographically with line drawings of leaf shapes. Keys permit identification of specimens from leaf characteristics.
Tree Descriptions
Tree descriptions make up the bulk of the book, and are encyclopaedic. Species are arranged in family groups, assisting an understanding of taxonomic relationships.
The layout of the descriptions follows that in the previous edition and includes notes on nomenclature (trade names reflecting the author's forestry bent), botanical description useful both in the field and for herbarium specimens, habitat, distribution, timber and uses and regeneration. Line drawings illustrate leaves and fruit.
Updates in the Current Edition
A number of new species have been discovered in the regions covered by the book, and its scope has been increased slightly to include some of the taller shrubs. The daunting task of incorporating substantial taxonomic changes into this volume has been accomplished.
The distribution data, including as it does land tenure detail that has been overhauled dramatically as State Forests have been converted to National Parks and Nature Reserves in recent times, has been revised in what may have been the trickiest task in the revision process. The result has been imperfect and the occurrences as described must be understood to be incomplete. Only the specialist would need such detail, however.
New experience in propagating native rainforest trees has accumulated to support a growing interest in the restoration of rainforest landscapes. Floyd's original germination data has been augmented with contributions from other local experts, including the publishers, to produce a valuable and comprehensive reference for the regeneration of most of the species.
Other Comparable References
This volume complements Rainforest Trees and Shrubs (Harden. G., McDonald, B. and Williams, J., 2006. Gwen Harden Publishing, Nambucca Heads), also a recent revision. Those lucky to live in the overlap zone (the latter publication covers central and south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales) have the benefit of the added detail of Floyd to add to the generally easier-to-use identification guides and superior line drawings of Harden et al. In New South Wales, add the Royal Botanic Gardens Plantnet website for botanical technicalities and any venture into rainforest plant identification could hardly be better supported.
The Author
Alex Floyd has been actively interested in trees all his life, including a forestry career in Papua New Guinea and New South Wales. In his "retirement", he has continued to curate a regional herbarium and botanic gardens. In 2008, he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to botany and conservation. He is renowned for the generosity with which he shares his expertise.
Details
Floyd, A.G., 2008. Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia. Revised edition. Terania Rainforest Publishing, Lismore. ISBN 9780958943673 (hardback).
Available from the publishers.
Cover: Rainforest Trees
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