Subtitled The Past and Present Use of Wild Plants in Ireland, this attractively produced and well illustrated book is a phenomenal compilation of information relating to the uses of more than 50% of the 925 native plant species in Ireland. The lion's share of the book consists of a systematic list of the ethnobotanical uses of plants in the very broad sense – including flowering plants, conifers, ferns and fern allies, algae, fungi, lichens, mosses and liverworts. This list is preceded by an introduction to historical plant use, thematic chapters about use in construction and handicrafts, food, medicine (including veterinary uses), horticulture and symbols, chapters on tropical drift seeds and fruits, introduced plants and vernacular names in Irish, Yola (an extinct dialect of Middle English from Co. Wexford) and Shelta (the Travellers' ‘cant’). The book ends with appendices of Irish plant names as place name elements and Irish names from two 18th Century lists with their equivalent botanical names, a glossary, bibliography and indices of common (English) and botanical names. The systematic list is organised alphabetically by genus and species. Individual entries include English and Irish common names (where these exist), family, status (native, introduced), symbols relating to the different uses, toxicity, notes on the commonness and distribution and a description of uses to which the species has been put. Some species (e.g. Aethusa cynapium and Anisantha sterilis) are included even though no ethnobotanical uses have been noted in Ireland. Representing a huge amount of work over many years, this book will surely be an important work for people interested in ethnobotany, not just in Ireland, but throughout Western Europe, at a time when much information about traditional uses is being lost.
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 Book Reviews
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