* 
362 
in more than one way. The following new species are described 
in the present fascicle : Ranunculus cuiosus, Coptis venosa, Delphin- 
ium Oreganum, Aconitum bulbiferum, Roripa Columbiae, Arabis 
furcata, A. Koeleri, Lepidium reticulatum, Silene Gormani, Alsine 
Simcoet, Montia humifusa, Sidalcea virgata, Geranium Oreganum, 
Limnanthes gracilis, L. pumila and L. floccosa. 
In the whole fascicle, only six varieties are acknowledged. 
All others are raised to specific rank. The course taken is, 
jn general, in the right direction. A form that can be well be de- 
fined is better regarded as a species, but has not Prof. Howell 
overdone the matter? If all the rest were made species, why 
leave those six as varieties ? . 
In raising the varieties to specific rank, Prof. Howell has in 
most cases, preserved the varietal names, but Rawunculus occiden- 
tahs Lyallii becomes R. Greenei, Nasturtium terrestre occidentalis 
Wats. becomes Roripa Pacifica, Silene Douglasit brachycalyx Robin- 
son becomes S. Columbia, Arenaria Fendleri subcongesta becomes 
A. Burkei, for what reason is not apparent. 
The sequence is, with some modification, the same as that in 
the Synoptical Flora, and the general arrangement, keys, etc., are 
somewhat similar. Synonyms are given whenever the author's 
nomenclature differs from the generally accepted one. 
P; As mm 
Synoptical Flora of North Amerwa: Vol. I. Part I. Fascile Il. 
Polypetalae from the Caryophyllaceae to the Polygalaceae. By 
Asa Gray, LL.D., continued and Edited by Benjamin Lincoln 
Robinson, Ph.D., with the collaboration of William Trelease, 
Se.D., Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden ; John Merle 
Coulter, Ph.D., Professor of Botany in the University of Chi- 
cago; and Liberty Hyde Bailey, M.Sc., Professor of Horticul- 
ture in Cornell University. (Issued June 10, 1897.) 
The prompt appearance of another fascicle of this important 
work is a gratifying reminder of the continuous activity which, 
under notably capable direction, steadily draws nearer the goal 
sought by the ample enterprise and high abilities of Dr. Gray. 
The two sections of the work first issued were published by 
Dr. Gray in 1878 and 1884, being part I. of volume II. and part 
II. of volume I. comprising the entire Polypetalae. After an in- 
