Shape may be regarded as the external contour of an organism, while form describes the three-dimensional arrangement of the component parts. These are distinct yet interdependent concepts, and both are a consequence of development. The forces and processes which determine shape and form in plants and fungi have fascinated botanists and mycologists for centuries; theories abound, yet real understanding remains elusive. The authors in this volume address these matters from a wide variety of different standpoints. The contributions are not an attempt to cover the entire field, but rather a collection likely to stimulate new thought and intellectual excitement. The strength of the volume lies in its diversity of approach and philosophy. Some important themes arise: the creative tension between the holistic and reductionist approaches to analysis of shape and form; the paucity of information on the internal messages and forces which link genome and phenotype; and the potential of research with unicellular plants and with fungi, where the relative simplicity of the systems for study and the increasing availability of the appropriate analytical tools should lead to major advances in understanding. This volume will prove invaluable as a basis for discussion between plant scientists, ecologists and evolutionary biologists at all levels.