OPTIMA Newsletter 38

three new Potentilla species published by
Micevski in a precursory paper, in 1996).
Sadly Kiril Micevski, the initiator of
this important work and author of a large
majority of treatments, died in 2002, shortly
after tome 5 was published (see item 124,
below). Vlado Matevski, who edited and
partly authored the text of tome 6, has had to
assume Micevski’s role. We wish him every
success as well as all the support he may
need to bring this important new national
Flora to completion.
W.G.
32. 31BJani VANGJELI, Babi RUCI, Alfred
MULLAJ, Kolë PAPARISTO & Xhafer
QOSJA – Flora e Shipërisë, 4. – Akademia
Shkencave e Republikes se Shqipërisë,
Tiranë, 2000 (ISBN 99927-654-
2-9). 502 pages, 866 figures; paper.
Whereas it is always a pleasure to welcome
the first published parts of a new Flora
and discuss its promise and prospects, it is
infinitely more satisfactory – and definitely
less frequent – to announce completion of
such a work. “Flora e Shipërisë”, Albania’s
first major national Flora, has made it. Congratulations!
The four volumes have been produced
at regular intervals of 4 years. Vol. 1 appeared
in 1988, Vols. 2 and 3 in 1992 and
1996, respectively (see OPTIMA Newslett.
32: (7-8). 1997), followed in 2000 by the
final volume, belatedly presented here. It
covers the last dicot family, Compositae,
and the whole monocots. Jani Vangjeli, already
a member of former editorial teams,
has been heading the present one as the
principal editor.
The basic features of the Flora, naturally,
have remained unchanged. Again,
almost every species is illustrated by a line
drawing, and again these line drawings,
while obviously much reduced in size and
suffering from paper of mediocre quality,
show a good likeness to the portrayed plants.
There are a few exceptions, though, such as
Publications
the figure of Ophrys bombyliflora (p. 457)
that is unrecognisable as such and might
rather represent a caricature of O. apifera.
To gain full use of this work, readers
are advised to learn Albanian. As many, including
myself, will be hard put to follow
this friendly advice, let me venture another
suggestion: that an English translation of the
Flora be produced. With raising prospects of
tourism in Albania, it would certainly sell.
W.G.
33. 32BLoutfy BOULOS – Flora of Egypt. Volume
four. Monocotyledons (Alismataceae-Orchidaceae).
– Al Hadara, Cairo,
2005 (ISBN 977-5429-41-2). XVI + 617
pages, 129 plates of drawings + 52½
plates of colour photographs, map; hard
cover with dust jacket.
One more major national Flora has been
completed. Just as for the previous item it
consists of four volumes in total, with the
monocot treatment in the last. There, however,
similarity ends. “Flora of Egypt” is
written in English, printed on high-quality
paper, generously illustrated with full-page
drawings by outstanding botanical artists
(most by Margaret Tebbs) and colour photographs
of which the majority were taken by
Loutfy Boulos himself. Besides, the flora of
Egypt has little in common with that of Albania.
It is poor in species, especially endemic
ones, and includes high rates of ruderal
and segetal weeds and of tropical elements.
The largest monocot family, Gramineae, has
been further increased by the inclusion of 44
cultivated species, when normally only wild,
indigenous or naturalised taxa are admitted.
As for the third volume (see OPTIMA
Newslett. 37: 72. 2004) the treatments for
several sizeable groups have been contributed
by other authors. In particular, Tom
Cope wrote the text for Gramineae; Brian
Mathew authored Alliaceae and Iridaceae,
the Snogerups Juncus, and Philip Cribbs the
single orchid species occurring in the area,
Epipactis veratrifolia. Their help is certainly
2009 OPTIMA Newsletter No. 38 (21)