NOTICES OF BOOKS. 93 
long, which to your all-learnedly botanical eye, will be a sufficient de- 
scription. The plant from which I plucked this flower is about seven 
feet high, and covers, I should think, a circumference of twenty feet.” 
These flowers prove that we are correct in referring the plant to 
Aralia, in the larger sense of the genus. The fruit is still a desidera- 
tum; but Sir John Bowring has our grateful thanks for the way in 
which he (and we must not exclude his son) has elaborated the history 
of this previously unknown plant. 
NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
INDEX Fiticum; a Synopsis of the Genera of Ferns, with their Charac- 
ters, and an Enumeration of the Species, with their Synonyms, Refer- 
ences, etc. etc. ; by Tuomas Moors, F.L.S., etc. 
Last month we announced a ‘ Nomenclator Filicum,’ from the pen of 
a German author, Dr. J. W. Sturm, of Niirnberg (see p. 60), and now 
we have the pleasure to publish the notice of a work of similar import, 
an ‘Index Filicum’ of our own country. Mr. Moore issues the fol- 
fowing ProsPxcrus, and Specimens or EXAMPLES :— 
“The acknowledged want of some recent enumeration of Ferns, 
showing the relation between their old and new names, and embodying 
the modern principles of classification, led the publisher some time 
since, to project a volume of convenient bulk and of moderate price, 
which should supply this want. 
* In undertaking the somewhat difficult task of preparing such an 
enumeration, the author proposed to himself an extension of the ori- 
ginal design, by adding—(1) A complete series of index-like refer- 
ences to the most useful general publications already existing on this 
subject, especially those of Swartz, Willdenow, Sprengel, Presl, Kunze, 
Hooker, and Fée; (2) References to figures whensoever practicable ; 
and (3) An indication of the geographical distribution of the species. _ 
* On this basis considerable progress has been made during the last - 
few months, in the collection and arrangement of materials for the work. - 
The time has therefore arrived at which the publisher may announce - 
his intentions, and the author may venture to solicit the aid of bota- _ 
nists in the execution of his task. In particular, he would solicit in- _ 
formation or materials which may throw light on such of the species in ; 
