Etlingera of Borneo
By Alex Dalberg Poulsen – (2006)
263 pages; matt art paper, with 209 colour photographs, 1 water colour, 2 monochrome standard photos, 11 monochrome micro-photos, 6 monochrome drawing, 39 monochrome botanical plates, 2 main maps, 39 species distribution maps & 2 tables.
Hard Cover: 26cm x 18.5cm.
ISBN: 983-812-117-7
Natural History Publications (Borneo) Sdn. Bhd. in association with Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK.
Gingers always catch the eye of naturalists and plant enthusiasts the world over whenever they are encountered. They really are among the most interesting of all plants. The genus Etlingera of the ginger alliance is no different and in fact probably among the most interesting genera of the Asian gingers.
This fine book vividly brings to life the diversity both vegetative and floristically of the Bornean species ofEtlingera and expertly explores those species beyond the traditional borders of a botanical monograph. The opening pages provide an introduction to the history of the genus and its early botanical workers, approximate numbers of species, global distribution, vegetative and floristic characters of the genus, ecology, reproductive biology, ethnobotany and conservation.
A key to the 40 species, 1 subspecies and 1 variety recognized in Borneo at the time of writing is provided before a detailed treatment of each species. Among the 42 taxa covered, 16 of the species, 1 subspecies and 1 variety are all scientifically described as new in the book.
Each species has its scientific name, author when and where published, type collection, synonymous names, a very detailed description, local names and ethnobotanical usage, etymology, ecology and habitat, distribution, conservation status and lists of botanical collections studied closing with any miscellaneous notes and observations. The individual species are illustrated with few to many high quality photographs of flowers and diagnostic leaf features. Each species also has a botanical illustrated plate. Although, quite surprisingly, the newly proposed in this book, E. velutina subsp. longipedunculata and E. brachychila var. vinosa, are not illustrated botanically.
This book is beautifully illustrated throughout with fine quality photos and illustrations and almost all photos are taken in the field and some of note include, at least 5 shots of Arachnothera longirostra (Little Spiderhunter) foraging and pollinating E. elatior, E. fimbrobracteata and E. megalocheilos.
This excellent work is more than just a botanical monograph it is a comprehensive study of the Bornean species inside and out, covering all aspects from history and taxonomy to culinary and medical usage to pollination and conservation. Any botanist, naturalist, horticulturalist and or medical plant practitioners will find this book very useful and highly informative and I cannot recommend it enough.
Rod Rice
Principal Reviewer
Nature & Travel Books