Icones Orchidearum Austro-Africanum extra-tropicarum; or, figures, with descriptions, of extra-tropical South African Orchids. By HARRY BOLUS, F.L.S Vol. i. Part i. London: W. Wesley & Son. Price £1 1s. Od.

THESE fifty excellent plates and descriptions illustrating the Cape Flora are indeed welcome. The species selected range through the whole order from Liparis to Disa and Pterygodium, and we presume the same arrangement will obtain in subsequent parts. Why does not Mr. Bolus monograph the order in order, a task for which he is eminently qualified, and by which he would confer a still greater boon on botanists throughout the world, as well as on those field-botanists, students, and lovers of nature in South Africa to whom he trusts his book will be of service. Scattered "Icones" are of course all very well where nothing better is to be had, but Mr. Bolus must have ready to hand, or could at any rate procure with comparative ease, the materials for this part of a much-needed "Flora." There is a tradition which the younger botanists have received from their fathers of a continuation of the Flora Capensis, of which, so the story runs, portions have been elaborated by various workers; but, alas! like other great works, it remains, and seems likely to remain, incomplete.

The chief value of the present work consists in the fact that nearly all the drawings are from living specimens. One envies the fortunate workers who can get fresh plants for their dissections; certainly, as the author remarks in the first lines of his Preface, few orders stand more in need of such illustration than Orchids. It is always a tedious, often a highly unsatisfactory or almost hopeless, task to resurrect flowers so complex in detail from a soppy mess. The author, who is also the artist, has done his work admirably; in each case is given, where possible, a sketch of the plant as a whole, while the flower and its parts are very fully illustrated. In few, but rare, cases the dissections are so numerous as to somewhat unduly crowd the plate. The style adopted is that of the Refugium Botanicum, parts only of the drawing being tinted, but quite enough to give an idea of the colour of stem, leaf, flower, lip, or column. This must be cheaper than a coloured plate, and is, we think, otherwise preferable.

Several new species are described; two small Angræcums, a Habenaria, two each of Satyrium and Disa; while that interesting little genus Pachites, which unites the characters of the two last, hitherto monotypic, receives an addition in P. Bodkini,, a solitary specimen of which was found by Prof. Bodkin on the Muizenberg, Cape Peninsula, early in 1890. Further search in the same and succeeding seasons has proved fruitless; a somewhat remarkable coincidence, as Mr. Bolus points out, Burchell having originally found only one specimen of the first species, P. appressa. Kraus found the latter again twenty-four years after Burchell, but, so far as known, it had not been discovered since till quite recently, when Mr. Schlechter, a German botanist and collector who is making an extensive tour through South Africa, came across a couple of plants.

Apropos of the plate of Pachites Bodkini (Tab. 26), we note that the indicating figures 3 and 4 have become transposed, so that the lip is described as "one of the petals," and vice versa. This is the only mistake of the kind we have noticed in looking through the book. Brownleea, another genus of the Disa affinity, but differing in the adhesion of the lateral petals to the odd sepal, and the form of the insignificant lip, is enriched by the description of a new species and its variety, major. Disa itself supplies a larger proportion of Icones than any other genus, tabs. 27-39 being devoted to it, while the subtribe Disea is very predominant.

We can enlighten Mr. Bolus on one point. He says of Pogonia purpurata (t. 12), "the original description was based upon a plant in Sonder's herbarium supposed to have been found in the Magaliesbergen, whence we may infer that it was most probably collected by Zeyher." It has since been found by Mr. Culver, and though Mr. Bolus has not seen any authenticated specimen, he has little doubt of their identity, as Mr. Culver's specimens agree very well with Reichenbach's brief description, and no other Pogonia is known from South Africa. We have in the British Museum Herbarium a Pogonia collected by Zeyher (No. 1584), evidently identical with that figured in the Icones. A. B. RENDLE.

Les Orchidées, manuel de l'Amateur. D. Bois. Paris: Baillière & fils. 1893. 12 mo, pp. viii, 323. Price 4 francs.

MESSRS. BAILLIERE'S "Bibliothèque des Connaissances utiles" contains some useful handbooks, and the one now before us is an addition to their number. Orchids which for many years were to be found only in few collections, have become, in the author's words, "les fleurs à la mode." Orchid amateurs are now legion, and it is on their behalf that M. Bois has interested himself. His book is divided into two parts, the first, Orchids from a botanical point of view, comprising 282 pages; and the second, Orchids from a horticultural point of view, occupying about a score; while at the end is a glossary of technical terms.

In a few short chapters the author gives a brief but clear, and for his purpose sufficiently full, account of the systematic position, morphology, and geographical distribution of the family. Then follows a synoptic table for running down the genera, in which a number of rough explanatory woodcuts will no doubt be a help. After a list, defining the abbreviations of names of botanists and orchidophilists, with one lieutenant-colonel, come two pages of "principal works treating of Orchids," in which we notice some serious omissions. We look in vain for mention of Lindley's works, which, though only to be purchased with difficulty, are generally accessible, and certainly valuable. Reichenbach's Xenia Orchidacea is quoted, but not the Otia Botanica; and "Manual of Orchidaceous Plants (Veitch & Sons), London, 1887" is not an accurate citation of the excellent series of manuals for which Messrs. Veitch are responsible. We fear M. Bois is not up to date in literature; has he not heard of the Orchid Review? and does he

348 D. JOSEPH GOTTLIEB KÖLREUTER'S VORLAUFIGE NACHRICHT.

not subscribe to Miss Woolward's illustrated monograph of Masdevallia, several parts of which have appeared during the last two years? Chapter vi., "Ornamental Orchids," takes up nearly the whole of the book. It is a list of the most ornamental orchids, with such descriptions of the genera and species, and other information, as would interest or help those for whom the book is intended. Hints on cultivation are supplied, and references to figures of the different species. Illustrations are occasionally given, many of which are good, but some not. Useful Orchids" necessarily forms but a short chapter, there being, besides a few drugs, only three worthy of mention, Vanilla, Salep, and Angræcum fragrans, the leaves of which, when dried, "have a very pleasant smell."

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Part ii. begins with a chapter on the monetary value of orchids, from which we learn little, save that in certain years certain orchids have fetched shockingly high prices. We know nothing of orchid cultivation, but should like to have seen more than about sixteen pages devoted to its consideration in a handbook like the present, and fear that some purchasers will feel similarly disappointed. On the whole, however, M. Bois has produced a useful little book, which the publishers have sent out in a handy form.

A. B. RENDLE.

D. Joseph Gottlieb Kölreuter's Vorläufige Nachricht von einigen das Geschlecht der Pflanzen betreffenden Versuchen u. Beobachtungen, nebst Forsetzungen 1, 2, & 3. (1761-1766.) Herausg. v. W. PFEFFER. Leipzig: W. Engelmann. 1893. 8vo, pp. 266. Price 4 Marks.

THIS neat little volume appears as No. 41 of a series entitled "Die Klassiker der exakten Wissenschaften," edited by W. Ostwald, and published by Wilhelm Engelmann. Important and epoch-making works of men like Galileo, Kant, Helmholtz, Berzelius, Lavoisier, and our fellow-countryman, Dalton, form the subject of previous volumes; but among the forty-two that have already been issued we can find only two others of botanical interest, de Saussure's "Chemical Investigations on Plant-life," in two parts. It would have been a worthy recognition of its centenary to have reproduced Sprengel's wonderful book, a work of more general interest and more easily to be comprehended than, for instance, a treatise on the symmetrical polyhedron, or investigations on the radicals of benzoic acid.

Kolreuter was born in 1733, in the Swabian town of Sulz, where twenty-seven years later he produced his first plant-hybrids. Till 1764 he carried on his researches partly at Sulz, partly at Calw, in Würtemberg, in Dr. Achatius Gärtner's garden. From 1764 till his death in 1806 he resided at Carlsruhe as Professor of Natural History. He made many careful experiments and observations on the sexuality and hybridisation of plants, which he describes and discusses in these four tracts. Pfeffer says he was the first to produce plant-hybrids from a scientific point of view, an honour claimed by the authors of the Biographical Index for Fairchild (1719); at any rate, Kolreuter's work on hybridisation

supplied Nägeli with many arguments for his general conclusions, and still forms the basis of the whole question. He was thoroughly convinced of the importance of hybrids in relation to the sexuality of plants, and put beyond doubt the fact of their sexual reproduction, explaining it as clearly as was possible with the methods then at hand. With microscopy still in its infancy, we cannot wonder if some of his observations on the structure and behaviour in fertilisation of the pollen grain led him to adopt incorrect views. He anticipated Sprengel's researches when he emphasised the fact that in many flowers honey-collecting insects disturb the stamens, and are necessary for pollination; and exemplified the principle of reversion when by continued pollination of successive hybrids with pollen from one parent only, he practically reproduced that parent. There is, however, no need to review Kolreuter's work, for which, with its many points of interest, we would refer the student to the present handy edition. A. B. RENDLE.

ARTICLES IN JOURNALS.

