Biosystematics in the Nordic Flora. Proceedings of a symposium held at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on the occasion of the centenary of Bergius Botanic Garden, Stockholm University, August 27-29, 1985. Publ. 1986. (Symbolae Bot. Upsalienses, XXVII:2). illustr. 256 p. gr8vo. Paper bd.

In 26 papers, this book gives a survey of current biosystematic research in wild plant groups of the Nordic flora. Biosystematics is taken in a broad sense, dealing with evolution, speciation and differentiation in vascular plants, including aspects from immigration history to population ecology, as well as studies on variation and hybridization in various Scandinavian species groups. The majority of the authors are from the Scandinavian countries, some from other European countries. Among plants dealt with are genera as Helianthemumof the island of Oeland in the Baltic, Euphrasia in Sweden, Cochleariain Norway, many grass genera, particularly from alpine-subalpine environments (Deschampsia, Festuca, Poa) and traditionally difficult groups as Carex and Alchemilla. There is a discussion about how to judge newcomers in our flora in relation to established species, about hybridization as a criterion of species limits. Among methods dealt with are morphometrics handled by multivariate analysis, enzyme electrophoresis of karyotypes and biochemical variation. The papers are extensively illustrated and give numerous references to modern literature on the subject.