Wilde, Willem J.J.O. de, Brigitta E. E. Duyfjes, Pauline Dy Phon, Youleang Peou, Sovanmoly Hul, Satoshi Koi and Masahiro Kato: Lyhthraceae- Podomastemaceae. 2024. (Faune et Flore Tropicales, 52). illus. 332 p. Paper bd.

This volume is the 37th issue of the Flora of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
and the second to integrate the Tropical Fauna and Flora series. It
gathers the treatments of 2 medium sized families which are quite well diversified in the area. The first one comprises mainly woody species,
contrary to the second one which is highly specialized in aquatic life.

Lythraceae comprise about 700 species distributed worldwide,
most of them living in the tropics. Several species-rich genera in
Southeast Asia occur in the CLV area, among which Lagerstroemia, best represented with 22 species (out of 55), a genus known worldwide for
its ornamental qualities. Following the recent APG results, the family has integrated several genera previously included in separate families, like Punica, Sonneratia or Trapa. According to the present updatings,
11 genera and 50 species are presented in this book. Podostemaceae, also a widely distributed family throughout the tropics, comprise about 55 genera and 310 species. In the CLV area, 47 indigenous species
distributed in 11 genera, are described in the present treatment. The general introduction details the original features of these lithophytic aquatic plants, with emphasis on their morphology and ecology.

Both treatments are shaped in the same way: each genus is shortly presented, followed by the detailed description of all species recognized in the area; one distribution map is added for each species and a rich illustration combines line drawings and colour photos, enhancing the beautiful flowers of Lythraceae, while the discreet aquatic Podostemaceae become easy to discover.