Like other areas of the life sciences, conifer biology is going through a reductionist phase, as much of our current intellectual attention focuses on genome sequencing. But the genomics data must eventually be reconciled with its adaptive phenotypic information, and this is only possible if a comparative framework at the whole-organism level is available. The aim of this book is to integrate genomics, evolution and morphology around the time-honored subject of conifer reproduction. This is a challenge given that few conifer lineages (roughly 550 species) survived the Mesozoic era. Few realize that modern conifers are living fossils and their reproductive characters have changed little since.

Presenting the latest thinking and knowledge on conifer reproductive biology, this text provides an essential supplementary text to existing books on plant a primarily angiosperm a biology. It also includes insights into the economic and cultural history of conifers, which lend additional understanding to the current biogeography of this important group of plants. It is suitable as a text for advanced life science students and as a useful reference for professionals in ecology, genetics, forestry, conservation and other related fields in natural resources management.

The chapters that reflect the author's expertise are masterly and I learned much from them. Bringing together this information could not have been done by anybody else.

Professor Philip Barry Tomlinson, Harvard Forest, Harvard University and National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kalaheo, HI, USA.

Presenting the latest thinking and knowledge on conifer reproductive biology, this text provides an essential supplementary text to existing books on plant a primarily angiosperm a biology. It also includes insights into the economic and cultural history of conifers which lend additional understanding to the current biogeography of this important group of plants. It is suitable as a text for advanced life science students and as a useful reference for professionals in ecology, genetics, forestry, conservation and other related fields in natural resources management.

The chapters that reflect the author's expertise are masterly and I learned much from them. Bringing together this information could not have been done by anybody else.

Professor Philip Barry Tomlinson, Harvard Forest, Harvard University and National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kalaheo, HI, USA.

This compendium on conifer reproductive biology is intended as a text supplement for plant biology courses. Such a volume seems timely because knowledge of model flowering plants is expanding so fast that each new plant biology text has less written on conifers than the last. Conifer Reproductive Biology seems needed as a specialized botany reference for life science professionals, graduate students and advanced undergraduates. Its content was chosen for its relevance to those working in life sciences: ecology, evolution, genomics, environmental sciences, genetics, forestry, conservation and even immunology. Its content has also been shaped by a trend towards the integrative study of conifer reproduction.

The chapters that reflect the author's expertise are masterly and I learned much from them. Bringing together this information could not have been done by anybody else. (Professor Philip Barry Tomlinson, Harvard Forest, Harvard University and National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kalaheo, HI, USA)

Conifer Reproductive Biology is a masterful compendium of the literature and a thoughtful diagnosis of what we know (and do not know) about how these fascinating, diverse, and ancient plants reproduce. I recommend it to any and all interested in plant life. (Karl J. Niklas, The Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor of Plant Biology, Dept. of Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA)