2 12 • Rhodora ('October 



ing have been noticed in a brief examination of Miss Eastman's 

 book. Dryoptcris spinulosum, \ar. concordiafuim, Eastman, and 

 Aspidium spinulosuvi, var. concordianitm, Eastman {^=Nephr odium 

 spinulosum, var. concordiatmm, Davenport), Aspidium margi/Ki/e, forma 

 Davenportii, Eastman (without synonymy but figured and doubtless 

 relating to Nephrodium margina/e, forma Dai'enportii, Eloyd), and 

 Aspidium pitisfordense, Eastman {Dryopteris pitisforderisis, Slosson, 

 Niphrodimn pittsfordense^ Davenp.). The introduction of such new 

 binomials and trinomials in popular works, and unaccompanied by 

 complete synonymic citation, although sometimes difficult to avoid, is 

 always unfortunate. When such names are so published, however, 

 the author will do well to distinguish them clearly either by the use 

 of different type (preferably full face) or still better by employing 

 the customary abbreviations, n. sp.,n. var., n. comb., or n. nom. The 

 importance of thus clearly indicating new names is little appreciated 

 by popular authors and, indeed, by some technical writers as well. 

 Yet no small amount of our present nomenclatorial confusion has 

 arisen through negligence in just such matters, a form of carelessness 

 or possibly in some cases a false modesty, which has often led to the 

 oversight of names until long after others have become established. 



Botrychium tenehrosum, A. A. Eaton, is appended to B. matricari- 

 aefoliion. We believe it to be rather a shade form of B. sitnplex^ 

 from which, in fact, it seems to possess no clearly marked distinction, 

 the position and emarginate nature of the sterile frond being highly 

 variable even in plants of the same colony. 



The chief fern-allies are also described and figured. It may be 

 noted that the plant illustrated as Lycopfldimn compianatum is Mr. 

 Fernald's well marked VAx\QXy flabclliformc. 



The illustrations are half-tone plates, attractive and sufficiently 

 clear for recognition. But although a very fine screen has been used 

 and the printing of the plates is irreproachable the process is not 

 entirely satisfactory for the objects represented. The venation, for 

 instance, rarely comes out with distinctness. — B. L. R. 



Vol. 6, JVo. 6g, inclndi no; passes rSi-rg6^ 7oas issneii September 21, 11^04. 