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Annals of Botany (dated Sept.: issued Oct.). G. J. Peirce, 'Structure of Haustoria of Phanerogamic Parasites' (3 pl.).-F. 0. Bower, Structure of Axis of Lepidostrobus Brownii Schimp.' (2 plates). R. J. Harvey Gibson, Siliceous deposit in Cortex of Selaginella' (1 plate).-M. T. Masters, Synanthy in Bellis.'E. H. Acton, Changes in Reserve Materials of Wheat on keeping.' -P. Groom, Aleurone-layer of Seed of Grasses.' J. B. Farmer, Nuclear Division in Pollen-mother-cells of Lilium Martagon.' O. Stapf, The genus Trematocarpus.' A. H. Church, A Marine Fungus.'

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Annals of Scottish Nat. Hist. (Oct.). — A. Bennett, 'Flora of East Sutherland.'-J. Roy, 'Scottish Desmidieœ.'

Bot. Centralblatt. (Nos. 39-44). — H. Heiden, 'Anatomische Charakteristik der Combretaceen.'

Botanical Gazette (Sept. 15). C. G. Bessey, Evolution and Classification.'' Botany at the World's Fair.'

Bulletin de l'Herb. Boissier (No. 9). G. Schweinfurth & P. Ascherson, Primitia Flora Marmaricæ.' A. Rodrigue, 'Sur la structure du tégument seminal des Polygalacées.'-L. Radlkofer, Serjania aluligera, S. lateritia, S. didymadenia, spp. nn.-A. Sertorius, 'Zur Kenntniss der Anatomie der Cornacea.'

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Bull. Torrey Bot. Club (Sept.). T. A. Williams, Lichens of the Black Hills.' G. F. Atkinson, Symbiosis in roots of Ophio

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glossacea.-L. H. Pammel, Crossing of Cucurbits.'

Erythea (Oct.).— J. B. Ellis & B. M. Everhart, New W. American Fungi.'-E. L. Greene, Nomenclature.'

Gardeners' Chronicle (Sept. 30). - Casimiroa edulis (fig. 63).(Oct. 7). C. T. Druery, Lastrea montana.'-(Oct. 14). Gladiolus platyphyllus Baker, sp. n.

Irish Naturalist (Oct.). — G. Pim & R. J. M'Weeney, ‘Fungi of Dublin District.'

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Journal de Botanique (Sept. 1, 16). P. Hariot, 'Les Algues d'eau douce d'Islande.' - A. Franchet, Sur quelques nouveaux Strophanthus.' L. Mangin, Sur les composés pectiques.' - N. Patouillard, Quelques Champignons du Thibet.'

Midland Naturalist (Oct.).-J. E. Bagnall, Flora of Warwickshire.-W. B. Grove, Fungi of Abbot's Flora Bedfordiensis.'' Oesterr. Bot. Zeitschrift. (Oct.). A. Nestler, Die Perldrüsen von Artanthe cordifolia.' — L. Celakovský, Morphologische und biologische Mittheilungen.' - L. Linsbauer, Ueber die Nebenblatter von Euonymus.

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R. H. Franzé, Ueber einige niedere Algenformen.'-J. Schuler, Zur Flechtenflora der näheren Umgebung Triests.-J. Murr, Ueber Hieracium pulchrum.'

BOOK-NOTES, NEWS, &c.

THE following American "appreciation" of the portrait of Mr. J. G. Baker (see p. 243) will be read with interest; it is from Meehan's Monthly for September:-" He is represented with some Onoclea-like fern on the table before him, about which he is penning notes. The pleasure it gives to see for the first time the facial outlines of one so much beloved is mingled with regret that his hard labours cannot be softened by the use of a fountain pen instead of an old steel one; and instead of having himself bent down to his work till his body is at a right angle with his legs, and his nose but a few inches from his wrist, some better care for his vital organs have not been provided for. It is well worth some thought and a little expense in improved furniture to add ten or fifteen years to the life of such a useful man as J. G. Baker."

DR. THEODORE COOKE has been appointed Scientific Director of the Imperial Institute. Dr. Cooke has botanised for many years in India, and has been engaged for some time upon a Flora of Bombay.

THE nineteenth part of the Flora of British India brings the enumeration some way into Cyperaceae, on which order Mr. C. B. Clarke has been for some time engaged. The bulk of the part, however, is from the pen of Sir J. D. Hooker, to whose energy and devotion to work must be attributed the steady and satisfactory progress which this important Flora is making. Even in this, however, there must be considerable discrepancy between the earlier and later orders, as the work was begun in 1872, and will hardly be completed for a year or two more. But as contrasted with the Flora Capensis, which, in spite of repeated rumours and promises, remains where it did at Harvey's death in 1866, or even with the Flora of Tropical Africa, which came to a standstill in 1877, the Flora of British India is making rapid way, and its completion is within reasonable distance,