Leitfaden der Pollenbestimmung – für Mitteleuropa und angrenzende Gebiete BEUG, Hans-Jürgen: 2004. Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil [in German) – 542 pp., 120 plates, 29 figures, 12 tables, numerous identification keys. 24.5 x 17.3 cm. Hard cover. ISBN 3-89937-043-0 Euro 90.00 

Anyone interested in identification of powdered drugs, from experts to advanced undergraduates, should have a copy of Beug's book on their shelf. The characters of the pollen grains are very informative and useful for identification of all powdered drugs that contain mature flowers. These are all drugs "Flos" "Inflorescencia" and even "Herba" collected in flower such as Herba Adonidis, Herba Betonicae, Herba Fumariae, Herba Hyperici, Herba Herniariae, Herba Leonuri, Herba Marrubii, Herba Meliloti, Herba Polygoni avicularis, etc.

In addition to the discriminative characters of the powdered drugs recognising the pollen grains present is a reliable method for absolutely sure identification. All you need to do is prepare a microscope slide of the drug with some glycerine and a dye, e.g. fuxin and look it through the microscope, (for more precise identification the acetholysis method is better). And of course you need an identification book.

Beug's is the ideal identification book for such purpose. Even non-German speaking readers will manage perfectly. The keys are arranged in a very friendly way based on the pollen morphology – apertures and sculpture with size data. Each chapter encapsulates the most up-to-date knowledge available about 568 different pollen types of central Europe and adjacent areas. The excellent high-resolution microscopic figures presented on 120 plates provide a good visual reference to compare the pollen grains.

The introduction to this book provides the reader with important fundamental information. This includes protocols for preparation of pollen slides with some specific techniques, secrets and 'tricks-of-the trade' as well as some valuable advice for microphotography; a brief glossary of pollen and spore terminology; nomenclature remarks; key to the sculpture types with excellent illustrations. Thus, even those with little experience of pollen identification may use the book.

The core of the book reviews the pollen types (here are listed as examples some of the remedial plants) as follows: In the monocolpate group can be found pollen grains of important medicinal monocotyledons such as Asparagus officinalis, Iris spp. div. Acorus calamus, Polygonatum verticillatum, Convalaria majalis,

Allium spp. div. The syncolpate group includes pollen grains of Berberis vulgaris and Myrtus communis amongst others. In the dicolpate group are the pollen grains of Tamus communis. The tricolpate and tricolporate groups are largest. There the sculpture is important to distinguish the pollen grains. The tricolpate group of psilate, scabrate and verrucate pollen grains includes the pollen grains of Adonis vernalis, Aconitum spp., Viola odorata-type, Gratiola officinalis, Vinca minor, Convolvulus arvensis, Papaver rhoeas etc. The tricolporate group of psilate, scabrate and verrucate pollen grains includes the Apiaceae family, Polygonum bistorta and P. aviculare, Solanum nigrum and S. dulcamara, Filipendula spp. etc. The clavate, bacculate and gemmate sculpture characters can be used to distinguish the pollen grains of Geranium spp., Linum spp. and Viscum album. The echinate sculpture is typical for Asteraceae family, and Valleriana officinalis, while reticulate sculpture characterises the pollen grains of Brassicaceae, many Fabaceae members, Verbascum spp., Hypericum perforatum. The group of stephanoapertures (zonoapertures) situated only in the equator includes pollen types of remedial plants as follows: Stephanocolpate Lavandula angustifolia, Mentha – type, Prunrella - type, Salvia pratensis – type, S. officinalis – type, Primula veris – type; Stephanocolporate Pulmonaria – type, Citrus spp., Polygala comosa – type, Symphytum spp. In the group of diporate pollen grains can be recognised Colchicum autumnale. Triporate are the pollen grains of Cannabaceae, Moraceae and Urticaceae, stephanoporate – Nerium oleander, and Campanulaceae, periporate – Fumaria spp, Plantago spp., Malvaceae and Caryophyllaceae, Tribulus terrestris and some other remedial plants.

The register or plant name index at the end of the book helps in finding the pollen grains the other way too. Overall, the interested reader will find this account approachable and fascinating. The book is a wonderful tool for teaching of advanced undergraduate level in the field of drug identification.

	Address for correspondence: Ass. Prof. Ekaterina Kozhuharova, MD, PhD Medical University Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy and Botany 2, Dunav, Str. 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria