VOL. 5] Recent Literature. 143 



servatism. How thoroughly he differs from the prevailing 

 species-monger may be noted in the following extract from his 

 preface: 



"The beginner should never forget that the same species may 

 be of quite different appearance in different localities. Soil, ex- 

 posure, altitude, humidity, distance from the ocean, influence 

 very greatly the habit and aspect of the plant. Vegetative char- 

 acters (that is characters of the root, stem, foliage, size of the 

 plant or of its various parts, amount of pubescence) vary end- 

 lessly in many plants. Hence it is well to rely chiefly upon the 

 reproductive organs, namely the flower and the fruit, rather than 

 upon merely vegetative characters. 



The variation of the plant from its normal appearance may 

 often be correlated with its situation, at least as to the vegetative 

 features. The following classes of localities may be noted under 

 this head: 



1. Near the ocean a species is often more depressed or con- 

 densed than in the interior, and more fleshy. 



2. In swamps or wet soils the plant tends to become succulent 

 and of ranker growth, and also glabrous. 



3. In valley soils the growth is commonly much more rank 

 than elsewhere. 



4. On hilltops plants tend to become dwarf and acaulescent; 

 often far more pubescent also. 



5. In saline or subsaline soil the stems and foliage in many 

 species are far more vigorous and the flowers larger than on stiff 

 clays or adobes. 



6. In shady woods leaves become thinner and larger, often 

 conspicuously so. 



7. At high altitudes the flowers are larger in proportion to 

 stature and brighter in color." 



The following new species and named varieties appear in the 

 work — the grasses by Mr. J. Burtt Davy, the others by Prof. 

 Jepson: Agropyrum "arem'colum" , Elymus pubescens, E. hispi- 

 d/t/us, E. glaucns Jepsoni, E. g. breviaristatus, E. g. maximus, 

 E. divergens, E. angustifolius, E. a. caespitosus, Thelypodium 

 Greene i, Ceanothus purpurea, Cotyledon Plattiana, C. laxa Setch- 



