'In summary, this is an excellent volume that I recommend without reservation to the biologist in all disciplines. It s rare to find a text of this nature that makes truly enjoyable reading. Not only is this volume packed with useful information, but it also conveys much of the enthusiasm and motivation of the authors in the pursuit of the advancement of science. As such it makes compelling reading in this volume would be an asset to any scientific library.' Annals of Botany 89:4 (2002)