1911] Book Review 15 
place in this section of the state in addition to the one described above, 
and in both of these localities it was found very sparingly. 
The only other species of Botrychium from Tennessee represented 
in the herbarium is B. virginianum (L.) Sw. There are specimens 
from each of the grand divisions of the state, and the writer has 
gathered it near Knoxville. The plant now classified as B. obliquum 
var. dissectum (Spreng.) Clute is reported by Gattinger in his Flora of 
Tennessee as occurring with these two, but there are no specimens of 
this variety in his collection which forms a part of the university 
herbarium.— Ernest SHaw ReynoLDs, University of Tennessee, 
Knoxville, Tennessee. 
AN Important PUBLICATION ON LicHENS.— New England botan- 
ists who would like to have some knowledge of our lichens, but who 
have been prevented by lack of literature will welcome the publication 
of Prof. Bruce Fink’s “Lichens of Minnesota.” ! The work consists 
of a general introductory account of the structure and reproduction 
of lichens, followed by a descriptive catalogue, furnished with copious 
keys, and illustrated with photographs of unusual excellence. Each 
species is described at some length, and notes as to habitat and geo- 
graphical range are added. It should be understood, however, that 
this is not a popular handbook, doing for the lichens what Dr. Grout’s 
serviceable “Mosses with a Hand-Lens” does so well for that group. 
Prof. Fink has not intended to prepare a popular work, and it is 
doubtful if such a book would be satisfactory, since the classification 
of lichens must necessarily be based upon microscopic characters. 
Unless he has access to an herbarium, the path of the beginner in 
the study of lichens is not an easy one, at best, but with a microscope 
at one’s disposal, with the patience which all scientific work requires, 
and with Prof. Fink’s book, one is better equipped than has ever 
before been the case. Of the 439 species and varieties found in 
Minnesota, over 300 occur also in New England, and while there are 
some of our familiar New England lichens which do not extend so 
far west as Minnesota, the work is the most convenient manual 
available for students throughout the northeastern states. For the 
specialist this publication is of great significance, as it represents the 
culmination of fourteen years of careful work, with the matured 
views of Prof. Fink concerning the considerable number ofj'species 
which he treats.— L. W. RrppLE, Wellesley College.; 
1 Fink, Bruce. The Lichens of Minnesota. Contributions from the U. S. 
National Herbarium, vol. 14, part 1, pp. 1-269, with 51 plates and 18 text-figures. 
Published by the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., June 1, 1910. A few 
copies may be obtained from the Superintendent of Public Documents, Government 
Printing Office, Washington, D. C., at fifty cents each. 
