and the Dinophyta. The ®nal part, `Part V Evolution of
two membranes of chloroplast endoplasmic reticulum'
contains chapters on the algal groups with four plastid
membranes (two of the chloroplast envelope, and two of
endoplasmic reticulum): the Cryptophyta, the Heterokon-
tophyta (nine chapters) and the Prymnesiophyta. The
Chlorarachniophyta are omitted completely. Separate lists
of references are given at the end of each chapter, and each
chapter has a picture and potted biography of one or more
phycologists renowned for their work on the featured algal
group. At the end of the book is a glossary of terms and an
index. The whole book is profusely illustrated, mostly with
line drawings but also some photographs. Most are clear
and informative, but it must be said that some are
functional rather than pretty and suer from oversimpli®-
cation of shape and perspective. The content of each
chapter is more or less what one would expect in a
textbook: each algal group is discussed with respect to its
cell structure, reproduction, life history, physiology, ecology
and classi®cation, and topics relevant only to one group are
covered in that chapter. Most groups are discussed with
reference to particular example species or genera treated in
some depth