273 



any one of the dififerent organs in which it has been stored for 

 future use; or, with many plants, in the roots, soon after its 



absorption from the soil. 

 \ Hand-book of 



J 



AgavecB. By J. G. Baker, F.R.S., F.L.S. 8vo., pp. 216. 

 London. George Bell & Sons, 1888. Price five shillings. 



VVe have been accustomed for many years to see occasional 

 descriptions of new species and monographs of genera oi this 

 most beautiful order of plants from the pen of Mr. Baker. These 

 he has now brought together in the form of a compact hand-book, 

 suitable alike for botanists and florists, much on the plan of his 

 recent "Hand-book of the Fern Allies." The three tribes, 

 Amarylleae, Alstromeriese and Agaveae, are treated in detail ; the 

 other two are omitted, having recently been carefully mono- 

 graphed in the Journal of the Linnsean Society and the Journal 

 -DOtany. Sixty-one genera and about €\yi hundred and seventy 

 species are described. The genera are just equally divided 

 between the Eastern and Western Continents, thirty in each, with 

 Crinum cosmopolitan. The United States genera are Zephyran- 

 tkes, with four species, Z. aurea, S. Wats., becoming Z. longifolia. 



H. 



\ Crinum^ with one, C. Americamim, L. ; Hyvunocallis, 

 Caymancnsis, Herb. (Curtiss, N. A. Plants, No. 2830 ; 

 ^Vright, Plantae Cubanae, No. 3245), H. crassifolia, Herb., H. 

 Galvastonensis (Herb.), Baker (Texas, Drummond, 370, 41 

 E- Hall, 630), H. Palmeri and //. hnmilis, S. Wats., and H. lacera, 

 ^alisb., and Agave, with twelve species. Each genus is preceded 

 hy an analytical key, rendering it easy to reach any species. The 

 "ook is printed in clear type, on good paper, and neatly bound. 

 It should be found in every working botanists' library, as its low 

 price puts it within the reach of all. . N. L. B. 



On the Presence of Sexual Organs in JEcidiuin. By George 



Massee. (Annals of Botany, ii , 47-51 ; one plate.) 



Mr. Massee announces a discovery which, if found constant in 



tlie species, is entirely unexpected and will set mycologists a new 



Jine of research. It appears that the Uromyces Foae, Rab., believed 



^'^ be a stage in the life history of the cluster cups found on 



