Review

It is not the custom to review publications not directly pertaining to the Malesian flora. However, as most of the lowland species of grasses have a wide distribution from Africa through India to Malesia and beyond, the value is surpassing the geographical limits of this flora. Firstly, the present work is a thorough updating of a previous treatment of the grasses for Sri Lanka by Seneratna, ‘Grasses of Ceylon’ (1956). Secondly, by having descriptions, it is a useful companion to Bor’s ‘Grasses of Burma, Ceylon, India and Pakistan’ (1960). It is a compilation of contributions by various authors (W.D. Clayton, G. Davidse, F. Gould, M. Lazarides, T.R. Soderstrom), causing a rather variable ‘flavour and phrasing’ retained as best as possible by the final editor.