The Genus Betula
A Taxonomic Revision of Birches
Distributed for Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Edited by Martyn Rix and with Drawings by Andrew Brown and Paintings by Josephine Hague
300 pages
|
100 color plates
|
7 x 9 1/2
The stunning Betula, or birch trees, are notoriously difficult to identify despite being one of the major contributors to the beautiful fall foliage famous in eastern North America. With many wrongly named birches appearing in nurseries and arboreta, this new book, the first ever written on the genus, is an important and much-needed work.
The Genus Betula covers all known birches found in North America, Europe, and Asia, along with keys for accurate identification. Chapters include a look at the breeding, cultivation, conservation, and morphology of all species, including several little-known species wonderful for garden and landscape use. The authors present previously unpublished data on recent molecular work and fossils, providing a cytotaxonomic and phylogeographic revision of the Betula genus. The book is accompanied by exquisite specimens of botanical art, including full-color paintings by Josephine Hague, making it a valuable tool for arboriculturists as well as professional and amateur gardeners.
The Genus Betula covers all known birches found in North America, Europe, and Asia, along with keys for accurate identification. Chapters include a look at the breeding, cultivation, conservation, and morphology of all species, including several little-known species wonderful for garden and landscape use. The authors present previously unpublished data on recent molecular work and fossils, providing a cytotaxonomic and phylogeographic revision of the Betula genus. The book is accompanied by exquisite specimens of botanical art, including full-color paintings by Josephine Hague, making it a valuable tool for arboriculturists as well as professional and amateur gardeners.
Garden Design Journal
"'Long-awaited’. . .much-needed as a contemporary review of the whole genus Betula, from both botanical and horticultural perspectives.
Contents
List of Paintings
New Taxa and Combinations
Foreword
Lawrence Banks
Preface
Hugh McAllister
Acknowledgements
List of Photographers
New Taxa and Combinations
Foreword
Lawrence Banks
Preface
Hugh McAllister
Acknowledgements
List of Photographers
1. Introduction
The Appeal of birches
Birches in the wild
The genus Betula
Regeneration and life cycle
Chromosome numbers in Betula
Molecular phylogenetics
Phylogeography and the fossil history of Betula
2. Breeding Systems and Hybridisation
Self-incompatibility, self-compatibility and apomixis
Hybrids and hydridisation in Betula
3. Cultivation
Buying a birch—attractive features
Planting
Pests and diseases
Propagation
4. Conservation
Conservation priorities for Betula
The role of Botanic Gardens in conservation
5. Morphology of Betula
6. Identification and Naming of Birches
7. Taxonomic Treatment
Key to the species of Betula
Note on the choice of characters used in the key
Subgenus Nipponbetula
Section Nipponbetula (Species 1)
Subgenus Asperae
Section Asperae
Subsection Asperae (Species 2–9)
Subsection Chinenses (Species 10–12)
Section Lentae (Species 13–19)
Subgenus Acuminatae
Section Acuminatae (Species 20–23)
Subgenus Betula
Section Dahuricae (Species 24–26)
Section Costatae (Species 27–30)
Section Betula (Species 31–39)
Section Apterocaryon (Species 40–46)
8. Cultivars
Compiled by Paul Bartlett
Glossary
References and Bibliography
Index of Scientific Names
Index of Common Names
Index of Cultivar Names and Hybrids
References and Bibliography
Index of Scientific Names
Index of Common Names
Index of Cultivar Names and Hybrids
For more information, or to order this book, please visit http://www.press.uchicago.edu
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Biological Sciences: Botany
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