Parasitic flowering plants
NEW & Recommended by APS PRESS!
By
Henning S. Heide-Jørgensen
Parasitic flowering plants are strikingly impressive and
beautiful and hold many surprises of both general and scientific interest.
Parasites also have great influence on the quality of human life when
attacking crop plants. Some parasites have since early times appealed to our
imagination and have been part of religious or folkloristic events and used
as gifts to royalties. This beautifully illustrated book covers all
parasitic families and most of the genera. It also discusses the
establishment of the parasite, the structure and function of the nutrient
absorption organ (haustorium), and how the parasites are pollinated and
dispersed as well as their ecology, hosts, and evolution. The book is
written in a mostly non-technical language and is provided with a glossary
and explanatory boxes.
Praise for Parasitic Flowering Plants:
"This book finally places parasitic plants in the position they deserve. The
book has a phenomenally broad coverage. It literally bursts with
information, yet does so in an accessible fashion; the various boxes and the
glossary are a real help to the interested amateur. One of the considerable
strengths of the book is the emphasis on ecological connections that are
explored and illustrated. We learn about insects, birds, and mammals that
have significant roles in the lives of parasites. A most important subject
is haustorial structure. It is an essential subject - after all, it is the
defining part, the essence of parasitism. But here again, the author has
produced a remarkably accessible account and he has stradled the line
between popular and academic science very successfully."
-- Job Kuijt, University of Victoria, Canada
"I feel that the author's style gives
consideration to both professional scientist as well as private plant lovers."
-- Hans Christian Weber, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany
“This beautifully illustrated encyclopedia of parasitic plants gives a
fantastic overview of the morphological variety of parasitic plants and
describes and illustrates the adaptations that enable plants to be parasitic.
The illustrations are magnificent and can only make you admire how nature has
created such wonderful creatures almost as if it wants to mask their
mal-intentions. In addition to the wonderful illustrations the book reviews
important aspects of plant parasitism such as the physiological mechanisms, the
ecology and the putative evolution of parasitism in plants. Hence, the book is a
rich source of facts and need-to-knows about parasitic plants and therefore will
be a valuable handbook for scientists and a fine introduction to parasitism in
plants for non-scientists.”
-- Harro J. Bouwmeester, University of Wageningen, The Netherlands
Contents
Preface by Job Kuijt
Author's Preface
Chapter
1: Introduction
What is a parasitic plant?
Parasite 'look alikes'
Types of parasites and some definitions
The haustorium
A parasitic gymnosperm
How many plants are parasitic?
History of research in parasities
Chapter 2: Hemiparasitic Santalales
Olacaceae
Schoepfiaceae
Opiliaceae
Loranthaceae
Misodendraceae
Eremolepidaceae
Santalaceae
Viscaceae
Summary
Chapter 3: Hemiparasitic families other than Santalales
Krameriaceae
Cassytha (Lauraceae)
Cuscuta (Convolvulaceae)
Hemiparasitic Orobanchaceae
Chapter 4: Holoparasitic families
Holoparasitic Orobanchaceae
Cynomoriaceae
Lennoaceae
Mitrastemonaceae
Apodanthaceae
Cytinaceae
Rafflesiaceae
Hydnoraceae
Balanophoraceae
Chapter 5: Establishment of the parasite
Haustorial development
The mature haustorium
Physiology
Chapter 6: Host ranges and various ecological aspects
of parasitism
Host specificity
Host reactions and defence
Relations to non-host organisms
Vegetation ecology
Chapter 7: Harmful parasites and control methods
Parasitic plants in agriculture
Parasites in forestry and orchards
Chapter 8: Ecology and evolution
Evolution of parasitism in dicots
Phylogeny
Nature conservation
Glossary
Selected literature
List of photographers
Index
2008; hardcover; 442
pages; More than 500 color photographs;(4 pounds); Item No. 67506
