Leitfaden der Pollenbestimmung für Mitteleuropa und angrenzende Gebiete by Hans-Jürgen Beug

As stated in the preface, this book is the result of a long-term project which was originally proposed to the author by Firbas in 1957, but could not be completed before the author’s retirement in 1997. It is a comprehensive monograph for the determination of today’s pollen flora of Central Europe and adjacent regions. There is a short introduction comprising several hints to the user, remarks on methodology and nomenclature, a list of terms and abbreviations, a list of “exotic” taxa which have additionally been included and, finally, determination keys for pollen sculpture and pollen classes (“Pollenklassen”). Except for the references and a systematic index, the remainder of the book is devoted to the systematic determination of dispersed pollen. The pollen types are primarily sorted according to familiar gross-morphologically determined pollen classes (e.g. Polyadeae, Tetradeae, Monocolpatae, Tricolporatae etc.). Within the pollen classes, a detailed key (including size, details of morphology, wall structure and sculpture) leads to a determination. Because extant dispersed pollen frequently cannot unequivocally be assigned to a distinct taxon, the detailed key mostly leads at least to genera, groups of species or comparative species, or even distinct species. All of the distinct pollen types and their most important light microscopical characters are individually characterized in detail and figured in a total of 120 plates. The photographs and plates are of high quality. On the one hand, it is regrettably that determination of the pollen types is solely based on characters observed using light microscopical methods, and SEM has not been applied. However, the vast majority of routine work on pollen analysis is still undertaken using light microscopy, and this may therefore be an advantage! This book is highly recommended to anybody working on Late Neogene, Quarternary and extant dispersed pollen of Central Europe and adjacent areas.

It is a slight disadvantage that the book is completely written in German, but it can none-the-less serve as a comprehensive atlas to those not fluent in the language.

Hans-Jürgen Beug is the retired head of the Institut für Palynologie und Quartärwissenschaften of the Georg August-Universität Göttingen (Germany) and has a long ranging record of academic duties and research in Quarternary palynology.

“Leitfaden der Pollenbestimmung für Mitteleuropa und angrenzende Gebiete“ was published in February 2004 by Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, Munich. 542 pages, 29 figures, 12 tables, 120 plates, 245 x 175 mm. Price 90 €. ISBN 3-89937-043-0.