VOL. 111 | Recent Literature. 369 
improved if the author had given us some idea of the curvature 
of the throat, the presence or absence of crests. and some indi- 
cation of the shape of the seeds. As these points are usually at- 
tended to in descriptions of Collinsia, their lack leaves few data 
for comparison. In all species where account is made of the seeds, 
the ovules should be numbered instead, as they are usually much 
less variable. It is probably identical with Dr. Kellogg’s C. solitaria, 
which was described from the vicinity of Oakland. No type specimen 
has been found, but the description so far as it goes agrees with the San 
Francisco plant. The original C. sparsiflora was however a coast 
plant collected a short distance above San Franc'sco, and before at- 
tempting to separate species from it, it would be well to examine the 
type which is only too likely to be the same as C., Franciscana. 
In ‘Notes and News’’ Mr. Greene takes occasion to sneer at a 
paper by Professor Coulter and Mr. E. M. Fisher in the November 
number of the Botanical Gazette, on account of the personal names 
bestowed on the new species. It must be admitted that such names 
are not in the best taste, but the remarks thereon come with poor 
grace from the author of Madia Rammit, Clevelandia Beldingit, 
Potentilla Micheneri, Streptanthus Biolettii, Beria Burket Convolvulus 
- Binghamie, Collomia Rawsoniana, etc., etc. Perhaps, however, the 
creator of these names salves his conscience by remembering that 
they are principally synonyms. K. B. 
Contributions from the Botanical Laboratory of the University of 
Pennsylvania. “Vol. i, No. 1. Unlike the usual contributions from 
botanical laboratories, the papers contained in this are largely physi- 
ological. They are: A monstrous specimen of Rudbeckia hirta, by J. 
T. Rothrock; Contributions to the history of Dionea muscipula, by 
J. M. MacFarlane; An abnormal development of the inflorescence of 
Dionzea, by John W. Harshberger; Mangrove tannin, by H. Trim- 
ble; Observations on Epigaa repens, by W. P. Wilson; A nascent 
variety of Brunella vulgaris, by J. T. Rothrock; Preliminary ob- 
servations on movements of the leaves of Melilotus alba and other 
plants, by W. P. Wilson. The volume is enriched with twelve plates. © 
Contributions to the Life Histories of Plants. No. 8. By THOMAS 
Méeuan. Extract from Proc, Philadelphia Academy, 1892. 
This is another of the interesting papers recording observations, 
principally on the fertilization of flowers, of which several previous 
