Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club/V11/Botanical Literature

August, 1884, p. 95

 * C. microdontus, Torr., and var. Texensis, Torr., including C. Gatesii, Torr., are refered to C. polystachyus, L., a widely distributed species in the warmer regions of the eastern continent, under the varietal name holosericea;


 * C. fugax, Liebm., of Mexico, becomes var. paniculata of the same species, and C. Nutlalii, (Eddy) Torr., becomes var. filicina, although, as Mr. Clarke remarks, it may best be regarded as a species;


 * the form of the last-named plant described as C. Cleaveri by Dr. Torrey is also made a variety of C. polystachyus, var. Cleaveri;


 * the original specimens from Monmquth Co., N. J., as well as recent ones collected by Mr. C. F. Parker at Cape May, N. J., with various intermediate forms between them and C, Nuttallii, indicate, as Dr. Torrey later suggested, that it is merely a depauperate form of this plant, not worthy of varietal rank.

In these reductions Mr. Clarke follows the ideas of Bœckeler.


 * C. divergens, Chapm., is made C. leucolepis, Carey, MS.
 * C. ambiguus, Liebm, of Mexico, becomes C. Olfersianus, Kunth.
 * C. diandrus, Torr., var. castaneus, Torr., is restored to specific rank under the name C. rivularis, Kunth, a change in which we are not ready to concur.
 * The C. flavicomus, Torr., Mex. Bound. Survey, is referred to C. Hochstetteri, Nees.
 * C. inflexus, Muhl., is C. aristatus, Rottb., a change already noted by Mr. Watson in the Botany of California.
 * C. rotundas, L., a species of tropical distribution, includes var. Hydra, Gray, Manual.
 * C. esculenlus, L., is the older name for C. phymatodes, Muhl., and C. Hermannii, Buckley, (var. Hermanni, Watson) is included by Mr. Clarke.
 * C. Grayii, Torr., is referred to C. setifolius, Torr., we suppose an older manuscript name, having found no such published description of the plant, though it was made a var. setifolius of C. filiculmis. — 

Nov. and Dec., 1884, p. 137
&emsp; The appearance of a work on the Hepaticæ so soon after the publication of the Manual of N. A. Mosses will give students of the Bryophytes great assistance, and, with the author, we hope "that it may serve as a stimulus to more work in this direction, and lay in store material for a more critical examination of this group in the future." &ensp; "No attempt has been made to publish new species, the writer believing that too many have already been described from insufficient data, and considering it far more necessary to set in order those already published." &ensp; The catalogue therefore incorporates all of the work of C. F. Austin so far as accessible, Watson's MS. of Californian Hepaticæ and valuable information gained from Dr. Bolander, Prof. Forbes and others. &ensp; There is a brief introduction on the characters, classification and bibliography, and three appendices on the geographical distribution, Lindberg's classification, and Dumortier's. &ensp; The descriptions are very good, as is also the plan of giving references to descriptions and plates in other works, though a complete synonymy for each species would have been of great value. &ensp; We note the omission throughout of the last n in Jungermannia. &ensp; The author concludes as follows: "It is hoped that persons receiving this work will aid in further critical study of this group by communicating specimens of all forms found in their own localities." — .

&emsp; Under this title, Mr. H. N. Patterson, of Oquawka, Ill., has published, in convenient form for reference, a list of all the systematic names given in Dr. Gray's recently issued Synoptical Flora. &ensp; It will prove of value not only as a check-list, but also as a record of the changes that have been introduced into botanical nomenclature, for consultation by those who do not possess Dr. Gray's work.

&emsp; This is a work which has already appeared in Victoria, New South Wales, India, and several European countries, and which is now revised and still further augmented, for the especial use of North American readers. &ensp; Its object is to bring together in condensed form, and in popular languages, data concerning the characteristics and economic uses of all the principal plants, herbaceous and arboreal, that have been found to prosper in extra-tropical countries, and to point out the particular sections to which they are adapted.

&emsp; At the close of the volume are grouped together all the genera enumerated in the body of the work, according to the products that they yield, thus affording facility for tracing out any series of plants regarding which special information may be sought, or which at any time may prominently engage the attention of the cultivator, the manufacturer, or the artisan. &ensp; There is also an appendix in which are brought together, in index form, the various industrial plants according to their geographic distribution, so as to render it easy to order or obtain the plants of such countries as any settlers, colonists or others may be in relation with through commercial or other intercourse.

&emsp; As a work of reference, this book will prove invaluable to all who are interested in economic botany.