Non-geniculate coralline red algae are historically and
biologically fascinating organisms of considerable ecological Importance. Their
taxonomy has been attended by a particularly confused nomenclature, and their
scientific history has been full of controversy and debate. The Museum national
d'Histoire naturelle, in Paris, houses one of the most extensive and taxonomically
and historically important collections of these algae in the world, including
the original specimens of J.-B. LAMARCK, rediscovered during the present study.
For the first time, this huge collection was thoroughly searched for types:
200 were found, catalogued and photographed; and nomenclatural and other information
have been provided for each. The book also includes biographic sketches, handwriting
samples, and portraits of persons from J.-B. LAMARCK (ca 1780) to M. LEMOINE
(ca 1980) whose types are represented at the Museum. It also includes historical
analyses of French-based and French-influenced studies of these algae in the
context of the development of botanical research at the Museum. In addition,
brief biographic notes are provided for over 150 other persons who collected
specimens now housed at the Museum. With over 1000 bibliographic references
and 369 photographic and lithographic plates, this book represents one of the
most significant publications on non-geniculate coralline algae to date and
is deslined to remain a standard reference for phycologists, curators, and historians
of science.
Wm J. WOELKERLING (La Trobe University, Melbourne) and D. LAMY (Museum national
d'Histoire naturelle) are respectively world authorities in non-geniculate coralline
taxonomy and historical aspects of cryptogamic systematics. These two disciplines
are complementary, and the synergistic collaboration of Woelkerling and Lamy
has resulted in a unique, original and extremely important monograph.