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Psammina inflata Earland-Bennett & D. Hawksw. and P. simplex Earland-Bennett & D. Hawksw. are described as new species from coccoid green algae and crustose or leprose lichens in lowland Britain. Additional records and hosts for P. stipitata are reported, and a key to the four species now known in the British Isles is presented. Psammina simplex is the more strongly pathogenic of the species, eventually destroying its hosts. The discovery of these new species adds weight to the view that the genus is more appropriately regarded as a hyphomycete rather than an acervular coelomycete. The size, shape and septation dimensions of the conidial arms were found to be the most reliable characters for species separations in the genus. Pycnopsammina lobariae Diederich & Etayo is also cited from the British Isles for the first time.

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Aimed at the non-specialist' hobby-botanist', this book does not claim completeness; about 74 of 100 European species of fern are illustrated, 228 mosses and liverworts, and 306 lichens. The photography is extremely pleasing. Friends who ask ' What do you see in lichens? ' will have this book placed in their hands, for picture after picture captures the texture, the colour, the design, which make the group aesthetically attractive. The printer is to be congratulated on the general standard of reproduction, the photographer on conveying both the quintessence of his subjects and their diagnostic details, and the author on a broad and representative choice of species. For the rest it is a pocket book, with conservative nomenclature, brief keys and a thumbnail sketch of each species mentioning its morphology, ecology, and the species or groups with which it may be confused. Macrolichens naturally predominate in the selection but a few of the more photogenic microlichens are included. The book covers central, northern and western Europe and forms a welcome addition to the European lichenologist's bookshelf.