18 



diameter of the stem, whereas, in E Ihnosum the stems are 

 largely fistulose. From E. arvcnse it may be distinguished by 

 the first internode of the branches surpassing little if any the 



th 



The anatomical characters 



still further separate them. In E. littoralc each fibro-vascular 

 bundle or ridge of the stem is encased in a special endodermis, 

 in E. arvense a common endodermis surrounds the exterior of 



the central cylinder. 



If E. littorale is really as rare as reported its geographical dis- 

 tribution can only be accounted for on the ground of hybridi- 

 zation. Without having direct pVoof the author is inclined to 

 consider it a hybrid between E. arvense and E. limosnm ; its 

 characters are absolutely intermediate. He agrees with Milde 



J 



E. G. B. 



Diatomces Fossilcs du Japan. J. Brun and J. Tempere. 

 (Reprinted from Memoires de la Socicte de Thysique et d'His- 

 toire Naturelle dc Geneve. Tome xxx. No. 9.) 



The volume is devoted to the calcareous earths of Sendal and 

 Yedo, and consists of seventy-five pages of text accompanied by 

 nine beautifully executed phototype plates embreicing 135 

 ficnires. Prof Brun, of the University of Geneva, has so long 

 been known as a standard authority upon the Diatomaceae, that 

 this work will be welcomed as a valuable contribution to the 

 literature of the subject. It is worthy of note that some of the 

 species figured occur also in the famous Santa Monica earth. 

 Others are found in the Atlantic City fossil deposit recently 

 described in this journal. 



C. H. K. 



Index to Recent American Botanical Literature. 



Adonis. H. H. Rusby. (Drug. Bull. Nov. 1889. reprinted). 

 Illustrations are given of A. vernalis, A. aiitiimnalis and A. 



cBStiva lis. 



Algarum ex insitla Georgia Australi — Speetes et genera nova, 

 P. F. Reinsch (Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gesellsch. vi. 144-156). 



New species are described in the genera Desmarestia, Polysi- 

 phoiiia, Kalymenia, GraciHaria, Rhodomenia, Delessaria, Nito- 



* • 



