352 NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
works; to which several new species are added by Dr. Steudel himself. 
On this aecount we hailed its appearance: but it cannot be expected 
that the author has been in a condition, by severe study and the in- 
spection of numerous collections, to undertake a critical investigation 
of the merits of the respective species of authors. We have noticed 
(in our Vol. VI. p. 256) the vast augmentation of species, or supposed 
species, of Paspalum and Panicum. Other genera of Graminee show a 
like increase. ~ 
In the Second Part, Cyperus counts 673 species (!); Isolepis, 200; 
Fimbristylis, 191; Scleria, 149; Carex, 800 (and these do not include 
the new species known but to, but as yet unpublished by, Dr. Boott) ; 
Eriocaulon, 209 species. Each part concludes with a full index of 
genera and species. 
KrorzscH, J. F.: BEGONIACEEN-Gattungen und Arten. Ato, with 
Twelve Lithographic Plates. Berlin. 1855. 
We noticed the Conspectus or Prodromus of this beautiful work at 
p. 160 of the sixth volume of this Journal. The present is a quarto 
volume, of 135 pages (of which the first nine are devoted to introduc- 
tory matter), accompanied by twelve plates, beautifully executed, illus- 
trative of the forty-one genera into which the old Begonia is divided— 
_ we wish we could say appropriately; but surely so very natural a genus 
_ will not bear such a multiplication of really tangible or natural genera : 
_ and we cannot see how the cause of science is advanced by making the 
slightest difference in some part of the flower or fruit a ground for 
_ constituting a new genus: we should question the propriety of many 
‘ forming even sectional characters. Such well-executed figures and 
carefully-drawn characters of the species cannot fail to be highly useful 
in the study of this extensive and difficult genus or group, especially of 
the South American species, in which the Berlin Gardens and Herbaria 
are so eminently rich. The rarer Indian species must be sought for in 
the English and Dutch Herbaria. It is to be regretted that there is 
now a passion for hybridizing the Begonie in cultivation, thus tending 
to destroy all tangible characters, whether generic or specific. 
